The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1922-06-02
"BIG GUNS ARE USELESS
IF THEY MISS THE MARK

would not nave been true III he had
emphasized thoroughness in our
schools instead of such radical
changes in the curricula and in the
organization of the classroom.
The writer wishes to make a plea
for the classical education, and Lat
in, of course, figures largely in this,
at least during the present age Let
it be remembered that it was this
type that produced such lawyers as
Moses, such religious leaders as
Paul, such orators as Cicero, such
philosophers as Kant, such scientists
as Newton, such soldiers as Robert
E.. Lee, and such statesmen as Wood
row Wilson. This type, too, produced
such poets as Milton and Tennyson,
and such lecturers as Ruskin and
Emerson. Latin is not a dead Ian
guage, although it is not at present
used as language by any people in
it's Completeness. There are at least
twenty words in this article, thus
far, that show Latin origin. And be-
sides. the principles, the vigor, and
the exactness that is contributed to
the English from the Latin is surely
evident. Take away the influence of
Greek and Latin from our English
and we should be but little better off
in expressing our thoughts than were
the Indians when the white men first
came to America.
! The writer has, the most profound
sympathy for one who has studied
Latin for six years and yet finds no
/ use for it in the practice of law The
physician might just as consistently
contend that he found no use for
chemistry in the practice Of medi-
cine. The agriculturist might just
as reasonably argue that he found
no use for biology in the science of
farming. 1t goes without saying that
the lawyer would find no direct ap-
plication of the rules governing the
dative case when in the courtroom,
but it does stand to reason that one
who uses language as does the law
yer should and must know and use
any of the principles and fine shades
many of the principles and fine
shades of meaning to be derived from
the study of Latin and Greek.
Mr.. Morris contends for a longer
extension of time for the study of
arithmetic. He knows that he touches
sacred spot in the school-room af-
fections of many of the older voters
when he thus speaks of the three
RS, for to many of them those were
their only fields of training. The
writer would not belittle their i'm
portance at any time, either past,
present or future. 1t does appear,
however, that if these were taught
efficiently and learned thoroughly, |
their study should not occupy a larg-
er space in the public school program
than at present. If pupil cannot
master the principles Of arithmetic |
after having studied them through |
eight grades, either he or the teach
er must be faulty and not the public +
school system.
The matter of calling for fewer
teachers for our children than at
present is absurd and criminal. Any
educational expert will say that
there are as many types of children
as there are children, and that the
only way to care for the individual
differences is to employ more teach
ers so that each child may receive
more individual attention. Educat-
ing child is not like feeding a
bunch of cattle-just pour it out and
expect them all to grow and develop
alike. In fact it has been conclusive
ly proven, beyond any doubt what
soever, that the teacher with the
fewest pupils is sure to turn out
more and better quality of students
than otherwise, other things being
equal. Certainly it means more mon
ey for our schools, but it does not
mean shorter hours for teachers, nee
1t means better chances for
the detectives. 1t means better
for the teacher in be-
half of the pupils. 1t means more
and better educated citizens of the
future.
Now the writer does not contend
that all is well in the public school
system of the State of Tennessee. AS
4 matter of fact, something seems to
be radically wrong when many splen-
lid second-class high schools were
forced to close last Christmas on ac- I
count of shortage of funds But the
wrong cannot be righted by carrying
,ut the slogan of ''Up with Arith |
netic and Down with the Grades"
Neither can it be done by going back :
o pioneer methods and curricula. ,,
These had their day and served eff r
ectively, but it seems foolish to ask +
or their return in this age of prog :
ess and efficiency. {
Let those who would speak of the L