The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-06-30
lndividualism Has Ruled Too
Long in Education, Says
Columbia Man.
EMPHASIS ON DUTY
Children Are Not Taught
That Service Is Proper
Mission of All.

AS fitting climax to the splendid
series of lectures, given by Professor
George p. Strayer of the Columbia
teachers college at the university,
came his lecture Friday Afternoon on
Education for War and for Peace
According to Professor Strayer the
weakest spot in our educational sys-
TEN so far has been that we have
tailed to emphasize duty. The typical
American hero has been the man who
has made a success for himself and
we have thought too little of the men
and women who have gone into the
world to serve others. Now everyone
must be ready to meet his obligations
to think of his contribution in time
OF peace and his possible contribution
in time Of war.
Service Comes First.
lndividualism had to give way-is
giving way to the ideal of service. l.,
had to because we are no longer living
in the old society where every man
was for himself. The strength of a
nation lies in the ability Of all to CO.
operate and recognize the brotherhood
OF man to the end that all may enjoy
the benefits of civilization. No matter
"hen the war stops, teachers can make
the biggest contribution if they will
anstlll into the boys and girls ideals of
service Professor Strayer spoke
mighty of the Boy Scouts organization
as embodying the ideals of service.
Consumption Democratic.
He said that the most democratic
thing our nation ever did was to recog-
nlze the fact that all men are equally
habie to military service and that one
OF the most necessary things to have
nation efficient. is universal military
training.
Professor Strayer claimed that a
situation such as the present asks that
we be efficient-only he who is eff
Client can be a good citizen and tina,
the foun dation is physical efficiency.
"A sure way for a nation to commit
suicide Is to neglect its boys and girls
The theory that children should do
thelr pit in the war is suicidical in
mat 1t would deprive them of the Wig
orous, healthful life which is abso
lutely necessary to the building up of
physical efficiency. If we neglect
boys and girls we are losing our best
asset
Must Think Straight.
In times of peace it is necessary
that men and women be intellectually
e1flcient--that they think straight"
SAID Professor Strayer. IN war we
must think in terms of social service
not IN terms of hate. for if ever there
was time for straight thinking it is
III period like this. We must not en-
courage an attitude of hate in boys
ana girls but open up the way for
s'ralght thinking. And it is Just as
important when we come to make
peace that we think clearly"
In time of war technical efficiency
Is phaslzed-efficiency in vocational
aellty. The searching that show.
what you are good for in war time
aoes not put down the result in terms
OF a Jack Of ll-trades. I'd suggest"
said the speaker that teachers have
not thought it necessary to have an
adequate training in order to teach.
ABOUT half the teachers in this conn
Try are muddling along without ade-
quate training. In France and Ger
many they have to spend MANY wears
settlng ready to teach. For the most
part we don't train anyone well, We
.iieih ofl1t INTO their occupations
Inns mas been due to the fact that -
are blessed with such a wealth of
natural resources. We have been most
"astelul and least prepared to do what
we had to do and were therefore losing
out IN the markets Of the world. When |
we needed highly skilled labor we i'm
ported it. We began to see 4 reason
Tor vocational training when we recor-
hlZed the fact that all are not fitted
10 De presidents-that some had to be
machlnists, teachers. etc"
Must Reform Schools.
me demand in war to have peoplc
eiiicichl gives us some appreciation of
me seriousness Of the problem in re-
forming our educational system. Par,
OF 'hls problem is to find what bows
ana girls are fitted to do and thcn
t'ain them along these lines.
IL mas been suggested that we are
"aste1ul. Do YOU know that it is
customary for the typical American
Iamlly to throw away enough food ia
keep a family? Hundreds and thou-
sands of people are going to 20 hun
cry unless America stops being waste
1ul-unless we learn what it is IN
save food. A great gain in the presen,
situation is that we will rid ourselves
OF our habit of wastefuIness.
Professor Strayer concluded Nv say
ing mat whether in time of war or in
Time or peace it is only by working
1or the common good that we become
hetter and nobler democratic So