The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-11-19
STATE SCHOOL CRITICISM.

The recommendations of Gov Cruce
id bis message to the legislature rem
der The question of abolishing a part
of ne state schools a live issue in Ok
laaoma. Matters Of educational policy
IS wen as economy are urged by the
governor In the advocacy Of hts ideas.
it Is a large question and one thar
deeply concerns the people Of the en-
tirs state. affecting as It does, both ths
present ana future welfare OF the com
monwealth.
At this time We do not care to enter
into an extended discussion OF the
proposition since ii would require sew.
eral columns to outline the arguments
applying to outline the arguments
ed. but we WIS., advert briefly to one
phase Of the matter which seems to
deserve more attention than il is re-
ceiving
no come directly to the meat Of the
matter i is pointed out by some Of
the gentlemen who assume to speak
with authority that some Of our state
schools are not doing the work that
should be expected Of them and the
number Of students is out OF proper
tion to the cost Of maintaining them.
For example, it is said that the state
normals are not confining themselves
,toliheir own. peculiar mission, 1 e. the
training Of teachers but are doing a
large amount Of high school work. It
is also pointed out that the district
agricultural schools enroll very
small number OF pupils ana these
chiefly in the immediate vicinity Of
tho towns in which they are located
it must be patent to even the super
fieial student Of the problem that
these points do not yitally affect the
question Of whether real normal
schools are really needed or whether
che agricultural schools win meet a
need OF the state. AT best the
criticism only suggests that there Is
room for great Improvement in these
schools ana that is admitted by all.
The critics WHO take ihe point ct
view which We refer to overlook the
TACT that most Of these schools are
new, having been established but a
iew years, agd apparently they assume
that great schools, measuring up to
the highest point Of efficiency and en-
rolling students hy the thousand can
be made to spring up full grown like
Minerva from the head Of Joye. Be
cause school does not IN a few years
enroll a large nuaIber Of students,
carry out the curriculum and produce
the results Of a similar school half a
century old in another state, they
would strike lt.down as an expensive
luxury. We believe these critics will
search in vain in the educational his
tory Of the country to find an example
Of an institution that has come to ma
turity In The brief time which they
allol to the Oklahoma schools. The
truth is that the history Of all our in.
siiiutions Of learning, from the nor
mai schools % she great universities
whether east or west, shows that they
are the products Of slow growth and
it was years after they were founded
before they attained the rank they now
occupy There are many reasons fol
this which need here be pointed out
but it is important TO note the fact
dat it Is true and that a great nor
mai school, college or university o
mushroom growth is exceedingly rare
While It may be true that Oklahoma
went beyond her means in establish
ing 50 many schools SO early ia aei
HISTORY and while there may be room
D4r some iudieious elimination at thii
Time in our opinion it will be an egreg
ious blundeIs indeed nothing short o
rank folly TO wade into them with al
axe and begin to strike them down il
wholesale fashion, particularly on thi
contention that they are not now al
efficient and large as they should be
q is TO be hoped that no such shallow
argument shan be allowed any weigh
% tbs minds Of those who are calle'
apoH to deal with question upon thl
wise solution Of which depends g
nuch affecting the permanent wellarl
a HE stale