Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-02

taiSpOSSu4 OIL III IIle5t elementary
schools by the simple process which
logicans know as .solvitur ambu-
lande', troubled the French greatly
until about 1882. 1t still vexcs ing
lish educational reformers, but now
seems to he we'll on the way to a sat
isfaetory solution.
1.-The serene self confidence of thu
British nation never showed to bet
ter advantage than when parliament
took time IN the darkest days of the
war, when Enylands very existence
was threatened. to recast the entire
educational system OF England and
Wales under the leadership Of Sir
Herbert Fisher. The British nation
had time and thought for this task
even in the midst OF war, and 10
other greet nation evfrl has approach
ed the grandeur OF an achievement Of
this sort In circumstances eycn ap-
proXimating those In which Great
Britain accomplished 1t.
This is not the place in which to
examine the provisions OF the new
English educational legislation. SAT
flce 1t to say that it is a fine example
of modern constructive progress
easily adaptable to circumstances,
and thoroughly English in principis
and spirit.
THAT this legislation will not only
OF itself produce admirable nationel
results. but that II win lead with
reasonable promptness TO som netting
Gtill more far-reaching. hardly can
he doubted.
And now what about the United
states? That which can truly he
said OF the United States today Is
very different from that which might
truly have been said Of this nation
Twenty-Five years ago. During the
past. quarter OF a century the Ameri-
systems. as we'll as the American
elementary school system. have suf-
fered from growing pains as we'll As
from clash between two opposing
educational philosophers. The grow
Ing palms have been the accompani
ment Of the multiplication OF schools
OF every sort, OF an increasingly conf
pick and growing poputhtion, and OF
more sharply, defined. and diverse
economic needs and ambitions.
%rhe schools. being highly organ
ized and well nigh universal. have
been Eeized hold Of by reformers and
propagandists Of all kinds. some wise.
some unwise. and SO, not infrequent-
ly. they have been diverted from
their fundamental task OF Offering
education to. the: young.
THE business OF the elementary.
school Is simple. It Ia to train the
young child to good habits Of ex-
ercisc and conduct: to teach the Gle
mentary facts of the nature which
surrounds him and TO give him abil-
ity to read understandingly. to write
leRlbiy and. to perform quickly and
accurately the fundamental opera
tiona with numbers.
"The elementary school Is no place
for any form OF vocational or tech
meal instruction. Tint should be-
long to. the secondary school period
and the periods beyond and, OF course,
to the continuation school.
'These growing pains manifested
themselves in various ways In Amer
lean secondary schools and colleges,
but II is unnecessary to describe them
here. Like all other growing pains,
they will pass eventually and per
haps with little i'll result.
more important has been the clash
OF rival educational philosophers. This
has perplexed American parents and
teachers and thus for u time has
diminished the effectiveness OF the
school system. The first of these
p,lilcsophl~s, and that which I hold