Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-10-26
WEDNESDAY EVENING. OCTOBER zs. 1921.
GIVING THE CHILD HIS HEAD.

Mr.. Voliva, the head of that peculiar organiza-
ton which has its headquarters in Zion City, just
out of Chicago, declares that the earth is fiat. His
adherents agree with him. If they did not he would
excommunicate them. Not only does Mr.. Voiva
believe that the earth is fat, but he intends that the
young of his flock shall believe likewise. Schools
are maintained in, Zion City for the faithful OF the
flock, and they are quite some schools, too, with well
appointed buildings. a superintendent, principals,
teachers and several hundred children. These
schools teach the fatness of the earth, and the
teaching is defended by the superintendent.
The lady says that the theory that the earth is
fat appeals to the children because of its reason
ahleness. 1t agrees with their own observation.
Naturally. The thing looks fat to them, as it does
to all Of US, and it is easier for the child to grasp
that idea than the conception of a globe rolling
through space with no visible means of support The
appeal thus made to the child apparently j~usti6es
the teaching to the superintendent, who expresses
herself in the English of an educated woman.
1t does not seem to have occurred to this super
intendent that if the child is to bring all instruction
to the test of his own reason he ought at least to
have a chance at all sides Of it and to have the va
rious contrasting theories presented for his inspec-
ton and approval or rejection. That, of course, is
not a part of the Zion City curriculum. She is paid
for'teaching the earth fiat, and she teaches it fiat.
But aside from the little oversight of not giving
the child both sides, her idea is in accord with much
that is presented in these days as educational. In
Our rebellion against ancient dogma many of us
have reached the position that it makes little differ
SaNC WlAdl OlC OCHCNSS, " VI lOl LIS g
1ieves anything. One theory is as good as another,
and by no means should the infant mind be pervert-
ed by having facts presented to it as facts. The
child must be permitted to reason everything out
Tor himself, and if he reaches wrong conclusions the
further development of his reasoning powers will
enable him to correct the error, provided, of course,
there are such things as truth and error.
In the time of our fathers, and our grandfath-
ers, and all our other ancestors away back to Adam,
there4were many foolish things, and some wicked
things done in the name of education. But we can
think Of nothing more foolish than this doctrine that
the child is not to be taught, but given his head and
permitted to run as he will. And there are few
things more wicked than the application of that doc
trine in actual practice.
The child needs opportunity to use his reason
ashis reason developes. But during that process he
needs more. He needs guidance, the guidance OF a
strong hand controlled by wise head and inpelled
by warm heart. He needs, sometimes, the disci-
pine of restraint, with something of sternness, at
times. And he cannot learn too early that some
things are everlastingly right, and other things ever
lastingly wrong, no matter what his immature brain
orshis very liquid emotions tell him. AS it is, a lot
Of children are suffering from an overdose of self
determination.