Newark post., 1913-12-03

percentage bI SctiB0l CtlllGfcn Ieacl
the high school. The great major
ity have joined the ranks of the
bread-winnerS before they reach
that stage. OF those entering the
high school. many drop out before
they have finished the course and
few of those who have exhausted
the educational resources of their
communities are looking towards
the higher training offered by the
college. It is for such young men
and women that We are concerned
to make the way as smooth as pos
Sible IN the transition from the
home school to the more advanced
school. The system of education
should be unit. From the kinder
garten grade 10 the university it
should not be an inarticulated col
lection Of grades, but a system of
stages which lead up 10 the higher
grade The college. in my judge
ment. could readily forego certain
specific attainments if it might re-
ceiye young men and young wo-
! men of maturity of thought and fix
I ity of purpose who could come
prepared for the severer duties of
/ Il larger life. Education is a
growth. or an unfolding. and only
comes after toll and care: pleasure
( follows each stage in the process.
The schools are too much given 10
/ the practice of making school work
attractive,-something like the
well-known advertisement. The
children cry for il. = Interest Is
the keynote of all endeavor. but
interest does not imply the pleas
urable only. 1t is after patiently
and toilfullv going through all the
stages that We gain the mastery
over a subject and assimilate The
thoughts into our own mental
makeup. Too many Of our people
nowadays only think they think:
.hey get their opinions ready made
in the magazines and newspapers,
The colleges may suggest 70 The
+ schools that the Freshmen T0aEd
find himself in 1 more congel5ai
environment if he should come with
a mastery Of the studies funda-
mental 10 his college work. In
brief. III my judgement. the al
iustment OF instruction from the
beginning. 50 as TO make it thor
ough and complete, Is the only So
luton of the problem under dis
eussion. No more complaints Of
college students not knowing uoE
caring how to spell; ignorant and
indifferent III the use of language +.
inert and careless TO follow tie
lead of thought TO make 1t yield
something worth while Nearly
every ease needing adjustment Is
ease of faulty preparatlon-not
lack of attainment but imperfect
mastery of the elementary prin-
ciples of the studies of the college
course.
Our system OF schools IS well
planned. 1t IS becoming stronger
and more deeply rooted in the af-
fections Of our people 1t is on
the whole. with many obvious but
unavoidable hindramces, constant
IL growing in usefulness Teachers
are receiving better training and
more competent and careful sup
ervision is exercised over their
work. Il is taking on the vocation
al phase OF correlatlng the know
ledge and experience of the school
room and playground with the ac-
tivities OF outside life. certainly to
the mutual benefit of the school
and the home.
II The great fault Is that the teach
ing does not lead 10 thinking. To
/ make school work pleasant. habits
of thGroughness are not insisted
upon. Quigkness III learning 10
read calls for the recognition Of
entire words rather than a. voeab-
/ les representa- bv a conventional
/ grouping of letters Hence 80 many
bad spoilers. In the arithmetieal
exercises the arrival at results is
rather the aim than a trial in tie
. combination OF numbers Surely
some method can be used that will
enable the school to retain these
helpful methods Of shortening
processes and securing at the same
time the attention OF the pupil 10
the successful mastery Of funda-
mental knowledge 50 as to enable
him 10 90 on with a sound and
sane education
+ II must Be further considered
that pupils drop out Of the public
schools 81 various stages 10 enter