Evening journal., 1919-02-01
mGn scnooL cnANcEs URGED.

Delaware for educational betterment report OF the
National Education Association dealing with the ques-
tion whether the American high school will up
to It's new responsibilities In seeking for democracy
Is unusually interesting TO Delawareans. That report
Just been Issued by the United States OF
cation entitled Cardinal Principles OF Secondary
Education"
Everyone in Delaware and especially those Interested
directly In the operation OF high schools should read
carefully and digest thoroughly the report II is the
chief document prepared by us commission on the Re
organization OF Secondary Educason which has been
working steadily since 1912 various problems In that
aed The report presents in the brief space OF thirty
pages important principles TO guido the reorGan-
zaton Of Americas distinctive educational lnsttu-
ton No other country has enrolled many or such
large proportion Of It's youth In secondary schools has
the United States Nevertheless secondary education Is
still far from meeting the needs OF many important
groups OF young persons.
AS basis for It's presentation the commission holds
that:
The purpose OF democracy is so to organize society
that each may develop his personality primarily
through activities designed for tho well-belng Of his fe
low members and OF society as a whole.
This dennllion emphasizes efficiency, bR In no narrow
sense. Efficiency in America must be based upon ap
probation OF social values This conception Of democracy
demands also thai the individual be helped to choose The
vocation and the forms OF social service IN which his per-
sonalliy may effective For the achievement
Of these ends democracy must place chief reliance
education.
The Commission would focus secondary education upon
whist may be called the great oblectives such
health citizenship vocsilon. worthy Of LEISURE and
ethical character Too long have the schools conceived
their tsks under vague genealtIes such intellectual
discipline and too long have they taught formal types OF
knowledge bearing little evident relation to the problems
Of service and worthy living
OF the problems OF educston In the reconstruc
xy h0 IA
apply directly and specifically 70 worthy living in
democratic socIely This implies moan. narrow bread
and butter conception OF education On The contrary the
Commission holds that separate stages. the rs general
and the second vocational, is unsound.
Health needs are Important all stages the vocational
aspect valuable the early stages giving great
purposefuncss to schooIng while preparation for c
zenship and the worthy Of leisure involve phases
which require maturity on the part Of the pupil.
Furthermore. IL ls only the pupil his vocation
in relation TO his citizenship and his citizenship In the
light Of his vocation that he win be prepared effective
membership in an industrial democracy. Consequently
the Commission enters IT'S protest again any plans
however well intended which in danger OF divorclns
vocational and socal-clv education stands squsrely
for The infusion Of vocation with the spirit service and
for the utilization Of culture by genuine contact with the
worlds work
The Commission favors sx-year elementary school, fol-
lowed by six years Of secondary education the latter to be
divided into two periods corresponding junior and
or high schools.
The Commission takes advanced ground with regard to
he admission Of pupils 10 the high school The over-agc
pupil who is slow certain lines of work longer
held back In the elementary school to lose interest and
eveop habits Of dawdng Instead the secondary school
must provide suitable instruction for such overage pupils
With regard 10 admission higher Institutions It crIti-
Uses entrance requirements and examinations that hand
cap 4he secondary school, he conception that every
student who would college must devote all his prep
raton to non-vocatlona subjects must give way to
scientific evauaton Of all types Of secondary education
preparation for continued study the commission says
Doors Of higher institutions should be open every stu
lent for whatever form OF higher education he can un
ierake with profit 10 himself and TO society. "The
epton that higher education should be limited 10 the few
destined to disappear In the interests Of democracy"
Can the American high school offer the many kinds Of
training needed by different groups Of young people and
" the time insti in them those common IDEAS COM
mon ideals and modes Of thought feeling
lion essential FOR national sodary9 This is The central
problem Of secondary education In America Exp9nslon
In high school curriculums desirable and neces-
sary. But expansion must be accompanied by renewed
efforts to develop social solidarity. The greater the
Terentsuon studies the more important becomes the So
cial mngng Of pupils pursuing different curriculums
To solve this problem the Commission recommends thsi
wide variety Of currcuums offered and that they
should as rule be conducted side by In comprehcn-
sve high schools rather than in specialized high schools
was the German method This position S supported by
careful analysis OF The many advantages OF this compre-
lensve type Of high school The Commission however
warns against the neciency that may arise II the head
n such school Is man OF narrow outlook or limited
terests II the faculty orsanzed so a. to devel-
'p every curriculum to the utmost efficiency consistent
With the civic and social needs
With secondary education reorsanzed so as 20 contro-
tie more directly TO the health. good citizenship voca-
ions efficiency sterling character and the ability 10 use
ssure wisely the Commission holds that secondary cd.
cation is essential for all the youth OF the naon II
rges legislation whereby all youns people, whether en-
Dyed not shall be required To attend the secondary
hool for at least eight hours in each week that the
hools In sessinn mo single piece Of educational leg
aton could do to raise tho level Of Intelligence
ID efficiency and to insure the welfare OF democracy"
ch par-tim continuation edcation should no: be
cusively vocational. 1t should he conducted in com-
ehensve high schools. rather than in separate contn-