Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-23
Or. JOHN n. MiNNlCk
On A Democratic Education

A DEMOCRATIC education for every
n child that will fit him for life with
proper combination of vocational and aca-
demic training is not only to be desired, but
is a national necessity, according TO LIT:
John II. Minnick. dean of the School OF
Education of the University of Pennsylvania:
DR.. AIinnick also emphasized the need OF
properly trained teachers for this work,
stating that all the institutions now engaged
in it were by no means sufficient to I'LL the
need. :,
1.-THE complexities of modern life,' said
Dr. Minnck 'have inevitably produced
problems that affect the very core OF our
national welfare.
AT one time. when living was compare
lively simple, it was considered sufficient to
teach the mass of the population no more
than the three RS, reserving better edu-
cation for very few. who it was recognized
required higher training to assume leader
ship over the others.
''As time went on this condition pro-
crossed through a process of evolution that
brought on our secondary schools and our
academies and produced more or less of n
conflict with our colleges, who wanted to
keep the others in their place
1.-The general spread in interest in edu-
cation, especially higher education, and eco
nomic changes throughout the years nave
brought us to the point where we have our
present day situation.
Confer Benefit on State
To-day several points are fundamentally
important. The boy and girl OF today must
have an education, not only for their own
benefit but for the benefit which they Will
later be able to confer on the State.
= "In considering the education OF Doy OF
girl at this time we must bear in mind that
the thing that counts is the application to
their everyday life that they will be able to
make with the training that they have re-
ceiyed 1t is necessary that they shall be
able to earn their bread and butter. so they
will require vocational training.
In order that they shall be good and
useful citizens and shall give to as well as
receive from the community in which they
live. they must have an academic training,
n background, that shall prepare them for
proper social intercourse with their fellows.
They must also be able to ENJOY lie Within
themselves and not merely be machine to
grind out living for themselves or for
some one else. AS matter of fact, the lack
of ability to do this automatically helps to
raise the cost of living for the community;
for those who cannot live within themselves
must pay for the things that go to make
UP that deficiency.
"You will find, Of course, that some are
ONLY e0uipped with their hands and can do
little else, while others will only incline
toward an academic education. But the
others, and by far the greater part of the
take of both essentials If they are to make
the most of life
Provide Physicians and Teachers
so, therefore, we must DO taught to
work more efficiently and to live so that we
can give out to our fellow beings some Of
the best qualities within ourselves. AS the
tendency of late years has been to shorten
the hours of labor and C0rrespondingly
lengthcn those of leisure, the importance Of
this last provision can be readily seen.
I'VE must especially provide for many
more physicians and teachers. To produce
the first ut least two years collegiate train
ing is required, with n four year course pre-
fcrrcd by university authorities Then there
follow four year medical course and at
least two years experience as an inferno in
n hospital In many cases still other expe-
ricnce is required; and as a medical educa-
ton is, from its nature, one of the most
extensive of it's kind, the difficulties in the
way of the poor boy can be we'll imagined.
The same holds true in degree Of the
teacher Not only must he or she have the
ordinary education, but they must supple
have a background. They must know how
to do things. They must have both of these
il for no other reason than they can thus
appreciate the Importance of each. In teach
ing, too. they must have in mind a goal
toward which they are preparing their pupils
They must know something of the applica.
ton of their studies to everyday life. They
must foresec what the developments of the
next few years are going to be, for it il at
that time that their pupils will take their
places in the world and will apply what
they have learned.
Open Mind for Teachers
"Teachers should have an open mind, both
now and in the years to come. Just ns
things that seemed fantastic some years ago
| will some things that today seem equally
| strange become an accomplished fact The
movies, for example, firmly believe will
| play an important part in our future eCucn
| ton.
But both these preparations ara sx.
| pensive and many Of the best brains ~ tbo
country are unable to equip themselves for
\ ~ i. fl ~