The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-04-24
PIT 'OLD-T|NE' :
BOY AGAINST
MODERN
California Superintendent OF
Schools Takes Up Charge
Of the Governor.
BIZ International News Service.

@N~S~-~
SACRAMENTO. April 2s.-Gov-
ernor Richardson's theory that Cal
ifornia's modern institutions of
learning have failed to maintain the
record established by the little red
school-houses of two decades ago
is to be put to the test.
Instead of contenting himself
with a denial of the Governors
charge against the modern school,
VIII G. Wood. State Superintendent
of Public instruction, seeks to prove
its falsity by a contest between
students. CT the old and new schools.
Fifteen Of CALIFORNIA; leading
bushes men, disciples of the "old
school, = are to be pitted against
an equal number of high-school
seniors, representatives of the new
mode of education. If Governor
Richardson covets the 800 prize
which will go to the winner of the
contest he is eligible and well
come, says Wood.
Here is Woods announcement OF
Through the courtesy of an
anonymous donor am author
lied to arrange for one OF the most
interesting contests in the history
of the State. A prize of 500 is
offered to the winner in this contest
of the young against the middle
aged people of California in reading,
writing, spelling and the use OF
English. Any community in Cali.
fornia having a population of $4,000
or more is eligible to enter the con-
test. If more than one community
applies selection will be by lot.
Pick Leading Citizens.
Following is. the plan Of the
contest:
"The names of all members Of
the Chamber Of Commerce OF the
community who are forty years Of
age or over and who got their edu-
cation in American public schools
over twenty-five years ago are to
be written on slips of paper and
put in a box. From the box the
names of fifteen members are to
be drawn. The men whose names
are drawn will represent the Cham
Der of Commerce in the contest.
"In q similar manner the names
Of fifteen prospective graduates OF
the community high schol are to be
selected by lot.
mot more than two minues before
the contest begins the president of
the Chamber of Commerce and the
high school principal are to select
page from Emerson's Essays to
be dictated to the contestants. The
contestants are to write what is die
tated, paying careful attention to
spelling, sentence arrangement, para
graphing, capitalization and punctu-
alton. The papers are to he scored
by professors of English at the Uni
Versity of California and Sanford
University.
Winner to Get Prize.
"The winner of the contest is to
receive the prize offered.
II have chosen the Chamber of
Commerce for the contest because
this body presumably represents the
more successful members of the COM
munity. have limited the contest
to men forty years Of age or better
because I want adult contestants to
represent the old-tipe teaching,
which, we are told, stressed the
fundamentals" The representatives
of the Chamber of Commerce can
not send their stenographers as
proxies In this contest.
I'VE have heard a great deal about
the success of the old-time teaching
and the failure of the new. What
is needed is a clear demonstration
Of the facts. OF course, the older
folks will have the advantage Of
years. Presumably they have learn
ed something since they left school,
However, we shall wave that ques-
ton and give them the advantage
of their years. May the better team
VIM
Wood ALSO plans a contest in read
ing between 1.-THE old-timers'' and
children in the sixth grade. The
contests viii be public.