The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12
y HIS annual report TO the Presi-
dent, Secretary Lane says that al

N HIS annual report TO the Presi-
dent. Secretary Lane says that al
though education Is our foremost
Industry, 1t has made less progress than
any other during the last thirty years.
This Is current knowledse and is due
to the fact that education has become
a study OF food rather than OF those
who are to consume II; hence we 10
from school to school seeking one that
produces a food our children are likely
to digest.
II IS also evident that there Is SONS.
thing wrong fundamentally.
Education has three problems rather
tina one. rural. conventional. and that
which pertains to tho education OF those
whom We expect TO become leaders Of
thought and action. This Is not IDEAL
istic. but fact amply proved by statis-
tics. In behalf OF those who spend
time, money and intelligent care on their
c9ildren. | have sought the opinions Of
active men. learned their needs, and
have also spent time. money and care,
not only here but in every Europcan
country except Scandinavia, trying to
learn what Is wrong.
What Is particularly noticeable. and
what parents ave not taken into ac-
count, is that leading men are. in their
youth. sensitive. timid. physically,
soft difficult to handle n often the
despair OF their parents. The strength
o. manhood which they seek to develop
only comes when boys have reached ~
or thereabout. and after acquiring Ger
tain knowledge that experience brings
Now an able man must be sensitive 10
his surroundings and have "A mind that
Is both sensitive and receptive. but he
j. not influenced, In his ~receptivity lies
his strength. while his initiative, person
nlitv and horse sense serve 10 aid in
creating new and better conditions. From
this II may be seen that sensitive chill
uren may have their career made or
, ruined by those vino control them. and
tina criticism. censure or discipline which
seeks to mould really tends to destroy.
Criticism Is the greatest power In the
world yet II involves n minimum o.
ability or effort. This may be positive
or negative: a ready acknowledgment,
that some one has done right, or an
attempt to point out his faults. Positive
criticism Is tho stronger. as Il promotes
good will and action. Europe under.
stands this thoroughly and employs II
in daily life. I recall asking for some
thing in my very worst German, and re
CelVcd excellent LngllSn III reply, Du'
with the you try very we'll
In this country criticism takes mega
tive FORM, and IL frequently spoken 81
AS an American characteristic and ever
as "A disease so that II has become i'm
possible to suggest any form Of individ
ual or public action without provoking
a storm OF negative criticism. This ha'
received serious attention from bushes:
men. who have sought to offset 1t b,
The creation OF "Booster Clubs" ant
Don't Knock signs. both OF which are
|, peculiarly American.
When this enters family life. contro
OF our children allows not only criticism
but It's extension In the form Of censure
coercion or c%ompulsion. This We cal
discipline" Often tho older children
, are un%restrained in their criticism OF tn
younger, though parents reserve thu
right OF discipline.
For many years discipline has beef
so closely associated with education tina
even now, when our children approach
abstract lessons and their minds momen
tarily rcpel them. we u to d~isciplin,
as a solution. sending them wherevc
there is promise OF compulsion. Year
ago this was called '~brealing Q boy