Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-30

ent to tho flne points OF the game.
And know we are these things
largely because, in our schooling. we
were taught by faddists to value
trifies. We were served in dabs, and
Instead OF acquiring efficiency We
learned 10 potter"
This contributor holds that 'voca-
tional training, while It has failed TO
secure genuine competence, neverthe-
les, has sharpened the animal instinct
OF self-prcservntion at tho expense
Of other faculties we may have pos
sesscd.- And this result, It Will be
admitted, In far from a benefit. Argu-
ing that the existence OF our gov
ernment depends upon intelligent
civic interest; upon willingness
among It's members 10 cooperate
without, regard altogether TO personal
advantage: upon sympathy. charity
and bensvolence, this writer contends
that thcse qualities are departing
from Us at a time when our need Of
them 10 tho greatest. He continues: !:
ITO regain them. and 10 secure
for the individual the larger suc-
oess In business, ] am convinced
that We shou1d throw out OF our
public schools tho purely voca-
,ionsl euh,ects-the experimental
farms. tho mechanical arts, the
shorthand and eypcwr1tins and
bookkeeping, the selectve ath-
le.io training, and all the other
fads that clutter our educational
yrem-and In their place, from
the FIRST grade on up. concentrate
upon instruction in fundamentals
Vital 10 American life and living.
by fundamentals mean:
FYrst, the English language; how
TO read Il and write it and speak
Il ana TO take delight in tAo lovely
things Chat have been dolsc IN It.
Second, civil government and its
responsibilities. Third. an intelli-
gent outline Of tho development OF
peoples and ideas. Fourth, ground
work IN geography, mathematics.
ard natural science Fifth (H at
las, We are TO carry our flag into
tho Seven seas). modern Ian
guaga.-subjecta, by the way,
that may b a. easily begun IN
the lower grades as in the higher
onee. Sixth, the structure and care
OF the human body. Seventh, and
most important
| America. Not. however. mere
chronicle OF American names and
dates and political chickering's. but
a panorama Of the real America;
how America came about; the
meaning OF America; her resolute
progress alike on the broad high
way and on the narrow. tortuous
slope: her joyous beauty; her op-
portunities, and her high, troub-
led vision. think have learned
something OF this America, but
not in our public schools. Ny les
son began in the American Ex-
peditionary Force.
These fundamentals, these
new humanities, should be made,
] believe, the meat OF instructions
I'm our public schools. Training In
them Will enable our children,
both immigrant and native-born,
10 value those things other than
bread by which man lives; TO see
life steadily and see Il whole We
may then set them 10 learning
their craft without concern either
for their own future or for that
OF America. because their feet will
be planted on solid foundations
and their gaze directed out across
the wider spaces"
Other contributors express. view
/. similar to the above, in a mann
that suggests a considerable amour
Of confirmatory testimony. Other q
.. legged defects in the present syste
also are pointed out--the lack OF e
ficiency in too many teachers: la'
Of intelligent cooperation by pa
ents: lack Of proper discipline; {,
many pupils 20 a teacher; an owe
loaded curriculum IN too maj
schools; and. most conspicuonsY.