Semi-weekly herald., 1915-11-02
TAFT ATTACKS THE
- PRESENT SCHOOL SYSTEM

|
The address of Ex-President Taft
i,rRochester before the New York
Teachers, association is being widely
commented on by leading newspapers
OF the country as well as educators.
The Herald has not interviewed any
Durango educators as to their views
on many subjects covered by Mr.. Taft
But it goes without contradiction that
there is much truth in many of our
presidents statements. We have
often heard Durango business men
wonder what is the matter with the
present system of education in that
some many boys and girls are turned
out who cannot spell the ordinary
words used in every day business or
properly handle the English language.
Picking up the New York Times of
last Thursday it asks the same ques-
| tion, namely:
Why are so many of their
graduates unable to spell correct
ly' to write tolerable letter.
Why do so many business men
complain of the illiteracy
of employees fresh from the pub
lie schools? Why are slovenly
English and "bad grammar" so
common? These and similar
questions have been asked over
and over again.
Sometimes it seems as il tho pionee,
schools Of which Mr.. Taft speaks, the
little red schoolhouses" of more
primitive conditions, sntedating the
flood of theories wherein modern
education liz submerged, were more
successful than some of their sup
posedly better equipped successors
continues the Times. To read, write
and cipher" to know troroly "the
three RS" rather looked down upon
by the more learned pedagogues OF
today. to have committed to memory
the pieces of good literature in some
dog-eared old "Preceptor" or "Read-
ei. to know well in summary Amer-
can history--wasn't the scant educa-
tion of our grandfathers and great
grandfathers an excellent one? They
knew little, but the knew what they
knew well. They were masters of the
fundamentals. Their memories were
enriched with some noble poetry and
prose. Their attention was not ris-
tracted by a multitude of studies and
books. Nearer to the heroic origins
of the United States, their patriotism
was instructive, ardent, needed no
stimulation of flags and flag days.
The moderns roam over more sub
Jects, are taught according to this and
that pedantry of system and terminol-
ogy, get more ornament and flourish.
Ii the root of the matter in them
Mr. Taft doplores the shallowness of
American primary education, the
known fact that so many college Stu
dents never have learned in school.
and so never will learn, to spell; the
want Of rigid discipline, tho indu-
gence of parents and their refusal to
support the teachers authority. A
school is motor should not be--a re-
public, he wisely says. Here are
children, between 6 and IA. They
should be made to obey, learn to
mind" Do they? Is not parents,
obey your children" an American
commandment? American children
do too much as they please. They
aren't made to work hard enough in
school. Either they loaf or they are
victims of steril system that frit-
tiers away their time. German child
rem of the same age are three or
four years ahead of them. The school
course is too large, Mr.. Taft thinks,
and plenty Of folks think with him.
There Is no sufficient drill. English
is not beaten-if this corporal word is
admissible-into the heads of the
pupils. Some school trustees and
county superintendent are not too
literate.
A hundred true and admirable
thinks Mr.. Taft says. The want of
manners in so many school children
lis matter worth dwelling upon.
Why, to be democratic" must you
be rude? Courtesy, consideration for
others, should begin, must begin, in
childhood. Mr.. Taft wouldn't have
manners taught in the schools, but
L
example. We like to thing of those
"old world" lads and lasses of Co
lonial days who used to courtesy,
make leg" before their pastors
and schoolmasters. Respect for age,
where has it gone? Very likely the
fault is in the home. All the more
need for the school to remedy it.
The Times concludes its review as
follows.