Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-11
Youths Crimes Charged
To Educational System

To the Editor of The STAR
The vital energy of our magnificent
country is all but benumbed by our
failure to educate the children, in spite
of our supporting a public school sys-
tenn which, next to world war, is the
costliest institution known to man.
Passionately we plead for some method
of crime prevention among our boys
and girls. of whom practically one-third
below the age of II are brought before
the courts, many, many on charges that
would make the most hardened Sing
Sing "lifer" of the old order blush for
shame.
Does this badness come from ATARI"
injuries a distinguished Belgian. Is IL
not in the bosom of the family that we
should seek its premier orlgin?"
Yes. Away with this dependence on
paid educators" for work that should
be done at home. Require parents to
get back into harness. Offer the OPP
portunity to the willing. Use the long
arm of the law on those who are not.
Let the school continue to play step
mother to only those unfortunates Tor
whom there can be no real home life.
The remedy is drastic, but oh, so
wholesome! Repeal the compulsory
school law. Close every kindergarten
and primary class, except for the home
less. Make parents responsible Tor
training their children to obey, to work.
to observe the Ten Commandments and
the laws of the land. Instruct parents
in such simple effective methods OF
home training as have worked fairly
we'll for several hundred years; later, in
improved methods if we have them.
Intensity of Work Urged.
For children who are likely to benefit
! by schooling, institute course that de-
| tensity of play, such as European chill
dren are subjected to without injury
Eliminate 80 per cent OF the classroom
| supervision. Give teachers full author
! ity under the parents and make them
| responsible for results or for an eX-
PLANTATION of their failure such as good
| Judge would accept.
n no very long time we shall mate
rally reduce illiteracy among college
graduates. We shall help parents estab-
lish standards for the young, such as
the consciousness of owing an honest
DAYS work in return for living. Real
wearing out their very lives under the
| insolence of youngsters who have never
! known wholesome correction at home
and are pushed Off to school in order
! that selfish mothers may have free
| foot.
In this matter Belgium is setting the
| world a good example. La Ligue de
| lEducation familiale" has been organ
| lied to give systematic instruction to
| parents in their duties. 1t does not
mince words. One of the forceful
| leaders of this movement is the high
minded and most intelligent Director
General of the Ministry of Agriculture
M. Paul De Vuyst, from whose letter
of December "a quote briefly
"The natural duty of parents Is tc
! train as we'll as possible their children
| physically, mentally, morally. Substi-
tutes to parents should not interfere
| except in case of necessity, when par
! ents ask them to do SO, or when par
| ents are incapable, etc. But 1t is bet
| ter to make parents capable than tc
| ask people who have no children to take
| care of the children of others. This
| is common sense.
Against Common Sense.
| "The teacher world has exaggerated
| his own business and mlnlmlzed tnt
business of parents. This is againsi
| common sense.
| "Clergymen. sociologists, teachers say
| that the family is the basis of society
| Consequently, we should organize the
| family in the best way to make
strong basis. Infant schools, scouting
| sport clubs, etc. take the boys anc
! girls from home instead of letting then
! find at their own Preside the true point
of departure for their education Tht
best sport is gardening. close to thu
home, and for the girls domestic econ
| omy.
I'm America and all other parts o.
| the world the best that can be done
| is to try to have normal families living
normally and accomplishing their duties
Everything in the world is being per
! fected except the human being himself
Human character is yet to be improved
by methodical home training. II there
| is no improvement in the homes thu
next generation will be no better thar
this one. There have been centuries
for fine arts. literature, science. There
must now be a century of progress:
in home education. 1t will become 81
generally if we all join effort along tn
same lines"
Cannot America do what Belgium
can do?