The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-04-12
SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SCHOOL SYSTEM.
In the past, critics have hesitated to
say anything about our educational
systems for the same reason that they
hesitate to say anything about any
political body. But when the State
Board of Education in an official reso-
luton, very unwillingly admits the in
adequacy of the system as carried
out, the taxpayer and man in the
street get a chance to unloosen some
expressions relative to the efficacy in
practical life of modern education.
The Resolutions offered and adopted
in Trenton, practically indict the
whole school system for a failure to
ground students in the three RS.
The educational institutions the
State High Schools, to be more spe-
ciic-are the dumping ground for any
body's ideas. The most bizarre plans
are put into effect as if they had been
tried out for years and found effective.
Is a man a successful bricklayer, or
doctor, or cost-plus contractor? He
is, Is it certain he has some political
influence tucked away in his vest
pocket? 1t is. Well, well, we must
honor him, for obvious reasons-which
are personal-also to show the tax
payer how interested we are in their
welfare. Put him on the Board of
Education. Every successful individ-
ual knows that it took time, and study,
and training, and experience to make
them succeed, yet the moment they
are advented into an educational ad-
Ininistration, they function from a
standpoint of being perfect in peda-
II .ogic science Without one previous
iota of training blM.
An education b an leducational
Training. has but little to do with an
educational system. Strange is 1t not?
Our children are getting plenty of adj
ministration, even to the extent of adj
vising their parents, but they are not
getting an education. The universal
law of cause and effect does not cease
outside of a school door, and when
pupils matriculate unable to properly
write a letter. to spell ordinary words,
or to figure, it does not take a long
and tedious process of inductive rea-
soning to determine the cause. Blind
leaders of the blind, W the ques-
ton. No other solution is possible or
logical.
The Resolutions of the State Board
of Education are too long to reprint
here. The general idea contained,
was that graduates from the State
High Schools entering Normal Schools
TO become teachers, We're ignorant OF
elementary subjects. The Executive
Educators did not surprise themselves
or anybody else, by the Resolutions
but il is surprising that they did not
express long ago what they knew long
ago. They know the remedy for IN
ditions. But where there is a choice
between acute personal regard and
the chance of hurting someone's feel
ings in the educational system who
may be powerful politically. well, the
schools can go hang and let George
do it.
In journalism it is pathetic to hear
the high-school graduate ask how to
spell ordinary words, and to see his or
her conception and construction of
the English language. They all have
the salient characteristics of an in
verse ratio between their ability to
talk and their ability to perform.
Worse still, these opponents of mod
ern education have an inability to
think even with remote correctness or
originality, But lastly, the saddest of
all sad facts, these graduates are ig-
norant of their ignorance.
We are not pedagogues and do not
pretend to be, but we have sense en-
ough to know that teaching is a pro-
fession, a vocation, for which long
training and preparation is required.
We know that there must be a foun-
dalton, solid, genuine and substantial
for any edifce. We know that where
ignorant effects eventuate, ignorant
causes must obtain, in all departments
of life. We know that superficiality
is the curse of this era, and we know
that what passes for education, in
stead Of moulding the individual, is
simply a thin veneer which looks well,
but will not stand rubbing or use.
Does anyone wonder at the present
age of jazz, and friyolity, fantastieal
ideas, worse practices, no homes, M
families, unbelief, erotic religions, and
rat hole philosophers? Educate the
people to an ability to think correctly
and there Will be none of these. But
we must have trained educators to
accomplish this end, not those who
are elementary ignorant before they
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