Evening star., 1937-08-29
Dictatorship Dominates
American Education
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN

"'AiAp' AAooooHA Va speech ana Tree
press have been cardinal principles Of
the American ideal OF a progressive de-
mocracy. Thomas jefferson, one of ths
founding fathers Of .he Nation, declared
that political revolution about every
20 years probably would be desirable to
prevent freezing OF ideas, ideals and
methods.
From the time of the establishment OF
| public schools-which, Incidentally, was
not very early-a certain liberality in
teaching was regarded as essential. To
| be sure, fixed rules concerning such
| fundamentals as the three Rs were
| taught and no liberties were taken with
mathematics but in the realms Of thought \
| fexibility obtained. On the one hand,
| the parochial schools were freely tol1s-
| ated yet, on the other Ralph Waldo En-
erson's Concord School flourished.
School teachers were felt to have
| calling In the same manner, or much the
same, as ministers Of the Gospel and the
| teachers, not the State, were in charge
| Of education.
Today there is a different approach.
| There has been gradual Russianizng
| and Hitlerizing Of the schools in that
| political authorities and political bodies
| have increasingly dictated what must
| and what must not be taught It is
| generally conceded that these moves to
| govern the minds of the youth through
| the schools have been based on sincere
| motives, but, according to many educa-
| tors, the tendency is toward driving
pupils through straight gate and along
| narrow way. The phenomenon is far
! from new in this or any other country.
| There always has been the parent intent
| upon making his son minister or a
| lawyer, regardless of that sons aptitude
| for such calling. The result of such
| policy frequently is the approximate
| rulnation of the life of the son unless he
has large capacity for revolt.
Raleigh Schorling and Howard Y. Nc
Clusky OF the University of Michigan
| have just completed study of the legls-
| lative enactments of the States Of the
| Union which dictate that certain sub
| jects must be taught to all public schoo
| pupils. An immense work would be re-
| quired to describe what the laws say
must be taught upon these subjects
| Most of the subjects would be taugh,
without legislative dictation, although
| perhaps, not in the same way. The obvi-
GUS effect is to bind the teacher and to
restrict rather than extend learning
1t Is the opinion OF the educators thA.
| most OF this legislation is the result OF
pressure by organizations upon legislative
bodies. WELDING political influence,
these bodies practically order that their
ideas be made a part of the compulsory
currlcula OF the schools, and that of
course, Is what is meant by dictatorship
in education. The educators take the
position that such dictatorship is nuli.
fication Of the old conception Of educa-
ton as search for truth. :
Every State in the Union makes II
compulsory for public schools to teach
the nature of alcoholic drinks. Few peo-
pie would object to that If the teaching
were purely objective, but it is plain that
this dictation has come from one Of the
strongest Of the pressure groups.
Physiology and hygiene are compulsory
subjects as the result Of the enactments
Of 80 States, and there are dictates In
some laws as to just what should be
| taught.
United States history and study Of the
| Constitution are dictated subjects In SO
| States, but a world OF difference will be
| found by any Investigator by an exami-
nation Of how the first subject shall be
taught. Although the Civil War Is
long time behind the present day. for
eigner would scarcely recognize the
| American history taught in the South
and the American history taught in the
! North as dealing with the same Republic
| Reading and arithmetic are made COM
| pulsory in 36 States. but writing and
spelling in only "a States. Geography
| must be studied, by law. in 35 States
| Again, We find grammar compulsory
study in 80 States. OF course it seems
foregone conclusion that these subjects
would be taught universally but the
| groups and the lawmakers have made
them matter OF dictation. In 20 States
physical training is compulsory. but prob
| ably not to the extent it is In Russia,
Germany and Italy. where children are
trained to arms at tender age.
! Although the study Of American his
tory and the Constitution is made COM
| pulsory in 38 States, citizenship Is re-
| quired by law In only 26 States, and State
history and civil government in but %
| States. Morals, subject on which there
is probably more difference of opinion, is
| required subject IN II StateS Win, OF
course, q dictated definition. In 2G
States the humane treatment of animals
must be taught, and human health Is
| required subject in II States. In "a
States agriculture must be taught and
drawing in 13.
| In 13 States Bible teaching is compul-
sorry, but there are differences in inter
| pretations of Bible teaching which have
caused bitter warfare. Regimentation In
religious teaching has proved to be i'm
possible in the past.
| A dozen States have made teaching of
| prevention of communicable diseases
compulsory. Another dozen require the
teaching OF composition, II instruction
in language and in music. In 7 States
| manual training is made compulsory,
and domestic science in the same num-
Der. Thrift is compulsory subject In
5 States. In States the teaching of
safety is made compulsory, in the same
number the teaching of sanitation, and
again, in the same number, elementary
science. In only 3 States is algebra
made compulsory subject.
In States the student at public
schools must be instructed in the preser-
vation OF birds and other game. while
the same number dictates instruction In
industrial work. A single State requires
the teaching OF Spanish and but I State,