Bisbee daily review., 1915-12-09
ARE OUR SCHOOLS A FAlluRE2


 Former President Taft addressing state teachers as. sociaon says that American schools are inefficient our teachers in many instances incompetent our children only half educated college students inferior to those Europe and our whole educational system superficial inadequate the requirements of real scholarship
 These are serious charges, and all the more serious that thy come from the lips of one of the most con servative of public And not believe thert a man cbmpetent to judge who will not agree with him
 Our children are well educated; our teachers ar not spite of many praseworthy exceptions competent; college graduates often more noted for their excellence athletics than for their proficiency in scho arshp.
 This situation that dmands the serious thought of every patriotic American. In the address Mir Taft well says that Americans pa yevery demand made up the education ungruugingly and that as nation the first recognize the vital import ance of free pub cschools and have never faered in our belief that the first requisite democracy is an cd ucated citizenship
 After an it is easy matter to place finger upon our deficiency It is defect which to be found in every aspect of our public life We think that if we are willing foot the bills we have done all that is needed Whenever any criticism is made our first impulse is
 
 cost?" There is always some one to answe rn dollars and cents, and ous conscience is lulled once more.
 Unhappiy most if all, of the best things in the world, the things most worth while, be bought for money
 The that school system deficient lies in our homes. How many among us know what our child being taught or what the qualifications Of those who teach them? If the merit card that boys and girls bring to has satisfactory percentage upon it, we ask no more.
 MT. Taft struck home when he nstanced our Rhodes scholars at Oxford and spoke the criticism which had been aroused through their failure to make cerdabe showing against the English boys with whom they com peted. Our Rhodes scholars selected from compeu tive examinations held in every state in the Union They graduates of high schools and must be accepted as the whole the best representatives that the Unit ed States has offer of her school system They go to England meet fair field British boys of tho same age and same comparative training Mr. Taft mere echoes the criticism of observers when he tells that picked American boys run poor second to their English rivals Their intelligence quicknes and diligence are questioned; but their knowledge is at best smatterng They know little of nam things and not very much of anything
 superrciality superficaliy superfcislity! tho eternal criticism of us Americans and we are beginning to learn how bitterly just it is in many instances but most assuredly not in the case education It i the most vital the most tremendous, the aimportan' element in human progress the fundamental qualifica ton of a democracy. MT Taft says that the average German boy Of fifteen is as well qualified to take university course as the American boy of eighteen nineteen
 The remedy which MT. Taft proposes is form of fed eral supervision over our entire school system He sug gests that the United States Bureau Of Education b, turned national university for school teachers This university would by rigid examinations and the estab Iishment of high standard body of precepor in whose qualifications and character could have con hdence. In addition. it would supply inspectors whC would visit the schools the states point ou defects institute comparisons and conduct uons These officials would be free fro mthe poIltica influence which is the curse of so many of ocs school systems. They would exercise arbitrarl power but would give ordinary citizens opportun y to find out just what our children receiving in tn way of education
 Here is at least a suggested remedy for condition which most of us recognize and deplore It is wort thinking over.