The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-03-15

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tons. no examinations, no marks
and no credits. The only book
used with great regularity is the
song book. The class files into
the class ROOM, sings a rousine
| Danish folk song, and the instruc-
tor gives his lecture. No ques.
tons or Interruptions are permit
ted. After the lecture is over, the
class files ont-some to go to the
library to increase their knowl-
edge along the subject outlined by
the instructor, others gather to
argue their instructors idea
among themselves, others consult
the members of the faculty about
the lecture just given, while
| others, no doubt, simply sit and
dream. This is a system in which
/ industry provides its own reward
and idleness its own punishment
Method Used
"The instructor in such sys-
tenn is out of the ordinary. He is
chosen for his ability to inspire
to awaken new truths, to render
his pupils dissatisfied. At the end
of the term, most of the pupils &C
back to their homes with Their
minds bubbling with new ideas
and with the inspiration to FIND
tout the truths for themselves
They no longer accept everything
they hear or read as being true
They examine it in the light OF
their new-found critical attitude
"These pupils leave the schoo
and go home with such books as
they can afford, but most inn
portant of all they carry with
them a list of books that they
wish to procure and devour at the
earliest possible moment. They
have been awakened and inspired
| by their instructors, and they
have been sent home to educate
themselves. The school aims tt
arouse the young adult, and, to al.
low him to use the rest of his
life in getting his education.
"This system of school was
started seventy-five years ago, Al
/ the time of its inception, Den.
mark was simply a seething mass
of problems-social, economic
and political. Today the kingdom
of Denmark is one of the most
prosperous and progressive eoun.
tries in the world. Credit for this
complete transformation is saiC
by authorities to be due almost
entirely to the graduates of the
Danish Folk High Schools.
whether such a system OF
adult education would succeed in
the United States is open to con-
lecture. But whether or not it is
possible here, we must admit that
the Danes have evolved a system
of adult education that works.
! "In coming back to our present
situation, / wish to discuss with
you for a moment the need of a
complete, many-sided education
for our children. 1t is not enough
that they have so much arithmetic,
history and English, but they
must have other phases of educa-
ton as well, if they are to become
cultured citizens with ability to
earn livelihood, and to spend
wisely their leisure time.
More Emphasis Needed
First of all we need more en-
Iphasis upon the practical side Of
lhealth education. Each grammar
school needs nurse, a dentist and
a physician available at certain
times. We are told by the Mayo
Brothers that 81 percent of the
premature deaths are traceable to
causes originating in the mouth
and throat. especially the teeth
and tonsils. If, then, these young
listers are watched carefully in
their growing years, their teeth,
tonsils and adenoids cared for, il
! is reasonable to assume that the
community in the course of twen-
lty or twenty-five years will reap
a decided benefit.
| "These boys and girls will grow
Into men and women who should
live out their allotted span of life,
land who should not leave families
dependent upon the community Oh
friends, due to their premature
deaths. The community would be
Prepaid also by the fact that these
folks would have a higher earning
/ power, and higher level of cul.
lture, by the fact that they would
contribute to the higher type al
citizenship in every way,
i Health education in the gram
mar school tends to merge into
I physical education in the high
lschool. This physical edueatioH
Ishould not be concentrated upon
a few, but should be spread oveI
the many with two ideas in mind
/ First, through physical exercise IL
correct defects and to prDdaef
healthy bodies; and second, u
lprovide each boy and each cir
with the ability to play in SOME
| game that they can engage in As
Iadnlts. In this WAY We take car