Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-27

in, we think, lies a visible peril to the
educational interests of the. country"
The editor of the New York Times is
right. This proposal is both radical and
dangerous. and the wider and Interior
purpose which is obviously back of it is
still more perilous.
The editorial of the Times closed with
the following paragraphs which every
one who is periodically concerned for
education in our country will consider
most seriously:
There is a vast compelling force in
35,00O00 Without exception colleges
need money. If college makes bold to
hint to those charged with the disburse-
ment of the General Boards funds that
il could make good use of. say 5000, 900,
conceivably the board might reply that
if the college would consent to make
some changes in it's curriculum, If would
certain effete branches and
show greater kindness for the theories
of the modern school, the matter might
be considered. Faculties might resist,
but trustees, possibly. would be inclin-
ed to yield. At any rate, the danger is
actual, present; it seems to us to be
very great
Where does the general education
board get its authority to impose its
views as to courses of study upon the
teaching body of primary, secondary, or
higher educational instftutions?, Where
is it's authority to enter upon expert
ments which. If, successful, Will. mean
practically the. complete modernization
of elementary and secondary schooling,
whatever it costs% The general edu-
cation board was Incorporated by the
act of congress, approved on January
IL, 1908. The objects OF the incorpora-
ton were: The promotion of education
within the United Statey of America
without distinction of race sex, or creed
In section , of the act the roard is en-
powered to do many things 1t may 'es-
tablish, maintain, or endow elementary
schools. primary schools. industrial
schools. training schools, normal schools,
training schools for teachers or schools
of any grade Or higher institutions of
learning Nowhere do we find that
the board was ves@ed with authority to
spend money and use its influence for the
'modernization' of education or to con-
troll or to have anything to say about the
curriculum of any college or the course
of study in any school.
at would appear that in its expert
ment the board. has yentured outside it's
field, that it has exceeded it's powers
under the act of Incorporation. Whether
of the board of this experiment are so
far-reac ching, revolutionary, and, in the
view of many educators who have al
ready expressed. their opinions upon
these theories. so dangerous to the in
terests of the country and to the minds
Of youth that they should have imme-
date and earnest consideration. If this
experiment bears the expected fruit We
shall see imposed upon the country
system of education born of the theories
Of one or two men, and replacing a sys-
tenn which has been the natural out
growth of the American character and
the needs of the American people.
1T is as if we should be called upon
to abandon our system of common law,
which has sprung from the daily bust
ness and social relations of the people,
and adopt in it's stead code drawn up
by three or four men in a law office and
brought into force and effect by the acts
of the state legislatures. The plans
of the general education board call for
careful examination.
The plans of the general board of edu-
cation call for careful examination, as
the editor of the Times truly says; and
they call for prompt and vigorous and
effectual resistance. Wise men are be-
ginning TO see the peril of thes plans
and purposes, although they have been
late i'm perceiving the danger 1t is to
he hoped that it is not too late to avert
the threatened damage to rre education
of the nation.