The Penn's Grove record., 1914-04-17
Progress In Education

Henry G. Dixon, County S~uperinten,
dent of Schools in an address before the
Parent-Teachers Meeting in the school
house last Monday evening laid great
emphasis on the changes being made in
education.
He said in part hat the universally OIL
education was as old as Christianity, the
brotherhood of man, but had not beer
practiced. Jefferson's declaration thai
all men are created equal has long been
believed, but it takes Il long time to act,
because there Is a strong opposition to
impose taxes for the benefits of all.
The endeavor to increase the intelli-
gence of all by giving equal educational
opportunities has been offered, but the
changing conditions in industry and agri-
culture call tor a change in the methods
OF education to prepare persons with
different activities of life according to
their environments.
1t took a long time to learn that all
children put thru the educational mill
did turn out the same and that a change
was needed. The course Of study for a
long time used to prepare men to be
preachers, lawyers and doctors was not
best for those who wished to be business
men, or mechanics and farmers. Old
men who got their education in the little
red school house and have prospered be-
cause OF the p~rodigality of nature whose
resources have been greatly wasted, do
not realize that times have changed as
well as the methods of educating chill
dren. Those who wish to be mechanics
and farmers are as much entitled to be
taught the elementary rudiments OF their
vocation as those who desire to
become doctors, lawyers, preachers or
business men. Those who need learn the
economies Of home life and domestics are
also entitled to instructions.
The wise teachers and wise boards of
education have this in mind and will
prepare for it. The equipments must be
adequate to meet the times. Apparatus,
buildings and grounds muet be added as
required. The beginning can be made
without great expense and must be
largely inspirati onal under qualified
teachers.
While the ''little red school house"
was a great educational institution in its
day, the congregation of most people in
towns and cities engaged in manufacture
ing industries has brought about changes
which require educational changes. The
old school house is there with it's
dnIgy walls, desks with the pen-knife
car wings, the old stove which roasted
some and did not heat others; the
sunlight blazing in to the injury of eye
sight, the windows with no ventilation
and the unsanitary Surroundings. But
things have changed in the home, and il.
industry. No one wants to 90 back
to the old ways, with no automo-
biles, no gas nor electricity for lights and
cooking, and no city water. The fathers
and grandfathers received the best to be
had in their day and generation. The
children of this day and generation are
entitled to receive the best in their time.
We are living in a new age and education
is being adapted to the new system o
progress. The design OF the Parent
u
Teachers Association is to bring it about
All should pull together for better
schools to meet the needs of the times
and spirit of industrial activities.
Prof. j. Harry Smith also spoke on the
development OF children and the need o
moral education.