New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-11
Anti-MilitariSt Methods in
Schools Futile, Says
Percy MacKaye.
URGES APPEAL
TO IMAGINATION
Club Women Can Aid in Solving
Educational Problems by Show.
ing Interest in Work.
BY HENRIETTA RODMAN.

In remarkable article IN Nhis
months North American Review,
Percy MacKaye writes Of a "potentiai
substitute for war; -,
The peace propaganda IN the public
schools is most excellent IN intentlon'
of course" he said 70 ne last evening,
but 1t is pathetically ineffective.
Peace must be made as splendid as
war before it can dominate the mag
nation Of children as war dominates IL
now.
you know william James's idea OF
a moral equivalent for war armies OF
young men and Of young women sent
10 fight the battles Of peace against
disease, unemployment, inethciency ana
all the causes OF misery. THESE armies
Of soldiers fighting for the common
veal are noble, but not picturesque
Thor Committees meet in Offices. they
send out circulars, they fail utterly 70
appeal 70 our lmaginatlons.
I'VE must organize our social work
ers. our civic engineers, upon larger,
crander scale. The school offers Us
our great opportunity. We must clothe
our movement toward democracy with
all the gorgeous panoply OF war.
First. let our school buildings be
beautiful within as well as without
The decoration Of the schools IS propa-
panda for peace. because 1t helps TO
make life beautiful.
But life must also be stirring, dra-
matte. Music and dancing are very
valuable. but most important OF all
are great pageants in which Guys
! struggles against poverty, Ignorance
and corruption may be symboNzed and
nresented by those who are 10 carry on
! the fight for civic happiness and wei
/ fare"
MADAM: The Council OF Jewish
/ Women is made up of some twelve thou
sand women, widely distributed. Our
+ interest in education is keen apd may
be turned to service.
"How can we best help 10 improve
the schools?
what shall we study?
"What definite things shall we az
's"P' - FANNIE SAX LONG. .
"Chairman Committee on Education"
IN answer 10 Mrs. Longs questions
should say. first select the most INTEL
ligent and least selfish men and women
of YOUR community and elect them 10
the Board Of Education. Second. invite
the teachers to join your organization
and take up together the study OF
modern educational ideals and meth
I DDS. As we women used TO STUDY
Browning and architecture, let US now
study Mon:essori and the Gary system
TRY 10 establish teachers councils
in your schools. Write 10 the superin-
tendent of schools in each OF the num-
] - Of "a
and ask him 10 send you an account OF
/ the methods Of developing teachers
/ self-government and students SELL
/ government in the schools.
As for what TO have taught, that Is q
more difficult matter. Since you ask
me to make some suggestions, | shali
be very happy 10 plan what ! believe
would be a practical course OF study
+ for public schools.
Your immediate effort should be to
get the finest citizens that your COM
munity can produce TO sit on the
Board of Education. and in so far as
nossible TO set teachers and children
free Education should be a creative
activity.
The Teachers League will give q
dinner in the restaurant of the WASH
! ington Irving High School at $50 Fr-
day evening The annual meeting Tor
the election of officers will take place
at o'clock in another room OF the
school.
The annual meeting Of the Vocational
Guidance Association will be held
Tuesday evening, May IS. at the Wash
ington Irving High School. The speak
era will be william Writ and Mrs.
Alice Barrows Fernandez; and motion
pictures illustrating the activities OF
the children at the Gary schools Will
be exhibited.