Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-18
OUR SCHOOLS
By H. Addington Bruce

BY H. Addington Bruce
Copyright, 1919, by the Associated Newspapers
~ HE other day | came across a curious little
fragment from ancient hiStory--from very
ancient history-as preserved by an emf
nent American Savant, the late Professor A. E.
Dolbear. commend it to the thoughtful con-
Sderation of my readers From it we learn:
In antediluvian times while the animal king
dom was being differentiated into swimmers,
climbers, runners, and filters, there was a
school for the development of the animals.
The theory of the school was that the best
animals should be able to do one thing as we'll
as another.
If an animal had short legs and good wings,
attention should be devoted to running, so as
to even up the qualities as far as possible.
So the duck was kept waddng instead of
swimming. The pelican was kept wagging his
short wings in the attempt to fly. The eagle
was made to run and allowed to fly only for
recreation.
All this in the name of education Nature
was not to be trusted. For individuals should
be symmetrically developed and similar, for
their own welfare as we'll as for the welfare
of the community.
training but persisted in developing the best
gifts they had were dishonored and humli-
ated in many ways,
They were Stigmatized as being narrow
minded and specialists, and special difficulties
were placed in their way when they attempted
to ignore the theory of education recognized in
the school.
No one was allowed to graduate from the
school unless he could climb run, swim and fly
at certain prescribed rates.
So it happened that the time wasted by the
duck in the attempt to run had so hndered
him from swimming that his swimming muscles
had atrophied and he was hardly able to swim
at all.
In addition he had been Scolded, punished
| aid i'll treated in many ways so as to make his
life a burden. He left school Inundated, and
the ornithorynchus could beat him both running
and swimming. Indeed the latter awarded
a prize in two departments
The eagle could make no Roadway in climb
ing to the top of tree. And although he
showed he could get there just the same, the
performance was counted a dement, since it
had not been done in the prescribed way.
An abnormal eel with large pectoral fins
proved he could rum swim, climb trees. and
fly little. He was made valedictorian.
Thus the historical fragment, for knowledge
of which we are so greatly indebted to Pro-
feSSor Dolbear.
Of course, the world has travelled far and
fast since the fantastic early times SO quantity
recorded here. But has it, after ALL quite freed
itself from the strange error of this manifestly
absurd school system?
May it not be that failure to educate with
due regard to individual aptitudeS and limita-
tons has something to do-perhapS great
deal to do-with the poverty suffering, social
unrest so painfully in evidence in our modern
life?
And is it not possible that all schemes for
the wider gaining of success happiness and
social solidarity are foredoomed to failure until
way be found to make our schools more eff
fective instruments for the sitting and fitting
of boys and girls for their proper place and
work in life?
| wonder.