Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-01-30
TODAY'S INFANCY PROLONGED
Superintendent Graft Talks on Mod
ern Educational Methods.
CHILDREN MATURING OLDER
ChiIdren Have Less Personal En-
perienee Today and Personal
Activity More Limited Than
In Days of Ycre.

Zone Of the striking facts in clodern
education Is the increasing immafurity OF
the pupils" said Superintendent Z. l.
Graft Of the public schools in his address
before the Philosophical society yesterday
afternoon at Baright's hall. Compared
with few generations ago, the change
Is indeed marked. John Winthrop. the
first governor Of Massachusetts, Bay
colony, was married at II. His parents
were not only willing. but aiding and
abetting They considered him q man.
Many other men of historical fame were
married before they were % A study OF
their lives will show that at that age
they were mature Today man or
woman of 20 is considered immature.
This prolonged infancy Of today is
brought about by the transfer Of the pro-
ductive industries from the home to ths
factory.
Today We are questioning the validity
Of modes Of instruction, the wisdom of
such broad courses of study. and wonder
ing why more OF that which is taught
does not stick in the youthful mind and
become a part OF his mental equipment.
Is it not possible that the fault lies largely
with mis- apperception basis. that his ex-
perience and personal activity have been
so limited that there is little with which
TO intesrste and tie up these stores Of
world knowledge? >
7- Children Mature Older.
with this postponement Of personal
maturity, there is an even greater post
h. rlxrf-
cal maturity. The real mastery OF a real
technique takes longer and longer The
teacher must not only go TO college. but
must do graduate work. The young doctor
after he finishes college and medical
school is found as an inferno In hospitals.
This is the way with all other professions
What is left undone by science IN keep
ing us immature is finally accomplished
by organization and system. The world
is becoming organised. This fact of or
ganization still further complexities life
on the side of conduct. So long as tho
relation of men to one another was per-
sonaI. the chief misdeeds OF life vera
inyas,ous Of personal rights. Now We ara
in an impersonai age when we may do at
long range. indirectly, what We should
never think Of doing personally. Jacob
Refs says, You may kill q man with n
rotten tenement as surely as with an axe
but many will commit the former crime
who would shudder at the latter
Many New Difficulties.
The classes or difficulties which arise
under our highly organized state Of So
ciety are many. There is the abuse Of
commercial relations, wstered milk, wa
tered stocks and adulterated food. There
Is also abuse Of the professional relation.
the venai architect. doctor and druggist.
and the professor Of political economy.
We have the abuse Of the fiduciary re-
lation. the banker who invests With
friends, the Insurance official and bank
examiner. There IL also much tempting
ana debauching OF those under obliga-
ton TO the public. bribins councils. Leg
isiaturee etc.
This tendency to organization has af-
fected the home life. The home training
is now being turned over to organizations
such as the Young Mems Christian ssso-
citation. the Young Women's Christian
association, public schools and Sunday
schools.
This is an age Of wealth, luxury and
display. The life work OF the men oc
today is to spend the day In chasing the
almighty dollar and to have a good time
at night. The twentieth century Is the
day Of opportunity. when he who is actu-
atsd by worthy motives can be Of maxi
mum service"