New-York tribune., 1920-09-19
Student Activities Outside
School q Problem
Wise to Encourage Such Endeavors, Says Hackett.
but Always Within Range of Mental
Capacity of Individual

into the shop or the art room. He
liked music. irst, lessons on the
piano were given; then the violin.
Presently ne began to write and be-
came the representative of the school
paper among his group. Then his fell
lows elected him chairman Of the prin-
| clpal society, which did really fine
work under his leadership. He be-
carried one OF the principal parts in
most carefully prepared play in Eng
lish and another in French, and still
had time for an abundapce Of athletics.
Here were eight separate channels,
IN addition to much enriched lessons.
| into which the splendid mentality of
this lad poured itself. In each, he gave
pleasure to others, and this uncon-
sciously paved the way for an unusual
service to his fellow man. As his de-
velopment unroIds, it cannot be doubt
/ ed that this natural expression of his
interests among lads Of his own age
and maturity will render him far bet
ter balanced than the mere absorption
Of the advanced subject-matter of
which he is capable.
For Gil normal minds, therefore,
student activities have an important
place. The number to be engaged in
bility which the measurement Of in
telligence discloses. Any school which
fails to use this means Of discrimina-
tion does its students the injustice Of
relying upon impression only, not upon
fact.
Discipline Yexing Problem
30 accustomed are parents to think
OF education in terms Of books and
Of recitatons that often the great
value Of such splendid influence as
student activities is quite overlooked.
1t is to be remembered that these
represent "learning by doing" The
magic touch which physical training
receives through athletics is at once
apparent. 1t is no less SO with other
vital subjects or impulses.
Discipline, for example, the most vex-
ing problem in school life, is wonder
fully improved by the practice of So
called self-government--which means
really as large an approach to student
control, at best immature, as the school
authorities find wise. Greater nd
vances have recently been made in
this field than In almost any other
extra curricular activity. Starting
with class committees elected BY the
fellows to take over one responsibility
after another, these plans have gradu-
ally come to embrace the conduct of
study periods, and discipl!ning for or
d,inarry offenses without reference to
the faculty. In one school, indeed, all
dormitory supervision has been taken
over by the students.
The training in leadership and In re-
spect for elected authority which this
plan affords is genuine preparation for
lie IN democratic government. The
one danger to be avoided is any sem
blance of espionage. Offenders report
to their fellows, who set the penalty in
all cases except those involving actual
viciousness. Here, of course, the school
authorities must use their power. That
is the sole great limitation Of self
government.
Self-Help Spreading
Self-help Is q comparatively new
student activity, but it is spreading.
Arising from the ordinary complexities
| of the servant problem, it is empha-
sized by the exceptional difficulties Of
these times. Boys and girls are now
enjoying advantages of which they
have long been robbed by too much
service. Why should they not learn, by
keeping their own classrooms clean,
what 1t means to litter them? Doubly,
Of course, this applies to boarding
school, where the students own bed
rooms are concerned. Why, too, should
they be deprived Of the privilege of
sharing in the setting, the serving and
the clearing away of the meals?
All Of these activities take far less
time than had been supposed, and
make clear to youth how much human
energy is necessarily expended in
doing for Us what we can to greater
advantage do for ourselves.
There are obvious limitations to this
plan, Of course-the danger Of hurried
and careless work; the tendency to
lean upon the few who are willing, and
the failure on the part Of the school
authorities themselves to give to CO.
operation with tho students the time
ard the thought which the scheme de-
mands- On the whole, however, no
wholesome possibilities than that Of
| seR-help.
Wise 90 Encourage Activities
How debating, literary activities and
school journalism transform English
for leadership and for expression;
how patriotic efforts. euch as were the
Liberty Loan and Red Cross drives,
permit love Of country to speak in ac-
tual work. now music becomes a Joy
through the Glee Club and tho or or
,, chestra5 how Shakespeare becomes real
through actual presentation of Julius
Cesar" for example; how Latin or
Greek Is no longer dead" when used
by the Classical Club In actual scenes
from the trial Of Catiline, or da-
logue Of Plato; how being good" that
lifeless state, becomes actual through
doing good" In the relief or the mis-
sionary society; how physics or chem
istry become, through the Science Club,
subjects for enthusiasm-al these. and
many more works of magic, will be
clear to parents and educators who
carefully consider how much to youth
an organization Of his own comes to
mean.
The wise thing, therefore, is TO en-
courage student activities - always
within che range of the mental ca
paclty Of the individual.
(rhaD as the closing article by Mr..
Hackets In q series OF four, dealing
with the private school. which have
appeared In successive Sunday issues
OF The Tribune.)