Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1916-11-01
MODERN EDUCATIONAL
TENDENCIES DISCUSSED
Continued from page u

It's growth since the Civil War is re-
markable. In 1890 only 100000 stud
ents were enrolled; in 1900 the number
100000; in 1910 it had grown to be-
tween 100000 and 100000. At the
present time we have a million and a
half enrolled in our high schools. That
means that the great mass of people
are demanding more and more educa-
ton and that they are getting it.
There is a constant tendency to enrich
the curriculum. We all know that
which is offered our children is richer
than that offered our forefathers. And
this tendency follows a definite direc-
ton.
Let US consider vocational educI-
ton. The decreasing demand for this
form of instruction rests upon the
changed industrial and vocational con-
ditions, and these conditions have
changed wonderfully. The problems
of modern life, include, in addition to
those of an agricultural community,
very complex in Il us trial problems.
We have undergone an industrial revo.
luton. In Delaware agriculture as an
industry predominates. We should
therefore feel the Importance of the
agricultural high school.
Our schools should prepare for
citizenship. Many people think that
our democracy has proved itself. In
reality it is still an experiment. We
have not attained ideal democracy by
any means yet. The present good Of
our democracy lies in its possibilities
rather than in its actual achievements.
Think of the corruption in our city
governments. In one city a few
years ago an investigation revealed
that the municipal government was
paying 1921 for the purchase and
putting up of cheap coat hooks worth
five cents; the city was paying u
cents for nails that could be bought
anywhere for five cents. If this de-
mocracy is going to stand We have to
develop citizens.
Our schools should teach the pupils
how to make use of their leisure hours.
Physical health j. one of the prime
requisites for keen mentality; there
is a definite relation between mind
and body. Play is natures method of
education. 1t is merely that natures
method falls short because of our
present complex conditions. Play is
undoubtedly one of the most effective
tools in educational development.
Our schools should train for par
enthood. Medical and dental inspec-
ton are a part of this plan, also the
open air schools for tubercular child
rem, the school lunches and the teach
ing of physiology and hygiene.
I'VE have gotten the habit of saying
vocational education is coming. We
must recognize that vocational educa-
ton implies vocational guidance" The
speaker referred to the provision by
certain philanthropic individual for
assistance for the college man who is
down and out, adding there are many
college men among hoboes. If voca-
tional guidance had been in existence
when they were in college that would
not have happened. Now We are ge.-
ting the facts aobut vocations and
giving them to the children. We i'm
press upon the child the importance
of having purpose. We are asking
ourselves why our children drop out
of school. Is it not because they can
not see that the extra years in school
will be of use to them? In this coun-
try there between the ages of ii and
IS, between five and six million child
rem out of school. Investigation has
shown that from two-thirds to three
fourths of these drop out, not to help
swell the family income, but of their
own accord. This condition is the big
problem that vocational guidance is
trying to meet"
The speaker, in closing, referred to
the new educational science, declaring
"The science of education has develop
ed out of pedagogy which is not
science. You ask the difference be-
tween a science and that which is not
a science? 1t is the difference betwe ~
fact and opinions. Science doesn't ask
opinions; it finds out the facts. So we
are working to find out the actual
facts, to analyze the mental processe
involved and find out exactly what is
being done. We try various wa,
out. The method that produces the
best results in the greatest number Of
cases is pronounced the best. We are
developing a set of scales for the
measuring of different result