Newark post., 1914-04-15
PEOPLES COLUMN
Forward The Rural Schools

The main points of this article
are being prepared for New York
London journal, which is not likely
to fall under the eyes Of the Post s
readers. Believing, however, that
your High School alumni may be
induced TO consider them, | will
here sketch them briefly.
In Delaware, as elsewhere. the
so4called higher education would
appear to be growing somewhat
top-heavy. Endowments, eXpan-
sion, patronage and banquets run
riot in desire to outstrip all past
precedents in those directions. Is
the material in sight worth all ex-
plOitation? Senator Hollis, you
say, declares not; and there are
many university men besides Sem
ator Hollis who say the same.
Young people Of both sexes are
coaxed, fattered, pushed and driv-
en- into our higher schools Of learn
ing, with no thirst for knowledge,
and almost no preparation for the
discipline and austerity of the race
which should confront them. This
IS because the superstructure of
our colleges and universities is
either rotten or rickety. Our rural
and public schools which must be
the tributary sources Of collegiate
life, are too often crude, neglected,
miserably pensioned affairs. As
well expect an American Beauty
rose to flower on a turnip Seeding.
Forward your rural and public
schools. Build from the bottom
upward.
A recent "strike" among school
children in West Chester drew
forth this editorial comment:
Another school strike is III
the news. School strikes are
almost weekly events now.
What a comment they are on
our education A generation
ago one would expect as soon
to hear Of strike in the army
or navy as in a school.
The first essential or educa-
ton is discipline, and the sec
ond is discipline, and the last
is discipline. There are only
two institutions Of education
in this country that have not
been subject to severe nriti-
cism from those who know.
Those two are West Point and
Annapolis. Their watchword
is discipline. They take what
IS sometimes apparently quite
unpromising material and in
four years they make an edu-
Gated gentleman.
Let us have more of their
methods in all of our schools
and there will be less reason
for dissatisfaction. We have
quite enough tendency to dis
regard authority in this coun-
try without fostering it in the
school children.
Likewise the British army is now
on strike.
There is no place where the fun
damentals of true education are so
feasible as in our rural and public
schools. If they are neglected
there, the strike impulse is already
thriving. These fundamntaels
should be-
1st Respect for authority, as
parents, teachers, the aged and
civil rulers.
End Obedience.
Bird Courtesy.
4th Goodwill.
All the splendid functions Of un-
iversity commencemnets, all the
schemes of patronage and plans for
higher learning will turn into bur-
lesque without these principles.
Now since an ounce Of practice is
worth tons of theory in the crude,
we propose a definite work for the
Newark High School Alumni; a
work which has made a successful
beginning here in Pennsylvania
Germany; or we would not propose
it for Delaware.
M. Rene Bazin Of the French
Academy recently made a very
wonderful address in presenting
the annual French Prix de Virtu
It's import was what we here seek
to express. Now the word virtu for
which the French prize is offered
has of late years received from
cynics the twist diabolical. Per-
sons who do not esteem virtue seek
to make it contemplate in the eyes
Of others. Therefore, we prefer to