Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-10-04
EDUCATION AND THE SCHOOLS.

The University of North Dakota has now the
largest enrolment in its history for the correspond
ing period of the school year. The prospect is that
before the enrolment is complete ] 400 persons will
have been entered for the work of the term. The
effect OF the war was to lessen attendance. Many
OF the students went into the army or navy, and
others who would have entered were deferred by
the necessities created by the war. That influence
is passing, and the conditions arc again approach
ing normal. Next year. attendance will be larger
than that of this year, and that of the following year
will be larger iniits turn. 1t will not be long before
the university must provide for 5000 students in
stead of half that number.
From year to year new buildings have been
erected for the housing Of the various departments.
But in no case has the construction of buildings
kept pace with the needs of the institutions. The
new chemistry building, recently completed, is
crowded to the roof, and the law school building
now under way will be equally crowded as soon as
1T is finished; The dormitories have long since been
filled to overhowing, and increasing numbers Of stu
dents must find quarters down town. If this is the
situation now, what will it be when the attendance
lis doubled, as it surely will be within a very few
years?
The experience of North Dakota is the expert
|ence of every state. Wisconsin has undertaken to
limit attendance by imposing high tuition fees On
non-residents. This provision is easily evaded by
the simple e%xpedient of taking up permanent res
idence. Other states arc wrestling with the prob
lem OF rapidly growing attendance, without much
visible result.
1t has been shown that throughout the country,
after the sixth or seventh grade, there is a constant
dropping out of pupils from the public schools.
Many do not reach the eighth grade. Still more do
not enter the high school, and of those who do en-
ter Only a relatively small number complete the
course. Again there is a great dropping off be-
tween high school and college. And yet, with TIE
small percentage Of our youth who actually enter
college the public authorities are being put to their
iyrtc' end fn meet tho 1or, q oIc %,,Aa ,,~o. 49, m
A vast amount of time and money is wasted on
what passes for educational work. A person with
Iout the necessary physical and temperamental
equipment would be wasting time to spend several
years in a conservatory Of music. Most people can
be trained to sing passably. Many can be trained
to sing we'll. A very few can become real artists.
A certain amount of music is good. for all children T;
but it would be absurd to require all to- take an ex-
tended musical. course, When the facts, warrant it.
the wise instructor wili4ssay to his or her pupil, You
have had alItherlusical instruction that is good for
you. You Should now drop out and spend the time
now devoted to music on something which will be
of more value to you.""ssfSs
In the past much of the effort Of school author
titles has been devoted to the task of keeping pupils
in the schools until prescribed courses have been
completed. That is excellent, provided the courses
contain suitable provision for the real needs Of the
particular student. One pupil would be wasting his
time by taking an advanced course. in music. Time
equally be wasted on advanced courses in al
most anything else. The mind, like the body, may
be forced into certain channels, and may beEmade
to achieve within certain limits. But, while the
square peg may be. placed in the round hole, no
amount Of ingenuity can make it fit.
There is a time for one boy to drop literature
and take up b~lacksmithing, and for one girlsto drop
music and 60 to trimming hats. And, while much
attention has been given Of late to the manual arts
in the schools, there is yet too strongsa tendency to
emphasize the ornamental features Of these studies.
Our educational systems are what we, the people,
make them, and W, the people, yet lack the. courage
and frankness t. say to those Of our young people
who might properly be So advised: the state has
tdcue. al for you that ii can do III this OF that study.
These must be dropped 81 acaTried On at yoursown
tsxpense You will bssbenefteds w ! course III this
lcr thai, znd. the stAtes viii supply it. When that is