The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-07
~ lead and butter education must |
= be replaced by a type which

= be replaced by type which
gives vision and insight into
the higher planes of life. Our children
must be made to realize that spiritual
and mortal values hold a high place in
life, and that earning a livelihood, or
getting ahead is not the only requisite
OF l5e. Germany became the exponent
Of materialism and selfishness, andhnow
finds the whole world arrayed against
her-a world fortified with the determi-
nation to rid the world of theories
which scott at and ridicule 1dealism."
So said DR.. Newton NJ. Hall in the sec
ond OF his civic welfare sermons at the
North Congregational Church, says the
Springfield Republican. DIR. Halls re-
marks on schools are Of all the more in
terest because of his membership on the
Springfield school committee.
There are some Of us who have boast
ed a good deal about the success of our
public school SYSTEM" he said I'VE
have called the public school the melt
ing pot /: we have believed that 1t fused
the heterogeneous mass of allen life
poured out upon our shores into one
composite, patriotic. democratic race,
that the public school solved all the
problems Of democracy. Some of us are
not so compliment as we once were
The true teacher has always recognized
the fact that educa ton, even in the low
est grades, Is grave and formidable
task. Every conscientious educator has
realized that our system has radical
perhaps fundamental, faults. We do not
feel certain that 1t is unaiterably right
even in its basic principles,
In a certain sense 1t Is even now
only a makeshift. The problem Is so
vast and complicated to train this great
mass of human material in such linn
tied time for such diverse callings and to
do 1t on schedule time and at a minimum
of public expense The task. the press
ing daily task. exacting. perpleXing, mo-
mentous, has fully occupied the minds
and the strength Of the men and women
engaged in administering the public
school system. The only thing which
has saved the situation has not been the
system but the loyalty. the devotion, the
Intelligence and the character of the
group Of overworked and underpaid
teachers to whom too much honor can
rot be given by the republic.
"A far more serious and daunting
problem than we have ever faced before
confronts US to-day. We have to ask
ourselves whether our present system Is
equal to the new demands of civiliza-
ton. even IL administered with the ut
most skill and devotion by the most
competent teachers We have to ask
ourselves whether the bread and butter
| educational system will ever again be
sufficient to satisfy the demands OF civ
| ilization. Education in the future must
, have a vision beyond the fitting of chill
| lFan
means OF the fundamentals taught in the
lower grades,
Let us take the case OF the Belgians,
Here was people very highly trained
| in the bread and butter Idea of educa-
ton; the whole nation was Industrious.
weaving beautiful fabrics, making all
sorts OF articles OF iron and wood and
| leather. raising vegetables and flowers
, for London and Paris and Berlin. One
peaceful day In August along came the
| Germans. another highly educated and