Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-14
AT CENTRAL HIGH.

EDUCATION, organized for quantity
- production as it is organized in the
public schools, can never be quite what
it was in days when men sought knowl-
edge for its own sake and were willing
to pay with time and hard work for the
comfort and the tranquility of heart
that are the true rewards of culture and
understanding. So II is not strange
that the schools are often criticized for
their superfciality, for the futile ma :
terialism that often characterizes their
administrative codes and for their lack
of the quality of discipline that pene-
trates beyond the mind of student
to temper his spirit. Yet the public
educational system lays broad, il crude,
foundations.
II encourages shabbily smart imita
tions Of the ruling futilitics of the uni
versities. 1t teaches much that must
be painfully. unlcarned in harder schools.
But il does meet the fundamental need
of a democracy. Ii teaches the multi
tudes to read and il encourages habits
of ordered thought. And it is a ques-
ton, after all whether the knowledge
lHhl ultu W lOOh uDoNt
and beyond the scuffle and perceive the
futility and uselessncss of many things
for which life Is wasted and thrown
away can be attained in any classroom.
That ultimate gift is more likely to be
the reward of patient spirits whose
vision and faith survive the years which
exalt those who are proof against dis
| illusionment.
When a school can benefit by the
services of a mind made wise by long
contacts with life itself and made rich
by contemplation of the sort of truths
that provide all the light we have in
any real emergency, it must be consid-
cred fortunate. That such an influence
should be pushed aside and rejected,
out of a pious respect for routine and
in Difference to the habits of practical
minds" is inconceivablc. 1t is for that
reason that the plan to force the retire :
ment of DR.. Robert Ellis Thompson
from the Central High School has in =
spired instructive opposition in so many
unexpected places.
Doctor Thompson gave his life to the
public schools. Philadelphia is full OF
men whose lives he helped to shape.
The venerable president Of the Central
High School brought to his work q
quality of mind and thought that al
ways has been a conspicuous need OF
the school system, not only here but in
all other American cities. He is one
of the few men who can see over the
heads of the crowd. He can see life
whole, and he has never been afraid tc
tell of what he has seen and felt. Fol
the ultimate verities of human exist
ence he has regard that increases
steadily with the years, which some Of
the members Of the Board of Education
are pleased to call a detriment. A
teacher by instinct, a man who gains
by giving and, who is content to fine
the reward of his labor in the memory
of service rendered, is an extremely
rare phenomenon in these lively times
And one who can preserve amid tn,
uproar of the vocational trainers ant
the faddists and the clans Of practical
ism an attitude of unyielding belief il
the practical value of cultured minds
is rarer still.
No rules of routine should be per
mitted to force the retirement of sucl
man from his place in the public
school system of this city. II rule
made by the state Legislature are s,
infexible as to make such an erro
possible, they should be fought by tn
Board of Education. Doctor Thomp
son might be retained in his presen
Office. He might be made presiden
emeritus of his school. He would b
invaluable IL he did no more than tai
to the teaching staff now and then, an,
it is conceivable that the Board o
Education itself would not be the wors
for listening to an occasional lectur
of his on any matter of contemporar.
interest. The schools and universitie
Of America would be more closely il
touch with their times if each ha,
upon its staff professor at large
qualified as Doctor Thompson is quail
fed, to talk occasionally to student
and faculty Of the issues which loon
and vanish so swiftly nowadays as t.
dazzle and stagger minds not balances
by years and ardent experience wit
ancient and unbeatable truths. Teach
ing is not profession in which any on
can grow rich. For all his work Docto
Thompson is to be rewarded by dis
missal IL the retirement plan is carrie
out. Are we to suppose that such a
example will serve to bring other gifte
minds to the service of an institution
that has grown almost hOpelessly for
NAL and uninspred because Of lac
of them?