Corpus Christi caller and daily herald. [volume] (Corpus Christi, Tex.) 1911-1917, 1914-12-09

one ~ inc most fttha ~
sues before educators 81
a.. present time Desa
Wright 81 Yale informs
NC that tho growth Of the IDEA 10 faint
" tracesble for o century "a at ne'
tive issue. however, IL dates back ~
the seventies. when q faw profnlnsnt
inatstutions made Il tho dominant prin
cipie In the construction ~ their cur
rieula. while within the past decade
the principle has received the unquel.
flied endorsement ~ educators ana IN
different forms and degrees has found
~ way lnto practically oli schools and
anilcxoa II any prominence Ia even
Dart % the country. The movement
has nov reached tho stage where the
diseushion Ia on the question ~ liml'
taiion. Th0ufbtful people eserywhefe
arc realizing the need ~ some con
census " action which shall Ruafa
against the evils % absolutely desui-
tory COURSES, and a. the same time
give al possible elasticity consistent
Attn sound scholarship
let me ray before / proceed farther
TINT ! am not an advocate " unre-
siricted. undirectod electives. and what
may say refers o. electives under
wise direction. This means that the
work n finding out from earlier teach
| arH the tastes. mental attitudes, etc.
must be systematically done and The
findlnga thereof made tho basis ~
assignment when tho boy begins hin
secondary work We have all bean
sAamefuliy lacking in this and have
} trusted somehow the boy'H American
I spiflt TO help him t. avoid the rocks
I 1r give him the Kit 10 endure the
I bruises.
! Every large school ought 10 have
/ teachers ~ great wisdom. experience
\ and foresight. whose entire time should
Z be- given t. tho directing the boys
choice - studies. career. higher insti-
buttons Co attend etc Many "A llfc 10
+ lost 90 the nation hecnuse the individ
+ ual could not determine for himself
Z whnt his natural ENDORSEMENTS rttcd
Z him 10 DO MANY another NE - wreck
I ei because the individual chose unf
wisely the type OF highcr institution
Boat suited FOR him a. attend fhr
MriN ~ such "a teacher la DE highcW
ltdrr Rud certainly mo- one would NN
rtor thnarhtfui consideration tsat
such procedure interfores with the de-
yopolmcut NJ initiative
Let us briefly note the affirmative
aido ~ tho elective system
l. On intellectual grounds, ca A.
I paataluxkl said "Actlvity rs the law ui
childhood" and aelf-acuvity Is the
e0rd ton the cause ana effect ~ OH
Intellectual growth, Now freedom IN
tu essential 81 ALI self activity The
i latter by lta very nature must De
npuntansouH. and subject only 90 ntiTn
ulating and soliciting environment
such the elective syHtcm rcekH Ca pro-
l side, or to put Il IN another FORM 60
state It a. "thc doctrine " interest
10 power primal object OF educa
lou" can be developed economically
only through interest. During the
school period the virtues ~ work
Witch even when acquired through
drudgery l. q. labor without interest
contribute 20 usefulness cannot how
ever. be advantageously developed
without interest. ana u Ia doubtful "
| hey over can.
Now. Il ~ needless 90 say that frse-
inm ~ choice ~ studies IA necessarily
IA part OF the basis ~ interest IN study
compulslon ar prescription tends 60 XIII
interest while Il ~ true that there
Il 10 a distinction between temporary and
II permanent or dominant interests. yet
H tho cicctye sygtcm rightly adminia-
\ tered. furnishes the opportunity f0r tho
] youth Go determine their permanent
\ interests without such a chance,
\ their lives are partially and often en-
urely wasted or 60 pa, u In stlll
! another way,
(cl Tho elective system gives pupils
tho opportunity Tor self revelation.
which is one " the most important
I ihiect- " education Many ruined
lives ana many economic evils are
clearly ,raccahe to lAicn, on undcvel.
hped power 60 ignorance, among indi-
,idualH
g. On pedagogical grouads. (al The
elective Wstcm demands better teach
crH u discovers poas teachers ana
shirts them out OF the ranks. because
under such a system--there N q ST.
lent composition amone teachers Tor pu-
piis thl Il makes hotter teaehsrs b.
cause Il 10 much more stimulating Il
teach pupila who are Interested In q
subject from personal choice The best
IN others caiis out the hest In Ms
> On economical grounds. tho elcc
Eve system permits and encourages
| the development and cultivation of ap'
| iltudes IN pupila The modern indus
III
law ~ division ~ labor IL largely has
I'd on personal aptitudes of lahors. o
whatever grade
d ON aecleipsieai grounds IN
elective system IN secondary education
IL 20 be ENCOURAGED. BECAUSE ss ten
dency Is 60 prepare every pupil 10
his particular sphere IN the grea
structure OF human society Ever
man should find his place and perform
HIS functions In the social organism
failure 20 do 40 which Ia resronslhl
Tor many shattered ilves and scotia
evils Similarly also.
3. ON political erounds. Tor unicE
men find their proper place IN the IN
dus,ries and commerce % the worll
OF in Its Professional ilfe. We canno
expect good citizenship without IN
"right man in the right place" al
homiiies, ALL appeals Tor political re
form viii be In vain.
a. ON ethical grounds. tal Tn
elective system develops character b
Increasing the sense 90 responslhllis
the responsibility of selection. 81 al
reetior. This affords very importan
moral training. The education Of IN
school ~ not for life. Il IL life"
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