The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-12-04
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
AND THE CRITICS
IS THE SUBJECT OF SPLENDID AID.
DRESS BY PROF. BROWNING
AT SIOUX FALLS
EXPLAINS GRADE DEPARTMENTAL PLAN
Now In Use in the Bookings Schools
And Which Has Worked Out Salts
factoriIy-The Address in Full

At the South Dakota Educational
Association meeting at Sioux Falls last
week Superintendent Browning gave
an address upon the Public Schools
and the Critics" which attracted
much attention and was printed in n
or two OF the state dailies. Part Of
this attention was undoubtedly due to
Mr.. Browning's explanation of the
"Brookings eighth grade departmental
plan" which has attracted much at
tentiCn from the fact that the local
schools are the first in this section Of
the country to use it. For the benefit
Of Brookings people We reprint Prof.
Browning's address in full:
The most striking characteristics or
the present period in the worlds de-
velopment Is unrest. II is manifest
not only in regard to religious creeds,
but In regard to moral code. 1t is
manifest not only in regard to ques-
tions of the form of government, but
the whole structure of government is
called into question. Notwithstanding
the wonderful progress that Is being
made in all lines of trade, industry, in
vention and education, notwithstand-
ing that In every activity of the hui
man race the survival of the ittest"
were never more ~noticeably exempli-
fed than now. Notwithstanding all
this there is in the educational world
as well as In social and industrial &C
t~ivities a general spirit of unrest.
Every fundamental thing is question
ed. Nothing is accepted as settled.
The curricula and school administra-
ton OF the elementary, secondary and
college grades are undergoing tremen-
dous changes in trying to adjust them
selves to the eve changing conditions.
Today we are rejoicing with exceed.
ingly great JOY because some educa-
tional seer has discovered in the
heaven a new star, signaling the birth
of a new idea in education, but on the
very morrow we join our voices with
the rabble, crying: Away with it,"
Cruelty It," Today we are standing
with some pedagogical Saint John upon
the Isle OF Patmus and with prophetic
vision Q the old order of educational
things passing away and a new educa-
tional heaven and earth being created.
But all too soon our vision is dispelled
by the realization that behind this
seeming new lie those principles
which have been true ever since one
mind consciously sought to influence
another. The longer we look the more
we zee that this seeming confusion is
not chaos. but is the storm and stress
period In education, and that much
which seems to be absolute change Is
nothing other than a change of en-
phasis from one part to that of an
other.
standing In some re~st-interval be-
tween the closing of the educational
period and the opening Of the next, let
pause upon the threshold and
listen. Louder and more significant
recently than ever before in the his.
DRY OF education has been the clash
u criticism. and the Babel of advice.
OF 1t has been destructive, some
u 1t constructive; all OF 1t has an in.
,entive and q purpose. The ranks
rom which all this criticism is coming I
ire 90 inclusive that It's meaning ia
still more important. It is comma
rom parents. teachers. business men. !
ne iaboring classes and legislators. I
The parent 10 blaming the teacher:
ne teacher. the parent; the business
men the school curriculum; the col
ese, the secondary school; the Sec
'ndary school. the elementary, and
wen the church must bow her head
Q the criticism that she has called to
'd1ust herself to modern conditions I
ma - thus unable to cope with pres z
mt day proolems. II were humorous
u not 90 serious.
And thsrs ars other things IN this I
road iand that are subject to critic. q