The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-04-25

spontaneous origin published herein
All rights Of republication OF all other
matter herein are also reserved.
Education
In Z letter to The Tribune which
appears in this issue, q reader Of this
newspaper takes sharp exception t<
the theory. expressed In q recent edi-
torisl. that we could get along with
out some OF the services now per-
formed at public expense by our pub
lie school system.
The rejoinder mentions such things
as educational psychology, pedagogi-
cal technique, curriculum require
ments, character growth and its rela-
ton to our American life today"
These are we'll worth study, but be-
fore going too far into the subject
Of education 1t Is well to ascertain
what the word really covers. The
dictionary definition Is voluminous
but it mentions first "the systematic
development and cultivation Of the
natural powers by incubation, ex-
ample. ETC."
The problem Of the modern school,
then, is to assist the parents and 9TH
or avenues of instruction In doing
these things and Of fitting the child
to become a useful member Of society.
How best to do that Ut the least cost
Is the question.
A knowledge Of the physical phen-
omena which he sees daily about him,
sufficient to enable him to interpret
them In terms of his own needs and
welfare IS essential. The process Of
acquiring this information begins
shortly after the child Is born. The
bumped head, the cut finger, the
burned tongue are essential lessons In
the childs education, as important Is
any learned In school.
The child needs to know more than
comes to him by observation and ex-
perience, Of course. Reading opens
the pages Of history. philosophy and
recorded human thought to him II he
cares to read. but no school or college
can bring to him more than cursory
knowledge Of these subjects. II there
Is no thirst for knowledge or develop
ment, instruction along these lines is,
in the main, like pounding sand in = !
rat hole.
Too many persons have finished |
college with the false impression that
they had gained an education, where
as 1t frequently happens that really
educated and cultured individuals
have had very little formal schooling.
The recitation Of "Thanatopsis" or
"Evangeline" in the grades. and pur-
suit Of the muse Of Browning In COL
lege, along with literary didoes Of
better or lesser quality, mean moth
ing.
It does mean something to be able
to write q sentence which really makes |
sense: to be able to express ones self |
clearly. Some educated" individuals |
sometimes write sentences in . man |
ner peculiar to themselves and re-
Of puzzle contest.
There is real question as to whether
50 personal a thing as music Is sus-
ceptible to teaching on . wide scale. |
II song or poesy exist In the heart
they will find expression. II they do
not, a thousand hours Of gruelltng la
Dor will leave the boy or girl dull and
uninterested.
Regardless of the child's natural
powers" It Is obvious that he must
know certain things II he is to sur
vive in modern competition. He must
be able to read and to "figger" and
II he is to earn q living he must know
how to use his head or his hands or
both. # he is to be a good citizen he
should know something about his
form Of government and its history.
The rest Of education Is. in the
main, an offshoot from these essen
tials. How far It should be carried
should depend largely upon the apti.
tude Of the pupil and the bent which
he prefers in the development Of his
natural powers.
In recent years the school has com.
planned that 1t receives little assist-
ace from parents. At the same time
It has reached out to assume more
and more Of tho duties which might
better be performed 1t home. Il has
domestic science for that
good old custom Of helping mother IN
The kitchen: manual training for the
quaint practice q eiving dad . LIT
WITH tas1s that I'm % IT, man about
The house.
Instead e aiding IN thu develop
msnt q natural powefs and talents
- - the schools EoOln1nting chill.
1ren l.nkln - ~nra a. - nag er,,nh.