Evening star., 1924-07-18
Scores Classics Study.
Writer Declares Modern Subjects
For Man Vital.
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
Your paper has given considerable
space to the efforts of Dean West of
Princeton University and his recent
ly formed Association for the Pro
motion of Classical Studies in the
Public Schools of this Country.
All the publications and editorials |
have seen have been favorable to this
movement, and yet ii is one that
cannot b. too severely condemned.
\ number of professors in our col
leges who have not had thorough
training in psychology and eduCa tipn
stand with their faces directed to-
ward the past and their heads bowed
| in worshipful awe Of the ancient
! classical subjects. In the light of the
great problems of our modern de
mocracy which our public schools
must help the next generation TO
meet such worship of the classics is
much like worship of primitive
methods of travel before the days OF
railroads, automobiles and the air
plane. If the loss of time and con-
venience could not have been easily
tested and measured many of these
bachward-looking professors Wouio
be arguing StrenuouSly today Tor the
stage coach, one-horSe shay and other
discarded vehicles of primitive times.
The cost of secondary education in
this country is rapidly rising and IS
A grieYous burden on every com
munity. The results of every subject
of study should constantly be in
yestigated and all dead wood removed
from the curricula. Our people are
dying from preventable disease and
suffering from social and business
failures because of a lack of effective
training; yet for the most part the
subjects mCst closely related to the
pressing problems and needs OF our
people, even in Washington schools.
are conspicuous by their absence or
by their minor Importance in the re-
quirements for graduates from our
high schools.
The American people require mod
ern education closely related to five
classes of problems and difficulties,
namely: Vital efficiency, vocational
efficiency, avocational efficiency, civic
efficiency and moral efficiency. All
Of our schools from the kinderga rden
to college are beginning to adjust
themselves to these fundamental
needs. The only real test of classical
instruction in our high schools and
colleges today would be along the
| lines of the relative value of the
| classics compared with other sub
| jects. such as personal hygiene, ele-
rnentary economics, elementary socf-
| oloEy, citizenship training, applied
! ethics. music, literature, vocational
| training and similar subjects. which
| essential efficiencies
Instead of this the Dean West group
| has for its purpose the improvement
| of the instruction in the classics and
| the absorption of more valuable time
| of our pupils who need other things
more The best cultural training for
| the future will be the development
| of the knowledge, habits and ideas
| which best promote individual and
social happiness through social eff
| cheney along the lines OF the great
| primary needs of life.
| For example, we have about 2.0O0.-
| 600 deaths annually in the United
| States, and not far from half of these
deaths are preventable or postpon
able. If Il large part of the time
which in the past has been devoted to
| Caeser's Gallo Wars and similar
| studies were expended in the educa-
tion of our pupils along the lines of
personal and public health one OF the
| inefficiency would be greatly lessen
ed. Moreoyer, the 100000 or more
| persons who are at any one time
| seriously i'll and the several million
| more of the devitaliZed would live
lives of greater health, efficiency and
| happiness If they We're prepared for
| it by the public schools. instead of
! studying esoteric subjects and hy-
political disciplines. The remainder
| of the time now spent by the pupils
| on the cldsSlcS sHouiu De devoted TO
| the other four essentials of educa-
! tion. Ultimately, of course, the propa :
| ganda of Dean West and his follow
| ers will be spent in vain and will
| amount to about as much as attempt
ing to hold back the Potomac with
| a broom. A great deal of harm in
| the meantime may, however. be done.
| AS a specialist in educa ton and psy-
| chology and one who has had long
experience in this field / wish to do
my bit as citizen in reducing as
much as possible the evil effects.
8. w. ROPER.
President, ReSeaSch UniverSitxs