The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-01-31
DIR. HOLDEN ON THE SCHOOLS.

We are glad 10 see that Dr. F. G.
Holden, in his talk Mt Logan. pointed
out desirable change in the instruc.
ton In schools. He showed, as the
fact is, that the schools are organized
in the interest of The professions. and
not in the interest of the masses OF
the people. precisely as We have pointed
out heretofore. We received our school
system as a heritage from the old cdu-
cational idea that the schools were for
tho production of ministers, lawyers.
and doctors. The curriculums in the
schools are universally made up on the
basis OF advancing the children through
the different grades, in order, to the
high school. and through that to the
college and university. But as we
hnve pointed out heretofore. not more,
on the average. than oDo IN q hundred
is brought through 10 graduation from
the college university or technical
school; so that the educational effort
is very largely wasted by being mis-
directed All this we have pointed out
time after time, and We are glad TO
have such support IN the suggestion of
i'm proved school instruction az that
from Dr.. Holden, as expressed in his
talk at Logan.
His idea is that the community should
work with the schools; take An interest
in the children, and see that they are
put in educational touch with their en-
vironment, and brought to face those
problems Of daily life that they Will
face for themselves and for their own
maintenance when they grow up. One
great difficulty, of course, at present
is, and this would prevent any radical
change for some time, that the teachers
as trained are trained for the work as
it is, and they would not understand as
fully as they ought 10 do In order TO
be teachers, the work as Dr. Holden
would have 1t. Illustrating the point,
we may mention tho fact that when
the school system of Salt Lake City
was first consolidated and the course OF
instruction laid ont, there came the
question in the high school of whether
Spanish, or any other living language
that might be OF use to the pupil. should
be taught in n colloquial style or from
the books. The conversational style
was barred instnnter, for precisely the
reason indicated; that it would not
give the pupil the standing in the col
lege or university examination that |
such pupil would have were the in
struction impaired from the book and |
by rule. Although pupil might under
stand the Spanish language colloquial-
", be able to speak and understand it,
he could not pass the entrance eIami-
nation in a college or university, which
examination would be based upon the |
rules of grammar and technical ques.
lions drawn from grammatical construc-
ion. And yet who can doubt the su-
of the colloquial method Of
.eaching over the grammatical method
Is a matter Of practical use and advan-
age TO the pupilf
We are glad TO note that men like
Or. Holden are spreading these reform
IDEAS and suggestions for instruction
lmong the people. There has been too
little of this sort Of thing in the past,
md the people, as a rule, do not under
tand how they are kept ont of the
'est that they might have, and how
he masses of the children are being
estricted, in the matter of practical,
cal instruction, for the benefit of the
ew who 90 through the higher schools
nd come out Of them professors of
'arious sorts of learning. The com
non schools of the country, tbeoreti-
ally. are intended for the masses of
he common people OF the country. The
lext move must be to make them in
act the schools for the masses of the
common people in place Of making the
masses of the common people support
rs of n system that really is intended
or the benefit Of the very few