The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-04-22

/ fecuon OF present nay faults ant
shortcomings OF the educational sys
tenn, as wen as the relation OF tn,
survey to other curative measures a
that may be necessary In the life o
community. were discussed b!
Arland D. Weeks, North Dakota
Agricultural college. at a recen'
meeting Of the North Dakota society
held at the A. G..
Mr.. Weeks declares that the
educational survey. the product OF
the 80 year unrest in the educational
! world, is the way to a better and
more scientific solution of the all
ments that may afflict the education.
! al program, and only through the
/ survey. scientifically and efficiently
conducted, can the course OF study
| whose presence is not warranted by
facts be intelligently eliminated.
An educational survey is an
examination in detail Of the whole or
| parts OF school system. said Mr.
| Weeks, in discussing the question.
"A committee Of the National Fduca-
! ton association defines a school
survey as an inquiry concerning pub
! lie education which seeks to acquaint
the public with all the educational
/ agencies supported in whole or in
part by public moneys with respect
to their organization. administration,
supervision, cost, physical equipment.
course Of study, teaching staff,
'methods Of teaching, student body, and
results as measured by the achieve
ments OF those who are being trained
or have been trained therein" -"
Who Makes Surveys?
Surveys have been conducted dur
ing the past five years. During the
school year ending June so, 1915,
there were in progress at least rs
Investigations Of survey character in
as many different places in the Unit
ca states. Surveys may be state
wide or nation wide or NAV be of a
county, city or school district,
Different agencies have made
educational surveys The state sur
veys Of Ohio. Vermont and Maryland
were made by or with the co-opera-
ton Of the Bureau Of Municipal Re-
search, New York city. the Carnegie
Foundation, and the general educa-
ton board. City surveys have been
made by representatives of state de-
partments Of education. and by pro-
fessors Of education, sometimes as
sisted by students. The Federal
Bureau Of Education has been identi-
fed with various surveys.
Possible Bearing 90 Surveys.
Comparatively little has been done
toward surveying social conditions
with a view to recognizing courses
OF study. There is general purpose
underlying all surveys to bring the
school system into closer relationship
to public needs. It Is OF course as
sumed that the schools exist to pro-
mote public welfare. One tendency
in surveys is to bring about a great
err correlation between instruction
and the needs Of individuals and COM
munities for vocational skill Hence
we find analyses OF population as dis
tributed among the various employ
ments.
"A survey designed to secure data
by which the organization Of courses
OF study might be precisely governed
is scarcely more than limited at In
surveys heretofore made.
Tn the Leavenworth survey, re-
Earded as exceptionally complete. the
items appear under pro-
gram Of studies and the efficiency Of
Il Organization of school units in
-. Analyses Of the curriculum
showing the time, cost, and the
emphasis placed upon the different
studies.
g. Ehiciency Of class room
as measured by objective
tests. visitation. and conferences with
emphasis.
IS. The community life OF the school
discipline. social life. teach |
er-pupil relations and athletic, liter /
q y-xr and musical m0rfnffnH
Under the heading. The Relation
of the Schools and Community, this |
survey included:
Il. Adaptation of the instruction !
offered to the needs Of the COM
munity.
.. Parent-teacher organizations
and school visiting.
20. Cooperation Of the schools
with the home. the business world |
and other institutions OF an educa-
tional nature.
kinds, such as the night schools, |
graduate work. vacation schools, and
part time work for those who have
dropped out Of school for some
particular reason.
IS. Vocational guidance and en-
methods for the placing of
graduates and for follow up work to
aid them in later life.
What Should BE Taught.
1.-THE survey may be adapted to |
finding out the precise needs Of peo- |
pie and may thus be a guide in the |
selection OF subject matter. There /
are large possibilities in this use Of
the survey. The principle has been |
but the carrying out OF
the principle has not gone far as vet. /
This use Of the survey is limited only /
By the imagination and ingenuity OF
those making IL.
''In the Baltimore survey some in-
quiry was made as TO what knoWl-
edge was needed by workers in GER
tain trades. A number OF worlxmen
reported that they needed arithmetic
10 enable them to compute their
wages. They were not sure they
were getting all they should have for
heir hours. Such direct testimony
points the way 70 a wide field Of
Spelling Modified.
eThe teaching OF spelling has been
modified IN recent years as the re-
lult OF investigations upon the II
reuuency OF use OF words. BY the
Itudy Of thousands Of business let
ers data have been secured which
Ierve as a guide to the choice or
words to be taught in spelling classes.
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