The Washington herald., 1913-09-07
Superintendent Says that the
Old Idea that Boys and
Girls Dread Returning to
Their Books Is Erroneous
One.

The newspapers, magazines, and alleged
funny papers" the country over are
devoting miles of space right now to the
publication of cartoons depicting the
school kid" in various postures Of hor-
ror gazing at a ponderous cloud over his
head, entitled opening of school, The
pictures are done with varying clever
ness, and the kids pictured therein are
either swimming, tending the baby, or
lust ready to swat the ball out of the
old back lot, but they all see the threaten
ing cloud and all are frozen with terror
at the doom that impends-
This is an old idea. As old as that the
early riser gets the worm or the beef
steak or whatever he wants most, and
as old and as honored as the other copy
book maxims. According to the observa-
tions of those who have studied the school
question for years and are best qualified
to speak it is an erroneous idea.
The opening of the schools in tine Dis
trict is due in just a little more than
two weeks from today. On September
% the doors will be thrown open TO
about 5000 children and OF that number
very few are looking forward 10 the day
with displeasure. according to DR.. Will
lam NJ Davidson, superintendent Of the
schools of the District.
schools in Good shape.
There will be nothing particularly un-
usual at the opening of the schools this
year, except that they will start the ses-
sion in better shape 10 take care OF their
thousands of charges than ever before.
During the summer a large corps of work
men has been at work making the neces-
sary additions and repairs and a goodly
part of $4,000 has been spent on the build
ings
There will be a larger crowd at the
school doors on the opening day than
ever before. probably. 1t is impossible
al this time to say accurately how many
applicants for education at the hands of
the District there will be, but it is safe
to say that the number will be large
But to get back to that much-talked-of
cloud that is said-and rather generally
believed-tO hang over the school boy and
girl. The blame Tor the impression that
school is obnoxious is placed indirectly on
the parent by the, superintendent of
schools.
No" says DR.. Davidson. Il am sure
that the average child does not dread the
opening OF school That idea is the relic
of past ages. 1t is true that school was
dreaded at one time. Fifty years ago
school was a place where discipline was
enforced by punishment, and naturally
children felt a horror to it
Children Arc Diplomatic.
IF YOU were to go out on the street
right now and ask a number OF children
il they were sorry to see the schools
open they might tell you they were. But
you could not accept it as the truth.
Children are the greatest diplomats in
the world and they have heard on so
many sides that the opening day Of school
was a thing to fear that they Immediately
conclude that the best thing to do is TO
agree tactfully that such is the case.
They have heard dread of school ex-
pressed-maybe not in so many words,
but hinted at indirectly-in their very
homes by their parents And their par
ents are not TO be blamed either, for in
the days when they knew the schoolroom
IL was often a place to be regarded with
fear No larnin' without lickin',' was
the idea that prevailed and the pupils
then were ruled with rod of hickory or
something else unpleasant. But that time
is gone. Corporal punishment in the Dis
trict, and in practically every other part
of the country, is unknown. Discipline
is now gained through a spirit of respect
instead Of fear.
Not only can I say that the child of
tbs day does not fear the opening OF
school, but even more; that he is glad
to see the day come. The fear of the
schoolroom removed, the social instinct
is given a chance to develop.
This is the instinct that is responsible
for the building up OF cities and that has
caused the development Of this and all
other countries. The child is glad when
the summer comes and he is able to
entertain himself by himself or with the
smaller group Of his own intimate play
mates. But there comes a time when he
gets enough of this and is glad to get
back into the school, into the big unit
and feel the swish and swirl of the big
life current. The social instinct is very
strong in children, and it is wrong to
think that they are not glad to see the
opening of school. when this instinct will
be given free play"
Many Opinions Shattered.
A few minutes talk with DR.. Davidson
on his work is an enlightening experience.
1t serves TO shatter many OF the concep-
tions of school nowadays held by the
average person who has passed beyond
the rule Of teacher"
Not only was the time-honored theory