Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-03
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT is DOING

trio power within the borders OF single
state at the present time come undef
the control Of the public utilities commas
siOns in most parts OF the country WneIe
they have been established. These state
commissions, however, cannot reguiate
electric power which is transmitted inter
state, and for this reason Secretary Lane
and Senator Borah advocate the CHASING OF
producers OF electric power az common
carriers to come under the control OF the
interstate commerce commission as well
as the estate public utilities commissions.
The preaent head of the Interior De-
partment wishes to see the widest use
of cheap electric power throughout the
country, particularly in the west, where
on the public lands electricity can be
produced economically by water power.
In line with his policy to encourage the
production OF cheap power, Secretary
Lane has already taken the stand that
the water powers on the public lands of
the west should not be looked to as
revenue producers: he believes that the
governments charge for the use Of pub
duced should be low. provided the COM
panies charge reasonable rates for the
power which they market. Just before
leaving Washington a week ago Secre-
tary Lane said that under the new plan
1t will be possible for a company
reasonable that the charges which the
government will make for power will
amount to practically nothing.
Although Secretary Lane has given the
going to do everything possible to encour-
age them to produce cheap electric power
he has made it clear that the companies
must be fair to the public In all cases
and live up to their contracts or the per-
mits which have been given them to pro-
duce power on public lands will be re-
voked. In the permits which the gov
eminent grants In the future to water
power companies Secretary Lane will in
sist upon the fixing of maximum rates
which will be charged to large and small
consumers: 1t will also include provisions
to prevent unlawful combinations or
monopoly. and will fix a specific time
limit in which the companies will begin
liberal provision of the contract which
Secretary Lane will propose will be the
allowance of ten-year period during
which the company Is building It's plant
government will not make any charges.
From far-away Denmark Americans
may obtain valuable lessons In the train
ing Of young men and
Rural Schools women of the country
for a life of useful
"a OonnioAA' ness. according to ex-
perts in the United States bureau of ed
ucation. 1t is generally believed that
rural schools are the weakest part OF
the American public school system, and
two investigators who have just return
ed to the United States express the be-
pointers to the Americans on how to
,y&1n <l,4 ol,1on aol NynxA &v1
country communities.
One Of the most important features of
the Denmark school system Is the rural
high school, or folk high school, as
it is called Special investigations of
these schools have just been completed
by Harold G. Foght. L. s. Friend and
w. H. Smith. who have submitted their
report to Commissioner Of Education p.
p: Claxton. Folk high schools were es-
tablished in Denmark nearly seventy
years ago, and the system Of schooling
people of rural communities which the
schools have developed has been extend
ed to Norway, Sweden and Finland.
The folk high school is Very different
from the ordinary high school Of the
United States. The students. as rule,
age, which is four to ten years in adj
vance of the average American high
school pupil. Most Of the members have
completed the work Of the elementary
schools several years prior to entering
the folk high schools. Most of the institu-
lions offer two courses each year. one-a
.four-mOnth course in the winter-for
young men. and a three-month course in
the summer for young women.
while they have very definite educa-
tional aims said Mr.. Friend yesterday,
1.-The folk high schools of Denmark do
not strongly emphasize the acquisition
of text book Information. Text books
are used to some extent. but play only,
n ~ tvor 60
are prescribed and there are no exam
nations. No attempt is made to prepare
students for entrance to higher institu-e
lions and no diplomas are conferred at
the end of the course.
1.-THE course of studies consists in part
of a review of the very important ele-
mentary branches. There Is also in
struction in science subjects. such as
greatest emphasis. however. is laid on
history. biography and literature. These
are the subjects through which the high
school seeks chiefly to accomplish its
aims The young people OF the country
single term in one of these folk high
schools. They go for the inspiration and
intellectual mt ellie npiift which the schools
ward which the student expects.
1.-THE principle aim Of the school is. to
inspire the students who attend. AS
has already been said, to history. biogra
ply and literature is attached the
greatest Importance in the folk high
schools. For these subjects teachers OF
power and personality are chosen, teach
ers who know how to interpret the mean
ing OF history. make its teachings clear,
who are able to reveal the spirit that
operated in the life Of the great men in
such a way as to make it react In the
lives Of those they teach: who know the
truth and beauty of great books and
poems and are able to bring them within
the grasp Of their pupils. These subjects
are presented mainly by lectures, for in
this way the powers of the teacher have
the freest play and the truths and beau
ties of the subjects taught find the read
lest entrance to the minds of the pupils. |
'There is little of committing lessons
to memory for classroom repetition, but
the students are frequently permitted
and encouraged to engage in the free dis
cussion Of the subjects upon which their
instructors have lectured. Everywhere
the aim of the folk high school is not
SO much to tmpart a certain measured |
amount Of text book information In
prescribed length of time as to arouse |
the intellectual life. to start new forces |
operating in the pupils lives. to make |
them want to live more efficiently and
nobly, and to teach them to do so.
1.-THE f1ve-month course is q short |
school term. but 1t Is long enough to in |
spire new ideals of patriotism, to foster |
the spirit OF religion and to encourage |
right living as well as to create a desire
to increase ones knowledge. Hundreds
of young Danish farmers In the brief |
term of five months have been 80 awak- |
ened and aroused that the whole current |
Of their lives has been changed. They |
have not, perhaps. stored up a vast
learned the value Of knowledge and have
been taught to learn from books and /