The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-04-06
OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM

In trying to reply to Superintend
ent Brinson, we had perhaps better
state at the beginning that we do not
desire to tear down the present sys-
tenn or construct another.
1t might seem unnecessary to make
such statement, as we have never
written anything that could be con,
Strued into a desire to act either as a
razer or an upraiser, but some of the
teachers have jumped to that conclu-
sion. One of our most efficient high
school teachers taxed us with them
sentiments the other day-if she can't
spare time to read our articles care
fully, she should refrain from criti-
cism.
We believe in the public school sys-
tenn as one of the stoutest pillars of
our social fabric. We would not for
anything tear it down-if it was torn
down, we do not possess the ability
necessary to construct another, but
as citizen and journalist we have
a right to criticise what we consider
faulty in the structure.
Mr.. Brinson is much. nearer the
people than the average teacher, but
he is a teacher, all the same, else he
could hardly be competent to fill his
position, and considers the subject
principally from teachers stand
point.
1t was hardly necessary for the
ancient sage to write, "Let the shoe
maker stick to his last" 1t is almost
impossible for any person, in consid-
ering a public matter, to isolate him
or herself from the principal occupa-
ton of his or her lifetime.
Editors, like everybody else, are
swayed by their calling. But it's an
EDITORS business to think more about
other peoples business than his own.
If he cannot, to certain extent, put
himself in other peoples places he
doesn't hold the attention of his read
ers nor his job very long.
Mr.. Crimson says we are mistaken
in our views in regard to the scope
of the work and real theory and pur-
pose of public education.
Perhaps so. According to Mr.. Brin-
sons own statement there are so
many theories among teachers it
would be difficult to pick out the one
that governs. Public education has
become such patchwork that no man
can cut pattern of its scope without
using jigsaw.
Mr.. Crimson says:
''The questions raised have been
discussed by school people from the
ttime of the beginning of the system.
There is hardly meeting of teach
ers either formal or informal that
some feature of these criticisms is
not touched upon. The teachers
themselves vary much in their edu-
cational theories and any course of
study Of the methods pursued is a
compromise.
This is just about what we have
maintained. The teachers hold a jaw
fest over method and decide in the
only way possible. where Greek
meets Greek" the side wins that has
the most Greeks. And you may OBJ
serve that the barbarfans (thatisto-
say, the school patrons) are not con-
suited. All they have to do is to pay
more taxes and buy more books.
Mr.. Crimson says:
81 very distinctly remember an in
cident that occurred when l was a boy
in a backwoods school in Marion
county and the board of public in
struction had made an adoption of
text books for the legal five-year per-
iod, and in this had been so sacrile-
orio1Ic az tfo discard the old RJuo Raok
Spelling Book in which I prided N.Y.
self in becoming good speller. A