The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-01-03
Pitching Straight Ball

Sam Lever, who led the National League
pitchers for several years, began life on small
Clermont County, Ohio, farm While still a
youngster he made up his mind to become a pro-
fessional ball player. In buslness-llke manner
he Immediately began preparation for his career.
He spent every spare hour available out back OF
the barn pitching ball at a knot-hole IN the
weather. boarding. The young asplrant kept at
this for years and was able, finally, to pitch
straight at any mark with unfaillng accuracy
"Why do YOU waste to much time this way -
fellow farmer boy inquired. because a man
can't throw curves until he has mastered the
straight ball. was the reply. We submit that
sam Lever was philosopher. He had graSped
the Fundamental truth that curve is merely a
variation from a straight line and that a man
must master the straight ball before ne can
ever hope to master the curve.
The United States Bureau of Education IN a
pamphlet recently issued on Economy of Time in
Education argues that our school pupils begin
too early in life to throw curves. They waste
lot Of time in the lower grades trying to do what
is impossible until one has mastered the essen
tas. They assert that if the pupil is kept talth-
FULLY at his task of throwing straight shoots IN
arthmetic English, history and other such basic
Studies we might two years between the
ages of six and twelve and yet give the child
much better equipment of education.
If this can be done it will be a great saving
not only to the individual pupil but to the state
for it costs somewhere near forty dollars year
in taxes to pay the expenses per pupil OF one year
in school.
Various committees have been working on
this since 1903 the present report is written by
number of the leading educational authorities IN
the country. They know what they talking
hat ai,1rlic nd bpN
clare that it is easily possible to graduate pupil
rom the university at tWenty-fOur. This would
be 4 saving at the present rate of from two to
four years.
According to their findings the period of gen
era education must be shortened to permit the
pupil to enter his speciality before the age of
elasticity has passed. At present the period OF
unmotvated preparation is so long and, to the
STUDENT so aimless, he loses interest. For this
there is no need because the fundamentals of ele-
lnentary education may be taught in six years
instead of eight An earlier beginning IN Voca-
ti0na work should be made for physiological
leaSons as we'll for psychological. At adoes-
ccnce the child needs new range of interests to
suit his new life. At present there is great
waste OF time in examining the student full of
useless subject material. Information is a means
to an end; if a child think for himself on a
matter he needs no great store Of facts to think
with.
The members of the committee hold that we
need a revolution in ideal of culture. AS it is
culture is too academic, too ornamental; they
would have it take off its coat and buckle down
TO the tasks Of the present.
The report lays special emphasis on the needs
and value of vocational training. To these au-
horities education should be preparation for
Ffe and should best equip man to fulfill the
functions of the various relationships in which
he finds himself.
The findings of this committee and the cor
dial reception accorded their report by other edu-
latiOnal leaders augurs well for the new day in
education now daWning in which the old anarchy
and aimlessness will give way to an education
with a purpose which will see to it that every
graduate knows how to throw straight ball