The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-02-03


their proper places in the estimation of
the people generally and the boys and
girls in particular.
COMMITTEES REPORT ON
DEMOCRACY IN EDUCATION
The following report was made be-
fore the Higher and Professional Sec
ton of the State Teachers Associa-
ton at it's annual meeting in Grand
Forks, in October, by the Committee
appointed a year ago at Mlnot to
make recommendations in regard to
the subject indicated above, and dis
cussed at that time by Professor A. P.
Hollis. The Committee has been con-
tinued and DR.. Ernest Shaw Reynolds
of the Agricultural College, it's chair
man, Would welcome criticisms,
whether for or against.
In the discussion of this subject it
must be recognized at the outset that
the remarks made are in no way in
tended las reflection upon any partic-
ular person, nor upon administrators
as class, nor do they reflect upon the
administration of any institution.
When autocracy is mentioned it does
not necessarily imply either an inefti-
cient, an unsympathetic, or an un--
friendly administrator, but purely and
simply a system in which one man or
a small group has the large measure
of control in determining the policies
and the practises of an institution. An
opposite system of control is the dem
ocratic, which presupposes ultimate
control of the institution by bal
anced cooperation Of all who are d.
rectly involved in the work of educa
ton, but does not imply any special
formula for organization.
An autocratic system is such
whether it's leaders are benign or
baneful in their methods of admins
tration. And here in America we are
committed to policy of democracy
of government. Why then should we
tolerate the opposite method in the
educational system which is the very
fountain head Of our governmental
life, where aur future leaders are
trained and our best intellects are as
ISOLATED? We should not be deceived
by the paternalistic arguments OF adj
vocates of the autocratic system that
it is more efficient and provides better
for those controlled.
It might be held that, comparing
Germany with the United States prior
to 1914, the government of Germany
was more efficient and provided for
the peoples comfort better than our
own. vet the final result was not such
as to justify the conclusion that that
nation was fundamentally better than
ours. Immediate results are not to be
the final test of a system. Democracy
can be made ultimately more etfil-
cient than autocracy and will be so
when we consciously set to work to
determine the best methods. That
has been the effort of this committee
in relation to education. To attain
a fundamental, permanent change IN
a system which is we'll established, It
lis necessary that all concerned shall
be somewhat prepared for the change
and that it occur in an evolutionary
manner. This does not mean that the
}.process must be imperceptibly slow,
but that no complete and sudden revo-
! luton can be expected to bring per-
! m anent and noticeably advanced prog
ress. Changes may be rapid and the
| net result great modification OF for
n1er conditions, yet the process be
orderly. 1t will be the effort OF TINS
report to indicate something of the
steps by which a change from an au-
tocratic form of administration to an
efficient democratic one may be et-
fected, and some of the prominent
safeguards which are necessary to
prevent reversion to the former type
| Democracy in education implies
among other things the following
L. That those engaged in daily
class room work shall have a large
part in the determination of the poll
cies and practises of the institution
| 2. That all such shall have freedom
Nin the class room to teach their sub
jects as they, believe they should be
Taught, under such supervision as
| shall be determined in democratic
! fashion after a fair and full discus
sion among teachers.
8. That all shall be free from any
special censure for acts and utter
ances outside the classroom, aside
| from that to which any other citizen
is subject.
4. That no financial control or fear
of loss of position shall hold teachers
| in subsection.
{. That for each institution there
should be democratic representation
Of the faculty on the Board, when it
is considering matters relating to the
institution.
The most important safeguard is
that each educational unit shall have
constitution which shall clearly
state the degree of protection and Of
responsibility Of the teachers, and the
method Of organization of the group.
This implies that each group should
be organized upon democratic basis,
with its elected officers and commit
tees. If the administrative officers
are elected by the group they may be
given certain ex-officio powers SUBJ
ject to veto by the group and then