The Bismarck tribune., 1924-08-07
THE MASCULINE TOUCH NEEDED

DR.. Ray Lyman Wilbur, president
of Stanford university, breaches a
topic Of profound interest to educa-
tors and others in letter in which
he pleads for more male teachers in
the schools. The subject has given
concern to careful observers for
good while. If it is true, as some cri-
tics have asserted, that the boys of
the present generation lack some of
the spirit of selfreliance, and initia-
tive, and firmness, that they mature
good deal more slowly than youths
did in the earlier times, it is worth
while to inquire whether this may
not be due in some measure to the
Terminating of education in the COM
mon schools.
There is nothing to be said in dis
paragement of the school mistress in
this association. The issue Of wo-
mans right to enter every profession
has been settled by the course of
events, woman's ability is conceded,
acceptance of her status is fait ac-
compli, the relative intellectual ca
pacity of the sexes has no place in
the present discussion. But all that
can be said in praise of the woman
teacher leaves open the question
whether boys are not additionally
benefited by contacts with men, par
ticularly in the adoleseent years.
There is almost no difference of opin-
ion among educators. on this heading.
1t is generally contended that they
are.
The education, as distinguished
from the formal schooling, of the
boys of the past has been marked by
contacts with their elders of the same
sex in degree that is hardly possible
under the new order. DR.. Wilbur
points out that "the age of invention,
power and economic organization is
cheating the boy and girl out of the
training formerly possible" The we'll
known inclination of many parents to
shift the burden to the shoulders of
the teacher may be mentioned in this
connection because it stands out in
contrast to the practise of former,
if not better, period. Boys did have
great deal of training from their
fathers when we were primarily an
agricultural people, when crafts were
learned in the shop and handed down
| from father to son. "Whether it
was woodcutting, currying horse,
| or other chores, men were the in
structors and set the requirements"
1t can be stated with confidence that
men on the whole knew what to ex-
pect of boy, that they were pecu-
liarly guided by experience, and that
even If certain sternness crept into
the relationship it made for develop
ment of the quality Of manhood in
its best sense. This need is empha-
sized by DR.. Wilbur. who says:
The impulse of the material in
stlnct is a wonderful thing, and the
effect of women upon boys and girls
is idealistic and stimulating. Never
theless the more unforgiving attitude
of the man is needed. The mental
approach toward participating citi-
zenship can come better from the
right man.
No movement away from co-educa-
tion is proposed. There is no reason
for separating girls and boys in the
schools, with teachers of correspond
ing sexes for each. There is indeed
disposition to concede that there
might we'll be preponderance of wo-
men teachers, although not to the ex-
tent which now prevails. The point
is that something of added value was
lost, something not closely related
to the International aspect of earlv
education, that involves the impon-
derables of character training and
habit forming by example, and the
development of instincts which do
not easily lend themselves to defini-
tion and formula, when the school
master practically disappeared from
the primary grades. This is the
basis of the effect to bring men into
the teachers colleges-an effort so
complicated by economic and social
consideration that none may prophesy
the result.-Portland Oregonian.