Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-21
SAYS RURAL FOLK
SLAM HIGH SCHOOLS
DR.. Driver Declares Many
Farmers in State Oppose
Better Education
URGES SURVEY BE MADE

Many rural communities in Pennsyl-
vania are opposed to children getting
a high school education. declared DR..
Lee l.. Driver, director Of the Bureau
of Rural Education Of the State De-
partmcnt. today at the second day Of
Schoolmen's Week at the University
of Pennsylvania.
A survey Of all the rural school
districts in the State was urged by
DR.. Driver as the most effective means
of getting the conditions placed squarely
before the people.
Until the people of the State have
the facts before them said DR.. Driver.
"they will fail to grasp the seriousness
of the situation -.
DR.. Driver sited an instance where
he said the teacher in a rural school
obtained water for his pupils from a
trough which was also used by horses
and cattle He said in many rural
districts the water supply for schools
is bad.
The survey should be made by the
superintendent in each district. said Dr.
Driver. and it would reveal among
other things the following facts:
Great lack of Fairgrounds poor
many instances the poor water supply ::
Il deurth of textbooks: n lack Of refer
cnce books; a shortage of libraries.
which will be provided IL the people
know that they are an actual need.
DR.. Driver pointed to the need for
determining accurately the number of
pupils and the distance that each has TO
travel to school.
"In some districts" he said. "the
length Of term in the different schools
varies That is unfair to the tax
payers.
damental need. but IL should be main
tnined on the highest possible standard,
We must judge the schools by their
output.
1T should be pointed out to the peo
pie that the turnover among the school
teachers is too large. Fairness to the
boy and girl is the chief factor in cdu
cation and we can get 1t only through
better rural schools.
George A. Works. Of Cornell Uni
yersity in discussing the rural school
survey in New York, said dissatisfnc-
ton is found to be growing between
the farmers and the villagers and that
they are growing further apart all
the time in their opinions on school
needs.
IF it comes down to separate schools
for the farmers children with other
schools in the villages he declared :.
IA new and serious social problem will
develop because Of the two classes ere
ated."
Thomas A. Rock. Assistant State
Director Of the Rural Education Bu-
reau. also spoke Of rural education.
Albert l.. Rowland. director of the
Teachers Bureau Il the State Depart
nrnt. said there are now 1S4 summer
courses offered at the normal schools
for teachers in this State. He said
4l9ON teachers are enrolled.
Another speaker is Ambrose l.. Sub {.
rie. dean Of the school Of education Of
Cleveland.
Among the flaws of present. day sys-
! tens of public instruction is the effort
20 educate mediocritics beyond their in.
tclligences. This is one Of the theories
Of DR.. Lightner Wilmer, professor OF
psychology at the University of Penn
Sylvana. :.
Education as At present organized.
said Dr. Wilmer, does not develop
intelligence. 1t merely creates certain
habits Of mind. Fifty per cent Of th'
children vino enter the high schools
would be better off if they never 60:
50 far. All that n mentally averaR>
child has any right To expect Is al
average education.