Newark post., 1920-07-07
LECTURER PRAISES
DELAWARE'S EDU-
CATIONAL SYSTEM
DALLAS LORE SHARP DEFINES
REAL DEMOCRACY
Tells Essentials of New
Program for American
Education

A sincere compliment to Della
wares interest in education and
the progress made in the past few
years, was made by Dallas Lore
Sharp last night in his opening lec
ture to the Delaware College Sum-
mer School. He said that New
England, once the leader in educa-
tional activities, might well come to
Delaware now to learn of her.
In a mastery exposition of what
is essential in educating children
for democracy, he stated in his
vigorous style, that many of the
traditions formerly held with re.
gard to the aim of eudcation must
be put on the scrap heap if chill
dren are to be educated for
democracy.
"The only hope for America
lies, he said, Gin her public
schools and since America is the
hope of the world, the great prob
lem confronting the nation today
is that Of educating the public to
understand the privileges and re-
sponsibilities of citizenship. Give to
the child a profound belief in these
rights and privileges before he has
finished high school and nothing
can shake his faith.
The nation is bound to be what
the public schools make it. From
this source even more than from
the pulpit must come the thoughts
and purposes that make us what we
are nationally.
In our educational system lies
the hope Of the world, fact which
is recognized by the nations of the
world, many Of whom have sent to
this country, commissions to study
our educational system.
Real democracy is the fruit of
study and the result Of education.
The real spirit of democracy, the
heritage of every American, as
stated in the Constitution, is the
only heritage worth having. Great
er than money, birth, or breeding
is this spirit which permits an
American to see the vision of op-
portunity and to seize the divine
hazard.' - The point Of his story at
this juncture was aptly illustrated
by reference to the candidates re-
Gently chosen for the highest posi-
tiOn to which man may aspire, that
of president of the United States
both having comparatively few op-
portunltles except those seized by
their own efforts.
He scored the selfish ideal of
merely living to enjoy life or to
make living. He pointed out with
eloquent reference to the sacrifices
of the late war, the things that are
bigger and more precious than life.
The boys and girls must be fitted
he said, to enjoy the privileges and
to shoulder the responsibilities of
citizenship. This will require a
larger preparation than has yet
been provided, an enlarged con-
cept of the meaning Of education as
that which will enable them to
meet the demands Of citizenship in
democracy.
In the new educational program
these demands must be met as the
Europeans think America is meet
ing them as is evidenced by the
commissions sent here. He pointed
out some of the defects which
these commissions will find; the lS
per cent of the school population
not in school; the number Of differ
ent types Of school, 1. e., private,
parochial, trade, and vocational;
the irregularity of attendance; the
ill-preparedness of the teaching
force and other things that hinder
efficient training for democracy.
Lauding the splendid work done in
Americanizing the foreign popula-
ton, he pointed out the need of
characterization of the American
Continued on Page 4.