The New York herald., 1921-06-19

them both eager for remedies. The first
was the amount Of illiteracy. The sec
ond was the amount Of venereal disease.
Two prompt conclusions were arrived at.
First, that the education of the entire
people could not be left exclusively In the
hands of the States and the municipali-
ties. but must be treated as funda-
mental national interest. Secondly, tnat
the entire army and navy must be In
structed In their camps and cantonments
In the means Of avoiding and preventing
venereal diseases. in order that the army
in France might be kept AT to night.
The camps and cantonments of this
country were energetically defended
against both brothel and saloon. on the
ground that each fed victims to the other.
These measures proved remarkably ef-
fective. and the American people drew
the conclusion that II was not only de-
sirable but feasible to prevent venereal
diseases In the mass of the population
on a great scale. Hence. a resolution on
their part that the needed instruction
on this subject should be given there
after In all American schools as part OF
the universal course of biology and pub
lie health. The accomplishment OF this
purpose is we'll under way, though by no
means completed.
War on Illiteracy.
At the same time many non-govern-
mental agencies set to work to contend
against the evil of illiteracy. The Young
Mems Christian Association became ac-
tive In the work Of teaching recent I'M
migrants from alien races the English
language and the elements OF civics.
winning to their classes both young men
and adults. Numerous cosmopolitan
L. An nk0vxr Tan In
the eastern part of the country, which
devoted themselves to similar kinds Of
teaching The chief emphasis was
placed on the teaching of the English
language. and during the two years and
a half which have elapsed since the sign
ing of the armistice much success has at
tended these efforts.
This success Is a strong encourage
nent to the idea dawning among think
ing Americans that popular education
should by no means, be confined to chill
dren under IA or under 1S. or to young
people under "a. but should be carried
forward by evening schools. SATURDAY
classes and vacation schools. after regu-
lar attendance at school or college has
ceased. Immediate results appear In the
raising Of the age Of compulsory attend
ance at school. in the creation OF the
Junior high school, Of the evening classes
in technical Institutes for boys and
young men who are already at work IN
trades and in the many offerings by uni
versities of short courses In medicine,
business administration, teaching and
engineering specialties for men who have
already entered upon the practise OF
their professions.
The national Government. the States
and various institutions of higher educa-
ton are already offering numerous
courses of this nature for adults.
Progress in this direction Is greatly stirn-
ulated by the new dangers that threaten
democracy. The labor troubles, for ex-
ample, .proceed from q lack Of tntelli-
gence and reasoning power In large
bodies of voters, who may be consumers,
employers or employees. The only way
to overcome these evils. which result
from the general lack Of trained senses,
practice In reasoning and trustworthy
information, Is to strengthen the educa-
ton OF both the young and the adult.
Schooling the Voter.
small amount Of schooling was
enough for the voters of town meetings
in the New England Of 200 years ago
or 100 years ago. 1t Is not enough for
the voters Of continental United States
to-day who are allied upon to act by
their votes, or by the votes Of the repre-
sentatives they select on national ana
international problems which are both
strange and vast-too vast indeed for
experienced statesmen as we'll as for the
populace. Even in the comparatively
simple field of military and naval oper-
ations the great war produced no mill
tary or naval commander competent to
deal with the vast extensions OF area
and extraordinary novelties In modern
warfare. In the same way no religion.
Confucian. Buddhist, Brahmin, Moham-
medan or Christian. has developed dur
ing the past seven years any new strong
hold either on its own people or the
other peoples. At this moment all the
Christian churches. denominations, or
sects are wondering how they can re-
cover their former hold on their several
bodies or groups. Every secular or re-
ligious organization and every State or
nation seems to need more intelligence,
more vision and more sense of duty
toward the high calls OF honor and
conscience. There Is but one road up
ward--more education and wiser
The national Government has for
many years maintained scientific estab-
lishments for national use. such as the
United States coast survey. the naval
observatory, the boards for maintaining
a national quarantine and the various
bureaus OF the Department OF Agricul-
ture. the Interior and the Treasury
which deal with conservation. forestry.
parks and irrigation. The war added
greatly to the number of applied science
commissions in the Government service
such as the commissions on explosive
engines, aeroplanes and poison gas
Some of these scientific activities have
survived the armistice, particularly
those which affect the education OF the
people and the public health. Besides
the national Government several States
have taken on new functions In support
Of popular education. For example. Mas
sachusetts has passed a carefully con-
sidered law which helps the schools OF
rural communities practically at the ex-
pense of the urban. Large approprfa-
tions have already been made by ma
tional Health Board or commission
among the States which are prepared to
cooperate with the Government in treat
ing and preventing diseases. Although
national aid to universal physical train
ing is, not yet consummated. 1t is plain
that before long the national Govern
ment will distribute such aid. and the
States carry the bcneficent plan Into
execution. This great Improvement,
though suggested by the experience OF
the nation at war, fs really . great for
ward step. toward national health and
happiness and industrial eficiency.
Training Needed Experts.