The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-12-17
RAYMOND w. PULLMAN.
Times Washington Bureau. No. Z,
Metropolitan Bank Building.

WASHINGTON. ID. c., Dec. ~
The American high school has the
opportunity OF the century 10 lead In
the great move
HIGH Schools ment for real
Opportunity. and active democ'
racy In education
and in life. This il the belief OF
Thomas Jesse Jones, secondary
schools specialist OF the United states
bureau of education. According 10
this government expert. the high
school can, II il will, not only lead
The public school system OF the coun'
Try, but IL can guide and direct more
largely than any other social group
every phase OF democracy, reaching
out. as II does. into the home, the
church, the playground. the field, the
shop and legislative halls.
This tremendous possibility says
Mr.. Jones. lis claimed for the high
schools OF the land because or their
strategic position in our civilization
No other agency In our land can a.
rect so many minds. ready FOR the
truth and experience, 20 STUDY anu
practice so serious and systematic
Onc-fourth OF the school children OF
the land receive some high school
training. The period OF adolescence,
largely within the high school years.
is well known TO the most sensitive
OF all 10 the truths and haolfs that
constitute character.
What. then, are the educauonai
elements which the high school must
recognize? First OF all. teachers must
catch the spirit OF the twentieth cen
TRY democracy and learn OF the great
movements for the Improvement OF
mankind. They must know much or
the great questions which are now
given the attention of so many pub
lie spirited men and women, rich and
poor.
why must the nation suffer the APP
palling national loss OF $4,000 per-
sons every year from preventaple
causes? a multitude OF men, women
and children, almost twice the popu-
lation OF the capital city OF our ma
ton. practically thrown away with
scarcely a tinge OF regret from even
the best educated people OF the land
Why should the electrocution OF mis-
cradle murderer attract the attention
Of the public more than the death OF
500. 600 infants every year from pre-
ventable causes? Is 1t not possible TO
improve conditions causing divorce
rate OF one in twelve marriages In
the United States as compared with
a rate in France OF only one In thirty
marriages and In Germany OF but one
divorce In forty-four marriages /.
Shameful housing conditions OF the
working classes, the prevalence OF
poverty. the number of youthful law
breakers, the impulsive radicallsm OF
mob rule or the selfish conservatism
OF tradition and privilege. the reck-
less destruction of the natural re-
sources to swell the fortunes OF the
few, and the increasing congestion of
cities-all these are the call or So
ciety for a universal democracy. They
call TO the teachers OF the land, and
above all TO the high school teachers.
In a word the high school teacher
who would grasp the greatest oppor-
tunity for school service now open TO
any person must realize that educa-
lion is life and that every activity in
the high school must be an integral
part OF life.
Uncle Sam has 10000 seedlings Of
the famous Chinese wood oil tree
which are ready
Chinese Trees forfor free distribu-
varnish Oil. ton among groups
OF farmers in va
rious communities in the United
States. who are willing to experiment
with this famous oriental tree. whose
fruit supplies one OF the most valua-
bic Of the so-called drying" Oils used
in making the better grades OF var
nfshes. These seedlings were grown
at the government experiment sta
ton at Chico. Cal, under the direction
OF the bureau Of plant industry, and
while they will be distributed free
to groups OF farmers who wish to
experiment. with the tree. the gov
eminent cannot send out so large a
number OF the trees carelessly to peo-
pie who do not wish seriously to test
out the value OF the tree in their own
community.
For those who do not know the
wood oil tree, or the Tung tree, as 1t
is more properly known, II may be
said that II yields nut from which
the Chinese extract one OF the best
known drying" oils which are used
in the manufacture Of varnishes. That
the tree can be grown successfully
in this country has already been prov
ed. and future experiments will be di
rected merely along the line Of test
ing out It's commercial value as a sec
ondary crop. The tree will probably
grow I'm all sections of the country
where the temperature does not drop
below four degrees above zero. Among
tat In xxtH fnt. knn 81
grown successfully are included Geor-
gia. South Carolina. Alabama. Flor
ida. Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and
California.
At the present time the people OF