The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1922-09-08
EXPOSES WEAK
SPOTS IN PUBLIC
SCHOOL COURSE
IDAHO GRADUATE OF STATES
UNIVERSITY WINS NATIONAL
ESSAY CONTEST.
By Talbot L. Jennings.)

5
on the American public school sys-
tenn was written by Talbot l.. Jen-
nings, a young man, a native of Ida
ho. a graduate of the public schools of
the state, a student at the state uni
versitv of Idaho where his course of
study was interrupted by his being
calle to war. Since being mustered
from the service he has been engaged
in active work earning money enough
to enable him to return to his studies
in the state university.
His essay was entered in national
competition, there being six thousand
ESSAYS on the same subject and he was
given first place.
The writer, Talbot L. Jennings, is
well known to the editor of the Times
Register as he is to many people of
the state. His opinions formed after
| wears of common school work, army
| life and hard work the past few years
in order to complete his education fits
him to speak as one in authority. The
fact that he was awarded first place
among six thousand contestants, if for
no other reason, entities this young
man of Idaho a respectful hearing.
The beginning of another school year
is an apt time for people to read and
think about the questions touched up
on.-Ed Idaho Falls Times Register.
To go straight to the point, | be-
lieve our public schools are overload
ed with purely vocational subjects
Partly unjustifible reaction against
Greek and Latin, but mostly as a re-
suit of pathetic determination to ap-
pear up to date at any cost, we have
suffered our public schools to become
the spoil of materialists. We have al
lowed ourselves to be persuaded that
the important thing is to instruct how
merely to obtain living rather thar
how to live.
Personality Needed.
And the cream of the jest is, tn;
exponents of vocational training art
defeating their purpose because the!
will not see that even material success!
depends not so much upon mechanical
efficiency as upon personality, imagi
nation, knowledge of men and womel
and of the economic forces which pla.
upon business. l am product o
cur public schools, and on tn
strength of it | am trying to hol
down a practical job; therefore
speak as one having authority.
have a desk in the purchasing de
bartment of western state. Fever
day | must face young men who rep
resent the new business of America
nen professedly at their best, for the
Rre out against competition, to Ian
ny order. Despite businesslike az
Eearance, know that buyer and sell
Fr alike are amazingly ignorant c
usiness essentials. | know we al
n inaccurate, inarticulate, unorigina
IA wiling to follow cut and-dried metl
bds, Indifferent to the fine points {
he game. And | know we are thes
de things largely because, in our schoo
ng, we were taught by faddists
alue trifes. We were served in dab
/; md instead of acquiring efficiency W
~ 1,a Earned to potter.
M Nor for all our strictly modern ed1
.,.ts alton are we better off as a matte
~ - aan as individuals. For vocation
:. = i raining, while it has failed to pr
d aa;Ax pre genuine competence, neverthele
.;ts as Sharpened the animal instinct
y, Ef-preservation at the expense
Lar q her faculties we may have posses
~. anrsul Plainly this is not good for ra
Sr asr pat Is trying to realize democracy.
. Awake Civic Interest.
government of the people is n
crrs 1lomatic; it will not run itself.
riA contrary its very existence q
Ehds upon intelligent civic intere:
hone poh Willingness among its membe
cooperate without regard altogeth
Ds personal advantage; upon abili
eacn citizen to visualize the nee
the whole rather than those of
:. we part; upon sympathy and ch;
emil ana tolerance. These qualities {
LJWis srtlng from US at time when t
AZ y OF them is greatest.
~ regain them, and to secure
! fns ihulVldual the larger success
nantts nesS, l am convinced that
serss ula throw out of our public scho
! On y purely vocational subjects
enmental farms, the mechani
r,s tne shorthand and typewriti
NIL yookkeeplng, the selective athle
NOR RI nAg' and all the other fads t
rAlts vi our educational System-and
5ES .,.ssjj pace from the first grade on
sssse 50 nIrate upon instruction in f
rs sl'als vital to American life ;
ians fundamentals | mean: First,
= ,.sl sl language; how to read it
ARD.s d ! ana speak it, and to take
Al usa ~ "a the lovely things that h
ISs s,1rss uoae IN it. Second, civil COVE
- "a ane ITS sponsibilities. TIL
NC sd at'ellgent outline of the deveI
sOr NJ peoples and ideas. Fou
sstlns nd dd"Ofk O IN geography, mathen
sses ~ natural science. Fifth iii
estins " " - Sse are to carry our flag into
a. sss bN seas & }, modern languages-s
,sts ~ .0sI -! lne way, that may be as
10 6SSu IN the lower grades as
!ieano. a. et ones. Sixth, the struct
: Llps sos, o. the human body. Seve
!, ldsbs y. = important:
y Teach Real America.
I'D Not, however, a n
FRE To 9Th page.
ns ara 1uss