The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-10-13
Much of Progress Made in Past
Years Has Been on Trial and
Error Method

Dickinson, N. D., Oct. 13.-(P-
Much of the progress made here
after in public educational work will
be on a scientific basis, j. V. Brett
Wiser Of the University of North
Dakota, said today at the annual
convention of the Southwestern
Division of the North Dakota Edu-
cation association.
In an address "Flares and Back
fires in Education" Breitwieser said
public education has progressed
steadily up to the present universal
systems found in all the leading
nations. Much Of the progress has
been made by the trial and error
method, but educators now are try
ing to introduce progress on the
basis of scientific discoveries, he
said.
Brietwieser divides progress made
in public education into FLARES" and
the result of the progress is desig-
mated as the "backfire. The first
flare, he said, was the monitorial
system introduced in New York in
1905, under which a great number
of students were taught at a mini
mum cost. Small groups of stu
dents were taught at minimum
cost. Small groups of students
were taught by older pupils, or mon
itors. The result of that system,
he said, was the city graded system
with its rigorous lock-step organ
ization and the pernicious annual
promotion plan"
1.-THE second flare that illuminated
the pedagogical armament was the
emphasis on the play-activity of the
child he said. 1.-THE kindergarten
idea with its naive faith in the edu-
cational values Of the series of
gifts which the child should amuse
himself with was extended through
the lower grades. There followed
this fad the drill lesson, mental
arithmetic exercises, phonetic drills.
and other group exercises.
School Substitutes Home
"Then came q lull. Child study
disappeared for q time as q popular
fad. But it has been revised in the
present child welfare movement.
Now the pre-school clinic and nurs-
cry are being substituted for the
mother care. Doubtless there are
pampered children who might profit
by being away from home more and
others whose early environment will
undermine their efficiency. But the
truth and net result of all this agi-
tation will probably be the conclu-
sion that the school must cooperate
with home where such an institu-
ton exists rather than attempting
to become 3 substitute for it.
Research is valuable but it has
gone on without the proper sense of
values. Foundations are squander-
ing vast sums on this flare. In a
recent number Of a popular monthly
magazine the backfire was started
when the author pointed out how the
university facilities Of this country
sought to win the favors OF the COM
mittees who disbursed the funds
with all Of the resulting evils of pat
ronage. A recent article by Donald
H Sweet criticizes the giving of large
amounts for specific researches and
suggests the advantages of many
small grants to independent part
time researchers. This flare is pc
culiar to higher education.
New Fad
"A fad that deserves some men,
ton is the measurement survey
movement. Everything must now
be measured and standardized. Now
testing, measuring and standardiz-
ing are fine procedures and abso-
lutely necessary in modern educa-
ton provided they do not take our
attention and effort away from the
child and the ultimate detectives of
the school. Too often q system and
supervision has taken from the
teacher the divine right to be hui
man. Too often tests and surveys
have been m end in themselves and
have not been used a. tools or
means for the improvement Of the
happiness and welfare Of society.
"A ooSd business man must take
'tock Of his wares but for him to
dIy pit and pour over his BOOKS
would m1on commercial suicide. II
- Same way survey or ! test is
essential il modern school admins
;tatton but to hecome so interested
= 4erNs, nA4aiens, co efficients OF
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