Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-05-06
THE PEOPLE AND THE SCHOOLS.

la ~ LII As AN
Are the people of the United States
competent t direct their own
schools?
1t may appear reasonable to sug-
gest hat the American people. no
matter in what capacity they func-
ton, are not capable of doing n.y.
thing. But what are the facts as to
the schools? -.
A great deal is said about lack of
progress, and slow progress. in the
development Of our school work
No one whose opinion has any value
contends that no progress has been
made anywhere, and we believe it is
not seriously commended that there
has not been some progress in the
aggregate. 1t is frequently asserted,
with an appearance Of authority,
that h aggregate progress has got,
been nearly commensurate with the
needs of the time and the opportuni-
an accepted act that in many cases
the progress has been so slow and un-
satisfactory as to amount to nothing
at all. S-iss
Where has the progress been most
rapid and satisfactory?
We believe hat on this point the
answer would be practically unan-
imous to the effect that progress has
been most rapid and most satisfact-
DRY in the common schools Of the
cities and villages, in the high schools
and in the colleges. s"s
Similarly, we should be told with
like unanimity that not only has
progress in the rural schools been
Nleast satisfactory, but the rural
school situation the country over has
been tagging behind in a distressing
manner. Perhaps the most empha-
tic statements to this effect have
come from those whose work is es-
pccially in connection With the rural
schools, and who, presumably, are in
a position to know whereof they
speak.
Now as to the connection between
this and the. capacity of the people
to direct their own school work, it is
" uSIiiCIiolid UlS 1dCL IIldL DIS pUpuld-
ton in a given area become more
dense, the inhabitants tend to lose
personal contact with their schools,
and to lose, also, the sense of in
dividual responsibility for the manner
in which they arc conducted. The
people who are in closest contact
with the schOols are hose of the
- ...-
small country district. There all
members of the community know the
teacher personally, are familiar with
all the affairs of the school, and are
apt to assert themselves i'm a very.
influential mi on such matters
as length of term, salary of teacher
and character and conditions of
work. AS the population Of the unit
increases this element of personal
contact diminishes. In the village it
exist in some measure, in the city
only slightly, and in connection with
the college scarcely at all.
1t may be that recognition Of these
facts is responsible for the agitation
which seems to be growing in favor
of the assumption of a larger share
of control of u schools by the fed
erafs government, a policy which is
regarded with anxiety by not a few
people who believe that in a subject
+ so intimately related to the interests
and the welfare of every family, it
ought to be possible to get the best
results from local rather than gene
ralscontrol.
Nevertheless, local communities
are falling down on the job, they
must be prepared to handle it better
or to turn it over to somebody else.
1t is asjob that must be done.