New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-26
To the Editor q The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: President Wilson's statement that
there is a great confagration In Europe the
sparks of which are falling dangerously near
US IS very pretty piece Of literary de-
scription, and his remedy OF a continental
army or similar system can be compared
only to a bucket brigade that is necessary to
put out fire that was not expected and for
which no preparation was made.
True craftsmanship does not consist in
telling US what we need, but how to ge.
what we need We need something more
than a bucket brigade TO fight any FIRE
that breaks out in America. We need trained
citizens whose training dates back to child
hood, and propose a system which Will not
only be blessing in time of peace but the
best kind of protection in time of war, name
ly. a national public school system.
In the first place an examination Of sta
tistics will show that Of some thirtyod
million Of men, women and children who are
working for a living, between SO and 30
per cent are working as physical manual
.aborers. from the unskilled to the line Of
labor so skilled as almost to be called pro-
fession. On the other hand, that there are some
25.0OOOOO school children in America, the
character Of whose education is not to fit
Them for the manual positions which the
vast majority Of them will surely fill, but
Tor a professional W quasi-professional life
for which only a very small minority Viii
ever qualify. This represents radical, a
fundamental and shameful defect in our sys-
tenn Of education. Il is not enough 10 sit
by and bemoan It; we must remedy it.
propose TO leave to the several states
he academic education which has been 50
ably developed in America. | propose that
the national government shall organize Il
great board of education, consisting Of the
Secretary OF War, the Secretary of
Commerce, the presiding justice OF the
United States Supreme Court and fifteen
other members 20 be appointed By the Presl-
dent. 10 be composed Of such men as Com
pers, Low, Carnegie and Ford. / would have
the Federal government establish throughout
the United States great national public
schools In these schools should be laugh,
all those trades and manual means of liveli-
hood which call for some degree Of technical
knowledge. In great manufacturing centres,
Boston. Detroit, etc, I would have the cha--
acter of the education such as would develop
citizens in manufacturing. In the great agri-
cultural section | would develop the agri-
cultural colleges so that the average boy
would learn rs an elementary education
hose things relating to the soil which are
necessary to develop an experienced hus-
bandman.
Throughout these schools | would have
military discipline maintained and the fun
lamentals of military lore so interviewer
with the curriculum as 20 develop a citizen
Who would know something about war. ii
'uch curse should fall upon this nation
eligibility 70 tho great band of teachers
would be practically the same as now ex.
cts until such time az group Of teachers
echnically equipped for the newer educa-
ion could be developed. Now then, II a
'sr should never be inflicted upon us, these
render them moro suitable to the calling in