Evening star., 1928-11-08
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

leaving school after the regular course
has training that Is of immediate, prac-
tical value.
To what influences must the In
creased interest in education be cred
tied? Much of 1t Is traced directly to
the broadening OF the horizons of the
soldiers who went to Europe in the
World War; They got out of their
village or local metropolitan environ
ton, all their families and friends, in
following them through the daily press
and considering the great struggle for
the salvation of civilization also broad
ened their own horizons. Mentality
ceased to be confined to local gossip or
rarrowness of any kind, and in doing
so 1t broke the chrysalis and let spread
the wings. There is more intelligence
among pupils today in reading of cur
rent events throughout the world than
there was before the World War, even
among their teachers. This broaden
ing of interest In worldwide matters
is of greatest Importance and signifi-
canoe. 1t began through the march
CT our own two million soldiers through
Europe in 1917 and 1918, together with
the personal interest In them by rela-
tiveS and friends at hcme 1t has not
ceased to grow since the arnistice.
Newspapers today are read more intellt-
gently and have become a recognized
source of interest and instruction in
every modern classroom. The pupils
minds today are cosmopolitan.
y < **
Not of least Importance in the expan-
sion of education is the fact that 1t
appeals to adults as we'll as youths.
Formerly it was assumed that the high
school-or certainly the eollege-gradu-
ate had reached the "end of larnin'"
upon receiving his discharge from rou-
tine schooling. 1t has now been dis
covered that imam is never too old to
learn" and that. in fact, the man or
woman of 80 to 50-nay, to 10 or far
ther-learns more readily, more compre-
hensively. than does the immature boy
or girl in the teens. The mature
centrate far better than the giddy If
not "gilded" youth, and is not ashamed
to emulate the famous Greek king in
boasting Il grow old over learning
many things"
This feature of modern study gives
promise of the widest possibilities. Who
today confesses that he or she has
passed the age of interest? We recall
how the "old woman of 40 used to sit
beside the fireplace and knit; how the
old man used to whittle and chew to-
bacco and spit and find fault with
youth. Today they are members of
clubs. or are taking special courses in
universities or correspondence schools.
The expansion of interest in travel
and exploration comes with the radio
and televiSion The discoveries of
science give thrills as stimulating to
imagination as any romance. No
longer is knowledge humdrum, to be
learned by rote-a weary task Every
achievement of modern science opens
new doors to never-fagging curiosity,
and happy is the family whose parents
apd children forget age in their delight
in study and reading.
Markham, the poet. demanded with
indignation as he gazed on the picture
of the stolid peasant, Who loosened
and let down this jaw?" The modern
school teacher can reply that he or she
is doing a good job of tinkering up the
loose bearings of stoliditv which cannot
fail to satisfy the Markham of future
generations.
The unity of patriotism and educa-
tion is exemplified by the hearty in
terest which the American Legion is
manifeSting In Education week" and
in the development of schools. 1t is
further demonstrated by the recent
election to the highest Offices of the
Legion of educators of distinction. The
new national commander of the Ameri-
can Legion, elected last month at Dallas.
Tex, is Dean Paul v. McNutt of the
school of law. Indiana University The
former national commander of the Le-
gion, Edward E. Spafford, makes a
special appeal on behalf of Education
week. in which he says:
America is the wealthiest Nation on
earth. Yet there are some ten millions
Of citizens who are unable to read or
write. One can do his duty
to our flag in aiding future good citi-
zenship of our country by encouraging
and promoting such a program as
American Education week Just as surely
as he does his duty by shouldering a
rife in defense of our Nation in time of
Are the schools worth. their costq
For every cent we spend for schools we
spend 5 cents for crime and 8 cents for
Ill health and for wastage.
Which Is the best part of the budget?
The query Of Cicero has never been
snswered:
What greater gift or better can we
,ffer to the state than II we teach and
rain UP youth?"
(CopyriRht 1923 by Paul Y ColHnal