The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-25
Dr. Charles l.. Dana Answers Critics
Text Of Speech Delivered at the
SchoOlnasters Associations Dinner

, OF medical experience I recall only one
boy who broke down In secondary
school from overstudy and he had weak
eyes. which were mainly his trouble. I
feel confident that your methods do not
overtax the nervous system or the mental
resources or intellectual mechanisns OF
your pupils. Even that bad group Of 5
to 10 per cent of more or less abnormal
stun which prevails In most schools Is
largely pulled through by your admirable
teamwork. No. ! do not know of any
group OF human beings except college
students whose minds are less overtaxed
The trouble Is Just here. you do not
break the boys down enough: and this
fact Is the leading theme of my dis
course this evening.
Let us see for "a moment what our
system of education accomplishes. The
American schoolboy up to the age OF 10
In apparently equal In equipment 10 the
schoolboy OF the same age of England
France and Germany II quote from an
authority, but when he reaches the age
OF ~ he is decidedly behind him. and
when he reaches the age OF Is or l6
he Is nearly two years behind
Tn other words. as Mr.. Burt In The
Independent. and Prof. Perkins In the
Yale RecieU. October. 1913. and others
have said. the American scholboy some
where between the age of 10 and 1s loses
or more civilized brother OF Europe
This fact is apparently conceded by the
committee OF the National Council or
Education. IL agrees with my personal
experience. And while I have read and
heard many explanations and apologies,
hav. seen no proof that II was not true.
But this IL not quite all. These boys
thus retarded. are not only not broken
down. they are not really educated. In
deed. education II not the purpose OF our
secondary schols--it Is to NJ pupils for
an American college. Contrast with them
the real work done by the English pub
lie schools. the gymnasium of Germany
and the lycees of France.
please let me assume these facts: q
have not time for long presentation)
That your boys are not either broken
down or educated but are two years
behind in the educational race. Now as
according 10 the Bnet-Simon scale. chill
dren n three years behind in mental age
are feeble minded are not our boys at
is dangerously near faulty? And since
in an American college this mental re-
tardation IL not lessened, but as "A rule
increased. II follows Cwhat many OF us
have long guessed) that our American
graduates belong to the feeble minded
! classes as measured by BIS. or other
intelligence tests.
thing to look into this matter and see
where the fault lies.
"in the first place | must acuuit YOU
OF any large part OF the programme You
have certain tasks assigned and they are
done well-better than any other part of
tn. educational scheme except perhaps
certain special public schools. BESIDES
YOU do an especially good work on the
individual boy in enforcing discipline. de-
veloping character and promoting team
work.
"The subject has been taken and long
studied by committee of the National
Council OF Education. In its recent re.
| port on economy Of time in education
| II explains the !nferiority of our scholars
by the fact that the foreign pupil begins
many subjects earlier than is the custom
| in America, such as foreign languages
| science. history that the teacher eNer-
| cises greater care Of the pupils as iu-
| dividuals. that there * the absence ot
| marks and examinations and finally d
| greater length Of the school year. In
| their opinion. In order to cure the situa,
| ton there should be a simplifcation II
| the courses OF instruction, the subject.
| should be vitallzed and related to modern
| life In other words not so much hyper
mathematics or fancful studies or ole
| English and greater emphasis he put upon
moral training for better citizenship: In
! general better and smaller selection oi