The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-01-26
Johns Hopkins University-No
Reform For Public Schools
Abolition the Only Word for the

Abolition the only Woro TOT the
Hour.
To tie Editor Your article Of Janu-
ary IL against the Johns Hopkins UNI
versiiy was timely. Regarding the re-
form of the public schools by putting
them down to the three RS, there IS
much being said. in fact for some years
past practical people have been calling
for return to the three RS in the public
schools. The educators. conscious that
such a return would mean a humiilatlng
reduction in equipment and teachers, are
heartily opposed TO ii. AT New Eng
land conference of educators the subject
was mentioned and it was dismissed IN
disgust with the resolution that we Will
give them another fad for every reform
proposed "
In 1902, when the people Of Chicago
demanded reform. President Nicholas
Murray Butler. Of Columbia University,
New York City, journeyed all the way TO
Chicago ia stimulate the people IN the re-
tention of fads He is a recognized au-
thoritv as one of the university presidents
who Giciatate in lar part the policies OF
the public schools. seeking ever 10 make
them feeders 10 the colleges and UNIVERSE
ties rather than preparers for the duties
Of practical life.
DR.. Butler said. IN part. in Chicago.
The three z in themselves are hardly
worth having As a whole equipment
they are totally inadequate in the iunda-
mental education and development Of the
child. Some Of the fads, as they are
called. are fundamental elements that gel
I. -. II 1r1E
bring them out" So there we have i'll
Or. Butler voices The voice Of leading ed
uca;orS generally. and proves, as the
New England educators said, that reform
means only the inirodu ciion OF more and
more fadS
One Of the leading Chicago dajlies said
OF DR. Buffers address: We do not need
any Of this sort OF preachment in this fad
ridden CITY We have had somewhat too
much OF it already. The same paper
followed this up with a description Of the
disgust evinced hv the business men Of
Chicago over the disabilities OF the public
school oti>aootS 10 properly fill the lower
positions open 10 them in their establish
men;s Since that time all the other large
cities have seen business men complain
ing IN the same strain.
Public schools were originally intended
10 teach the three Rs 10 the children OF
the poor at State expense. The children
OF well-lo do parents were not Ia Il Meth
er was compulsory educaiion-thiS was
condemned from the irs, by the father
OF The public school system. Horace
Mann. As the original three Rs have
been ignored. so has the warning against
compulsory education. Seli-seeSing ed
ucaior> have aSpirei 10 add to the orig
irai SyS N ; both tadS and nave there
i've iroa>l, out In kindergarten al the
1abv end an the Sial,. university at the
manhood End
In addition 10 ihe ordinary iads intro
6uCei nv ihr educators. We now see the
EDUCATORS forming al'isnces with iha doc
tors of The aliopalajc schools. in which
the latter are becoming allowed 10 intro
6uce as manv medical fads a. the edUca-
tors have OF educational fads. and also,
one preparing through State and national
bills to make them likewise compulsory.
Thus We see that Inc public schools are
made stepping stones 10 fads and WAN
1ie.s 81 every description.
Noih,ng- therefore. short OF absolute
public school abolition A. demanded by
/ me grSal FeTOei Spencer, VIII DTing Ie-
lief from The growing dangers that are at
iachins themselves 10 ihe public school
system Home training aud public
schools must be the recourse o; the peO-
ple Of the Country Children must be
trained to WORK. not as a lad IN the
schools, bar aS reality in the home, n
the shop and on the farm Ii Is 1iTne that
every man and woman who breaches re-
form. STE that the educators are Inperi-
Gus to il and lha, abolition IS The only
word for The hour
The Boston American asked some OF
lis writers how 10 reform the public
schools. On Saturday,. January :. 1912,
they replied. DR. Moods Hutchinson
came out on the same line as Herbert
Spencer. He said. in part: 4 am not IN
favor 81 reforming the public school SyS-
tenn. THINK II OUGHT TO Be AROL
IsHED. Il IS fundamentally wrong