New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-21
Rockefeller Movement to
Ignore Past Opposed
by Wilcox
SEVERAL EDUCATORS
JOIN IN PROTEST
Teachers College FavorS
New Idea and Believes
in Fair Test

uentary and secondary school system
~ what IL regards as the trammels Of
tradition-the study or Greek, Latin,
nost Of ancient history and the higher
branches Of grammar and mathematics
-snds little favor with the majority Of
Educators, churchmen and professional
leaders
Most Of the adherents Of the classics
are ehary Of speaking for publication,
however They are aware Of the com
mercial and highly practical tendencies
~ the age and are fearful of stirring
m an issue. The friends Of Homer
and calculus know the proponents of
business college methods outnumber
,hsm. and out Of more than dozen
rsrsons approached only six or seven
cared 10 be quoted.
However. some were outspoken. The
criticisms run from statements pro-
rouncing the new scheme an "absur-
Sitv" as Father Joseph II. Rockwell,
president Of Brooklyn College, said. and
one 10 be regarded with suspicion,
which Is the opinion of Rabbi stephen
: Wise. 60 mildly disappearing words
that the plan viii be interesting as
passing experiment only.
Columbia Gives Support
The Rockefeller plan appeared 10
cain It's heartiest support from the
members Of the faculty Of the Teachers
College Of Columbia University, where
an experimental school embodying the
,orets Of the new idea will be opened
in September.
William q. Wilcox, president OF the
Board Of Education, was willing TO con-
cede a point on some of the higher
mathematics and the deeper sciences,
but he opposed the new school notion
squsrely on the abandonment or the
classical languages and ancient history
studies.
Human nature has not changed
throughout the ages" he said. I'VE
cannot understand the modern without
a study Of the ancient. How are we
70 understand the development of man
unless we read the history of those
who lived before? We should know
the language they spoke, the books
they read and the thoughts that were
theirs. ! am believer IN liberal eau
cation for the common schools. l am
opposed 10 the ElilnAilAtANAA VI NAAN 80
tural studies. A study of practical
problems cannot take the place OF
culture"
Catholic school officials appear a
unit against the undermining Of the
curriculum. A prominent dignitary Of
the New York Archdiocese character
lied the movement as degrading and
dangerous" and Father Rockwell
said. ITS an utter absurdity. l don't
agree with any such experiment
Suspicious OF Movement
Rabbi Wise issued this statement:
Every college man or woman must
be particularly interested in the an
nouncement, even though It cane too
late 10 save us from the little Latin
and less Greek with which we were
lowered i'm our youthful days Il IS
deeply suggestive that the announce
ment makes clear that the undertaking
is 70 be regarded as an experiment.
"Some viii question, some viii won
der whether 10 would not have been
more auspicious 20 have initiated the
experiment under public auspices
rather than under the @gis of quasi
private institution. II viii be re-
garded with suspicion by. those who
have TOO timidly listened to the coun-
ellis Of vocational education. but more
d.scerningly hesitated to accept the
potentially menacing gospel OF INDUS
trial efficiency"
Sidney Z. Mezes, president of the
College Of the City Of New York. was
asked If he favored dropping Latin
and Greek from the curriculum Of Sec
ondary schools.
81 believe in accepting these subjects
on a basis Of experimentation, he sao,
rather than on any ones personal
views. There is only one way 70 work
il out and that is by trying it,
Nicholas Murray Butler, president Of
Columbia was in New Jersey and could
not be reached, but Professor Paul
Monroe, director of the School Of Edu-
cation of the Teachers College, with
several of his associates, Endorsed the
new idea.
Test for New Plan
1T is desirable Of having an oppor-
tunity Of testing out new ideas un-
hampered by the tradition that neces-
sariiy exists In schools that are re
strcted so often by the necessity OF
making money" said Professor Mon
roe. ."ln this new school there viii not
be that difficulty. The new social de-
mands that arise in any period reveal
themselves I'm the changes Of curucula,
and We must have places where these
demands can be tested freely
Professor Clifford B. Upton, secre-
tary OF Teachers College, said:
"The cooperation of the General I'd
ucation Board and Teachers College m
this new school promises to be most
significant contribution TO American
educatiou.'
Thomas W. Churchill. former presl-
dent Of the Board of Education, said
that while this is primarily IAN age oil
steam and electricity 10 does not neces-
sarily follow that the classics should
DC done away with.
"There is valuable practical mental
discipline in the study Of Latin and
Greek" he said. I'VE cannot under
stand our own language thoroughly
without study Of ancient sources.
Michael Friedsam, president Of b. All
man & Co., said;
"Any new scheme of teaching, or any
reorganization of the present scheme,
which will eliminate the academic and
pedantic deadwood, should receive our
hearty encouragement.
"The statement issued by the General
Education Board suggests that cautious
experimentation is to be undertaken to
adapt the curricula Of the schools TO
the needs of modern life, and TO work
out national course Of study which
will connect the subjects studied with
their practical application"
TO SIT IN APPEALS COURT
Justices Mclaughlin and Cardozo Ac-
cept Whitman Appointment