Evening star., 1915-11-24
Former President Taft Favors
National University for
Training Teachers.
CRITICISES THE SYSTEM
IN THE UNITED STATES
Tells New York State Teachers As.
sociation in Many Instances It Is
inefficient and Superficial.

ROCHESTER. n. Y, November "a
The conversion of the United States
bureau of education into a national
university for school teachers was ad-
vocated today by former President
Taft, in an address before the New
York State Teachers Association.
Mr.. Taft critised the present system
of education in the United States as
being in many instances inefficient and
superficial. and suggested that the fed
erai government might, through sys-
tenn of inspection and criticism, aid
the states in bringing about higher
standards, both In respect to teachers
and methods.
incidentally the former President de-
ciared that the boys of England. Ger
many and France were better educated
of fifteen" he said. "is as well pre-
of thoroughness. THE German youth
of ffteen," he asid. "is as well pre-
pared to enter a college course as our
boys OF eighteen and nineteen
Explaining his scheme for co-opera-
tion of the federal and state authori-
ties, Mr.. Taft said:
Suggests United States Give Aid.
Through its bureau of education, the
national government might help to pro-
mote state education by Offering ma
chinery to the people of a municipality,
of a county or Of state. by which they
might. If they choose, have the schools
they pay for investigated and examined
and the value Of the education given
rested oy survey report of officers of
tne United states bureau of education.
Such officers would be trained experts"
Referring to his plan for making the
bureau of education a national uniyer-
stty for teachers, Mr.. Taft said:
BY searching and through teachers
examinations the federal certificates
would acquire a high value for their
holders and the professional aualif,ca-
tion for teaching would be generally
improved"
AS a proof of the defects of the pres
ent system. Mr.. Taft referred to the
the Advancement OF Teaching, which
showed that the local school superin-
tendents of some states cannot spell
or write good English.
Results Superficial, He Says.
Referring to the criticism, which he
said was widely and justifably made
that American school children only re-
ceive superficial education, Mr.. Taft
said:
The criticism that we hear from
England of the Rhodes scholars ought
to give us anxiety as to our system
or education and bring to our minds
that our standards are not as high as
they should be, that our discipline has
a certain degree of flabbiness and that
there is too much of our education
which makes for mediocrity and super
fcial results.
Rhodes scholarships enables friendly
critics to make indicates that the Amer
leans are bright. ambitious and dill
gent. but that they lack thorough
do not seem to understand the neces-
sity of learning subject from the
ground up"
Waste in Lives of Children.
Mr.. Taft declared that there is a
most important waste of valuable hu-
man time in the years of life of the
boy and the girl between six and four
teen years.
I'm the German schools and in the
English schools" he said "the amount
that boys between six and fourteen are
required to commit may well command
is SO out Of proportion to the amount
that we require of our children.
THE German youth at fifteen is as
we'll prepared to enter college course
AS our poSS VI eikHtcen ana nineteen
He has made up three years by harder
work, longer hours and fewer vaca-
tons,
I'VE cannot admit that our boys are
not as capable of learning, but we must
admit that we do not subject them to
| the same labor or the same discipline
We have too much marking time. There
| is no reason why we should not make
our education as thorough and useful
| for the youth as that in France. or Ger
many. or England. We. as parents, have
resistance. We have not insisted upon
home discipline. We have allowed our
| children to. have their way far more
than foreign children have"