New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07
RURAL EDUCATION FAILS
A Menace to the Nation, Says
the National Council.
HIGH SCHOOLS "B00KISH"
Only One. Third Of 100000
Pupils in Country Districts
Meet Their Grades.

Chicago. July s-The little red school
| house" is so unattractive that more than
two-thirds of the twelve million pupils in
the rural public schools fail to reach
| high standard in their studies"
That condition was described as menace
| to educational progress and as one Of the
reasons why the country child looks long
| ingly toward the city, in report sub
mltted before the National Council OF Edu-
| cation to-day. The council. presided over
by its president. Charles H. Reyes, OF New
York City, met preliminary TO the opening
here on Monday Of the iftieth annual con
vention Of the National Education Asso-
| citation.
The conditions surrounding the uadi-
4 tionsl little red schoolhouse' were de-
| scribed as so deplorabe that the council
considered a plan to have the national
association employ an expert to investigate
and report on rural districts.
| f. T. Fairchild, state Superintendent OF
Public Instruction, Topeka, Kan, and
James Y Joyner, Raleigh, n. C., declared
| that the country child is the neglected
child and the country schoolhouse reg
lected schoolhouse." They said the impor-
lance of rural education was shown in the
fact that of the 100000 school children in
the United States 100000 attended country
schools, yet less than one-third of the
rural pupils were able 10 meet their grades.
Mr.. Joyner added:
There must be a revival OF interest in
the country school If the education of the
| country is to progress. We must cease
centring all our attention on the city
school. There must be aroused in the
| schoolhouse In the desert, on the noun
tain or on the farm love Of rural life
| schools, and they viii be deserted; make
| them attractive and comfortable, and edu-
cation Will flourish.
The teaching OF scientific farming and
fruit growing. with special reference to local
conditions. was recommended as an in
centve to renewed interests in rural edu-,
cation.
| A. j. Matthews, president OF the State
Normal School, Tempe, Ariz., said he be-
leyed Arizona had solved the rura school
problem by a law which allows arr rural
school with eight pupils or more to draw
on the state for $1,000 annually He said
the state provided $1,000 900 for education,
and adequate payment for good teachers
was one means OF attaining success.
| BlamcS PUBIC SCnoOl metnouS'
TOO many pupils are being turned out
of the public schools without any knowl-
| edge OF how they are going to make Nv
ing" was the substance Of a report sub
mitted by j. a. Shawan, superintendent Of
schools at Columbus Ohio, on The Educa-
tional Progress OF the Year"
| High school education throughout the
United States was branded as generally
bookish, scholastic. abstract and inadequate
&c meet the practical problems Of life" In
| report submitted To the council. This re-
port based on Investigations conducted In
twenty-five states, declared that the system
| Of high school teaching IS just where IT was
thirty years ago. and that this backward
ness is due TO the plan of high schools TO
prepare pupils for colleges and universe
ties rather than for life"
Dr. David Telmey. president OF the State
Normal School at Normal. Ill. In reading
the report, said
The whole trouble with our high school
education is that II Is regarded too much
as merely preparation for the univer-
sity Instead Of dealing with the prob
! lens OF life to-day. the students are taught
TO deal with the language, politics and Gus,
toms OF fifteen centuries ago Nearly all
| the high school teachers are college grad
yates. who have no adequate knowledge
| Of affairs outside OF colleges. Their teach
| ing is, therefore, bookish scholastic and
| abstract
We need n change OF aim I'm high school
| teaching. a look in the direction OF the
farm shop aud home. While We do not
recommend an education entirely vocation
| al we urge a departure from the college
idea. We also think more attention should
| be given to the training Of teachers from
among high school pupils.
The conclusion OF the committee making
the report. that more progressive methods
should prevail in high schools, was based
on inquiries among 80 normal institutions,
| all OF which reported that high school pu-
| pills who wanted to teach usually had not
| been adequately prepared for their work.
AS means OF undermining high
schools the report recommended that in
| four-year course two years OF voca-
tional study should be provided.