Jackson advocate., 1957-11-23
Sputniks And American Education

The launching of the Russian Sputniks have
brought into widespread discussion the American edu-
cation SYSTEM and in the light of the accomplishments
of the Russians, of its more obvious deficiencies
Some educational authorities in this country are be-
ginning to point to the adverse effects of the Dewey
philosophy rather the effect of the mis-intepreta
tion of the Dewey philosophy the effectiveness of
teaching and the progress of American education which
everyone is now willing to admit, is tagging far behind
that of the Russians, especially in the field of mahe
matics and science.
Recently the United States government published
report listing the following rules for Russian school
children
a. To acquire knowledge persistently in order to
become educated and cultured citizen and to be of the
greatest possible service to his country.
"2 To study diligently, to be punctual in attend
ance, and not arrive late at classes.
3 To obey the instructions of the school director
and the teachers without question.
A. To arrive at school with all the necessary text
books and writing Materials to have everything ready
for the lesson before the teacher arrives
5 To come to school clean, we'll groomed and
neatly dressed eO'~'' ''''
&C. To keep his place in the classroom clean and
tidy
~. To enter the classroom and take his place i'm
mediatey after the bell rings to enter and leave the
classroom during the lesson only with the teachers per-
mission.
49, To sit upright during the lesson. not leaning on
his elbows and not souchng to listen atentively to the
teachers explanations and the other pupils answers
and not to talk or let his attention stray to other things
49, To rise when the teacher or the director enters
or leaves the room.
40. To stand at attention when answering the
teacher to sit down only with the teachers permssion
TO raise his hand If he wishes to answer or ask uues
ton.
al. To take accurate notes in his assignment book
OF homework scheduled for the next lesson to show
these notes to his parents; to do all the homework un
aided.
'12. To be respectful to the school director and
teachers; when meeting them to greet them with a
polite bow; boys should also raise their hats.
"13. To be polite to his elders, to behave modestly
and respectfully in school, the street and in public
places.
IA. Not to use coarse expressions, not to smoke
not to gamble for money for any other objects
To protect school property to be careful of his
personal things and the belongings of his comrades
10. 10 be attentive and consderate of old people
small children, the weak and sick; to give them seat
on the tro make way for them on the street. being
helpful to them in every way
at. To obey his parents to help them TO take care
OF his small brothers and sisters
l8 To maintain cleanliness and order in rooms, to
keep his clothes, shoes, and bed neat and tidy.
'19. To carry his students record book with him
always, to guard it carefully handing it over to
anyone ese and present it upon request of the teach
or the school director
"20. To cherish the honor of his school and class
and defend it his own'
From reading the above rules it is obvious that the
Russian educators have not been effected way or
the other by the Dewey philosophy which became the
dominant influence in American education during fhe
past 25 or 80 years.
Regardless of how we feel about the Russians,
from the above rules appears that they have not over
looked the fact that school must first provide dis
cipne before nsting the inspiration that makes for
great learning and scholarship something the likes of
winch must be done in this country are to improve
the calibre of learning and scholarship in schools
Finally, in order to catch up with the Russians
we've got to bring back into the American education
system such oldashion practices teaching the Arcs
the multiplication tables, the Roman numbers how to
diagram sentence and conjugate verb before we can
produce enough students to go into the study of al
gebra geometry trigonometry calculus and HIGHER
mathematics which the beginning of the making of
engineers and scientists.
manninc 4 Fret Eton