The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-07-11
EDUCATIONAL.
(By j. w. VoboriD
AFTER SCHOOL
Being the Reflections of a School
Teacher.

Teacher.
For year or two past democracy
has been our most popular word. We
have been reading into 1t all OF the
hopes, aspirations, and attainments Of
the American people. To many 1t has
been a synonym for republic can form
of government; to others it has had a
meaning almost unlimited, a connota-
tion as rich as social experience
couldgiye. Persaps the very frequent
use of the word will lead to a clearer
definition of its meaning, and great
er zeal to realize its implications.
The American public school has
been so closely connected with the ue
yelopment of democratic ideals, that
it seems quite remarkable that our
magazine writer's and editors have
just discovered the association. With
that fine frenzy which the proclaim
ers of a new truth always manifest
they are now showing how important
ii is to give youth a training in citi-
zenship They can even see that teach
ers as a class are underpaid and that
they belong, as Ian Hay puts IT, to
"the most responsible, least adyer-
tised, poorest paid, but most richly re-
warded profession in the world 1t Is
beginning to be apparent that the pub
lie, which in the past has rather
blindly trusted and supported the
schools as something necessary but
withal mysterious and esoteric is now
coming to see that the schools are
after all the foundation stones of an
enduring democracy. Where before
they felt that the school was an insti-
tuition to be eulogized upon occlsinn,
or criticized for its supposed failure.
it is now being considered rather
thoughtfully by laymen And as in
matters political they have the final
and decisive word, so in educational
policies they will have larger voice
They may be inexpert in matters call
ing for professional judgment, but
their innate common sense will finally
give the correct judgment-if educa
tional men are the right kind of lead
ers. For one of the elements of dem
ocracy Is leadership. Those are the
best citizens who choose most wisely
the men and women whom they ex-
pect to follow.
who are intrusted with the schools
must assume a function which to
many will prove distasteful. They
will be engaged in making the
schools better, and with this Will 20
the duty of forming public opinion IN
educational matters. These opinions
will have to be based upon matters of
principle rather than upon detail;
upon policies rather than personali-
ties. 1t is conceivable that matter
OF educational policy should become
political issue. Assuredly II The
school does its full duty 1t cannot re-
main aloof from the great social
movements that are beginning to
make themselves felt as a result OF
the World War Through it's temper
ance instruction the school has proD-
ably had much to do with making the
nation dry. Through its democratic
ideals 1t has impressed upon the gen
Grafton now voting much of the social
consciousness evidenced in our public
activities. But more definitely, more
concretely 1t must do its part in the
democratic reconstruction that IS
coming after the war. The school men
ought to be to the next political period
what the lawyers have been in the
past. Not at all selhshly nor in a
spirit of arrogance will they mould
opinion. They may not sit In the seats
of the mighty but they will. through
formulation of policy and by the
power of ideas clearly thought out
and clearly expressed, have much to
do with the direction which the cur
rents of public opinion shall take
Courage, vision, and power viii be
needed as never before. But If the
education of the United States is not
to be dominated by the Prussian ideal
of efficiency, the public school men
and women will have to assume a new
duty.
Wisconsin viii undoubtedly have a
campaign for the revival of the Ben
nett Law. There will be much TO do
to compel an assent to the principle at
stake. Religious and racial feeling
will be revived, and a fine balance and
sanity will be needed In meeting the
opponents OF a law compelling all in
struction In elementary subjects to
be given In the English language. In
some communities there viii be edu-
cational martyrs, perhaps later recog-
nized as our Whittiers, Garrisons, and
Browns.
Home and local and state pride may
have to be sacrificed II we bring about
national ideal of equality OF educa-
tional opportunity. So, too, within