Newark post., 1915-09-29
"All over the country, at ever

"All over the country, at ever
increasing cost, we are construct |
ing splendid buildings for the SER
vice of primary and higher in
struction of all the children and
young men and women. We are
training teachers from the schol-
astic standpoint, and are trying to
make the schools serve in a better
way the individual preparation for
! industry, commerce, and agricult-
ure. But we are almost wholly
/ failing to utilize the educational
system for the specific training of
citizens in their various duties as
such. The consequence is that the
standards and methods Of our po-
litical and organized life are lower
than those Of our private life.
There is perfect consistency be-
l"CCli lIlC luSSllS VI JIlOSS " uO
glorify peace, and the aims of
those who would train every
American boy to be ready to help
maintain peace in any time Of
emergency or danger. We are not
getting anything like the social
and public values that we ought
to be reaping from our investment
in schools and education. Scholar
ship is not popular in our universi-
ties and colleges. Athletic life
} furnishes no proper outlet, be-
cause it is vicarious and quasi
} professional. A few young gladi-
= ltors monopolize the athletic ac-
tivity of cur institutions, and the
vast majority are taught to look on
and yell for the maintenance Of
= college or school spirit
Thus our great institutions,
though more and more costly in
their appointments and mainten-
ance, are painfully aware that
they are not producing the results
that ought to be manifest. Many
Of their students,-a possible ma
jority, - cannot write a we'll
nhrased or correctly spelled letter.
They do not know the Bible, or
Shakespeare, or Charles Dickens.
They are not capable of reading
the editorial page of a good news
; paper. This criticism does not ap-
ply to all, but TO what in at least a
good many large institutions must
include fully half of the under
) graduates. 1t would be unjust to
; locate blame in any specific quar-
> ter. The faults lie deep in our
current life, and are widespread.
; There are great resources of worth
and Of power latent in those very
) youths who do not find themselves
} absorbed in the study Of textbooks
; or held to discipline by the stern
ness Of the football coach. But
there is a gospel of social and pub
n lie duty, accompanied by certain
T practical applications, that might
, be used to bring out the earnest
) ness and personal worth of thou
} sands Of these young men. They
T. should be strongly impressed with
! the gravity of the issues of this
f momentous time in which we live.
Without much if any additional
. burden to the taxpayers, every one
of these students of high schools,
! normal schools, colleges, and uni
versities could be so taught and
trained as to be we'll prepared to
exercise many of the usual, and
, some Of the unusual duties of cit
izenship. Such training would
, benefit students in their health
and morals, would give them a
finer sense of private as we'll as of
r public duty, and would furnish
+ them with various kinds of prac-
+ tical experience and knowledge
that would rebound to the welfare
I Of our political and governmental
, life.
+ He goes on to suggest: after a
reasonable interval of time, no
, young man should be admitted to
the privilege of voting until his
! fitness had been passed upon by a
competent committee. He should
- have some mental and ethical
, training in the duties and obliga,
' tions of citizenship, and should &C,
! cept not merely the established
: principle Of liability to military
q duty, but also the obligation to be
,. prepared to serve efficiently. The
kind of training we have in minC
q would be valuable from every
o standpoint. 1t would not merely