The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-12-04

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schools because they do not teach
arithemetic adequately? Fortunately
teachers do not think it proper to
teach the weights and measures OF the
sugar trust. Have you heard bankers
complain that we do not teach the
right penmanship? Fortunately teach
ers object to the use some bankers
make of their skill in penmanship
Have you heard physicians complain
that the schools are not up TO date!
How long have the physicians been
up to date? 1t took a woman with
startling ideals Of Christianity and
Science to stop their drugging process
and now they have dropped half their
drugs, and half the druggists would
have TO go out of business but for the
soda fountain, cigar stand, candy coun,
ter, and toothbrush cases.
Have you eve heard a college pro.
fessor complain that the high schools
do not teach the right kind of manners
and conduct? Fortunately the Ameri.
can people do o believe that the
high school, which is becoming more
and more the peoples college, require
their students to spend half their time
coloring a m~eerschaum pipe and to use
the little energy they have left in
keeping sacred practices OF tradition
college men call it tradition) of the
Apaches OF Paris and the Hoodlums OF
London by that refining CD process
called haZing. In other words, isn't il
a serious result of the administration
of some Of our colleges, when some OF
u brightest young men cease to have
brains when they begin to have whis-
kers. Some of our fair sex, also. are
making contributions and have made
some showing in the matter of dress
by practicing the tradition originating
in the Garden of Eden with Adam and
Eve and have added the slit skirt for
emphasis and the men are content to
accept the new style as a matter of
fact-so long as their wives, daughters
and sweet-hearts do not wear them.
But in the study of the slit skirt and
their revelations the reason of the gar
ment with the wedge shape opening is
found in suffrage movement and our
election laws.
The election law, in describing the
voting booth, states that the curtain
in front must be sufficiently high from
the ground that the limbs of the voter
be visible while marking the ballot.
They must be plainly visible. The law
so. And how under the sun Is
possible unless the slit skirts are
for the edification of the judges,
clerks and assembled electorate at
the same time?
The n redeeming feature of all
his supreme nonsense is that 1t gives
opportunity to make a study of and In
4 way interpret the meaning of pres
day social, industrial and educa-
.ional activities, that from 1t all we
nay adjust the best of the past to pres.
needs, and out of the new and old
build a broad enough foundation to
the future.
Now, If, as l have limited, there is
'ome confusion in educational thought
oday, IL there are conflicting aims and
deals, II there Is overlapping and
waste in the educational system, what
re some Of the influences that prom.
Sc to make matters better? No one
8 willing or able to successfully con-
radict the fact that the schools were
yer better than they are today, but all
must recognize the fact that between
last generation and that now in
chool there has been a more radical
hange in social, industrial and educa.
lonal conditions than between any
generations known in history.
therefore,, our school problem is a
roblem Of right-emphasis and right
The right emphasis and
light adjustment OF today may be the
Trong emphasis and the wrong ed.
istment for tomorrow. Adjustment
re-adjustment are the laws of
chool development. The school situa-
lon at any given time 10 q compromise
etween what ought to be and what
ught not to be.
It may, however. be we'll to draw
ttention for q moment, to the fact
hat in al nations and In all ages edu.
systems have provided de-
preparation Cor the future life
nd occupation Of The pupils By sx-
resslng the ideals Of the people. II
70 ideal ID beauty and strength Of
ody ~ In Greece. sthastics have .
lace In education. n the idea 10 slill
! arms and conquest BY war. - In
ONE. military training il the means
! education. Where wisdom IN coun-
I has BEEN The ideal Of HE. and the
addition Of the psopis the ideal source
! wisdom. school children have spent
lsir time coming the records Of the
,sds md sayings Of their lorsfathers.