San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-11
|aker Before Lions Club
laws Conclusion Fine
hldings Have Not
Fought Improvement in
Rucatieenalf Methods,
eher a Decline in the
esults: t.s,s 4


of stately school buildings for
humble structure; for with it
to have passed many Of the
iples Of education that built up
nation, according to John III.
1T Jr., in his address on THE
Red Schoolhouse" before the
Club Wednesday.
thods of teaching may be more
tific now than when the little
ehoolhouse" was lac scat of learn
but the results do not appear to
e same, the speaker declared. The
rn school career OF a boy or u
5 hardly more than q sightseeing
ition into the domain of knows
he said.
address, in part follows:
The little red schoo.house' Of q
ation ago is now gone forever.
stead, our TOWNS and cities are
bed with stately edifices, and
countryside has its attractive
substantial school house all dedi-
to the cause of education and
yes of the youth of today. Every
Fial comfort and inducement,
practical aid and assistance, is
ded for the educating of the
ZEN of this day. Yet, the ques-
occurs, whether, with the pass
bf the little red schoolhouse,'
Thing else of vastly greater i'm
nee than mere houses has not,
gone.
either bulldogs nor enticements
laranties of education. From one
oint, it may be said that educa-
has two aims: To impart certain
bic Information or data, and to
the youthful mind to think. If
item of education falls short in
of those particulars, By that
is the child deaicd the o9por.u-
md the privilege that we cain is
his. The modern theory of
ton is that instruction should
formal or incidental or by way
sorption. 1t is thought that no
asant task should be laid out,
nothing that does not appeal to
Foung mind should be imposed
BIT, that whatever is taught should
its appeal to the mind Of the
All elements of teaching or
|ction that are, in their nature,
linary are considered objection
Accordingly, the course of study
tempted sto De made to conform
Use ideas. In many places, the
t of formal grammar is o thing
past. High authority, from our
es and universities where they
teachers how to teach, places the
upon the spelling class and the
hg book; the child must not be
ed, they say, with tedious lists
rds the full significance of which
not be now known to him.
ematics is to be taught in such
ity and in such form as the en-
nent of the child may seem to
e, leaving the measure to the
ton of school masters and the
children themselves. Only SO
of history is to be taught, they
S has a practical bearing upon
BIT everyday life, and all that is
and dull and not presently in
ing is to be omitted. The old
u class, where each child in
Would read from a collection Of
rms of the literature Of all ages,
be supplanted by the silent read
ass; in other words, they would
a child to read to his hearers
Iing him not read aloud at all.
Criticizes Elective System.
the high schools, the elective
B of courses is sometimes carried
absurd extreme. What do you
of q high school curriculum that
Is q boy or girl to select his
8 indiscriminately only so that
hal number of units shall be so
and that three units of English
be included? That was recently
bndition in some of our schools.
Immediate, practical result Of such
ctive system was brought point
ome to us when a San Antonio
carried the dispatch from Aus
at larger percentage Of fresh
from the San Antonio high
8, in the University Of Texas,
to make their first year courses
Of those from any other high
in Texas.
avowed program of the modern
been explained. There can be
estion as TO the purpose and in
b, for books and treatises and
g upon the subject are found in
raries, advocating these so-called
ssiye ideas.
rsonal fault is not now found /;
do challenge the wisdom of the
ystem. Does it give to the child
bper and sufficient foundation
e? Though great claim is made
be practicabilities resulting, we
cal men find an oncoming gen.
of exceedingly poor spoilers
-orse figurers. If we leave out
makeup of man the elements of
NY overcome, of responsibility
oene, and of ability to think
ed, of what moment are the
and furbelowes2 This ole blue
bpeller' that / hold in my hand,
he revered companion of hours
ays long since passed away, NJ t
promoting go,,d spelling, but con-
3 exercises with precepts of Wis
nd of moral philosophy, has con-
ID its part to the splendid back:
! of character in the lives OF
less thousands. Unblushing ma
SIN finds its browning victory in
pdern system of education. Such
EN- may produce a new general
II more proficient experts than
Of those who have gone before.
hat Of the cultural and spiritual
Z life? Is the new man to be
In instrument, only a part OF
'e machine? Take away from
In the formative period of his
ae lessons Of history-yes, even
history-the beauties and the
p of literature, the sense of stern