Newark post., 1916-02-09

time, money and labor expended !;
that they have not fitted our boys
and girls for life, has been taken
in desperate earnestness by both
national and state governments.
The result has been nationwide
examination Of our teaching from
the standpoint of developing a
wholesome, sane, and patriotic
type Of citizenship.
The nation stands amazed and
appalled, at the prospect of the
militaristic era, which seems to
yawn before us. The thoughtful
ask, in the name of civilization,
cannot America find a saner way
to settle her problems? Can she
not make mind conquer force in
the international as in the indus
trial world? Will she not apply
to international difficulties the
same degree of mental acumen
she has applied in the field of in
vention? Can she not accomplish
her purpose by following a con-
struct;ve rather than a destruc-
tive policy? Can she not gain the
surest preparedness" by turning
enormous sums into schools, and
educational institutions, for train
ing her people?
But the questions confront us,
Has the teaching of the past de-
veloped an interested conscien-
tious citizenship? Has it devel-
oped proper motives for seeking
to participate in civic life? Has it
stimulated cooperation for the
common good? Has it cultivated
civic Judgment, and civic inia-
tive? If we cannot answer all
these questions in the affirmative
truly the time is not yet. Before
our schools can command the
enormous sums Of money now
spent upon armaments for war,
education must prove itself as
loyal and useful to humanity as
have the armies of nations"
And this feeling has led to the
task Of socializing the teaching of
history and civics-a feeling
which is sweeping in a wave over
the teachers in all parts of our
land. The National Municipal
League is at work upon an inves-
tigatiOn as to the best methods of
teaching citizenship; the Ameri-
can Political Science Association
has appointed a Committee of
seven to my estigate the work of
tIi,S.A teachers who have already be-
gun a crusade for the teaching of
better cit zenship, the Bureau of
Education, at Washington is max
ing a special study of this partic-
ular problem.
Among interesting literature
recently published on the subject
is a pamphlet on "Socializing the
Recitation" by Cornelius J. Heat
void, published as "The Normal
Bulletin" from the State Normal
School, Harrisonburg, Va. The
writer emphasizes the importance
o fth opportunity for free com,
municatio nj n the class room; the
necessity for a spirit of co-opera,
ton; and the opportunity for the
assertion Of the personal self or
the part of the pupil. The paper is
filled with helpful suggestions fol
the teacher striving toward this
higher ideal. Excerpts follow:
"Expression is the Fundamental
means Of the child for progres!
and growth. The stimulus for ex
preston comes from the environ
ment of the child, physical ant
personal. In the early life, if th'
child cannot have real person
he constructs one by his imagina
tion, and proceeds with all sort
of communication between him
self and his imaginary parsonage
The recitation must provide fo
all forms of communication be
tween himself and his teache
and his fellows. Most people
even as adults, think better whe
they have someone with whom t
discuss the problem at hand. 1t i
difficult to carry on a forum i
their own minds. Children ca
aften interpret where teacher
fail. If the children taught ar
not more able to work for then
selves, more ready to take the il
itiative, more capable in definin
their problems, in gathering dat
and in finding solutions, tina
they were at the beginning of til
period. then the work has been
failure Thinking does not col
sist in answering the question
which teacher may put concerl
ing the facts recorded in a tex