Evening star., 1960-08-21

would favor the use of type
quire no homework but which
earn him the same credit to-
ward a high school diploma as
academic subjects. But in
Russia. since all children tackle
academic subjects. anyone who
shows promise in one or an
other area of knowledge will
be discovered early.
To allow a child to choose
typewriting instead Of physics,
or machine shop instead of
history or a foreign language,
is to let a minor make a de-
cision which will affect the
whole course of his future life,
a decision he is too young to
make intelligently.
FrillS, know-how subjects
and snap courses may seem
agreeable to our children to-
day, but they short-change the
children for the future. They
will have to live in a world
where other people are hetter
educated than they. The world
outside the United States is
being Transformed so rapidly
and so completely that we can
not afford to stand still.
Pupils Choice Scored
In their enthusiasm for gi-
gantic schools and democratic
togetherneSs. American educa-
tionistS overlook the difficulty
OF conducting under the same
roof such varied enterprises as
life adjustment training, lei
sure-time activities. vocational
training and serious basic edu-
cation-especially when the
choice lies with the child as to
which course he will take.
How can we expect children
to choose higher mathematics
when their classmates are hav-
ing fun learning how TO play
canasta, cook or find a mate?
Why should an elghth-gra
tackle a hard subject when rext
door the kids are happily whiz-
zing through a course in Home
and Family Living?" Why
should he take tough exami-
nations when others get pro-
NOTED on the basis of true
false tests posing such diff
cult" problems as Should
boys Use deodorantS?" or Can
one use cake soap for sham
pooing?"
In other modern democracies.
subjects are to some slight ex-
tent taught in the schools at
tended by children who are not
accidentally talented, but they
are never considered a substi-
tute for general education. In
this country we stop teaching
basic subjects to slow learners
too soon. we shift them too
early from education into train
ing.
Parents Abdicate
What has happened in Amer
lea is that many parents have
abdicated their responsibilities
and have left the schools as
sumo them. The progressive ed
lcationistS have been more than
willing to take over these res
possibilities. In fact, some Of
them think the school should
be responsible for the whole
child" They say they will pro-
duce a "well-rounded" child.
I think if our children were
more elliptical and not so we'll
rounded, they would be better
off.
The results show what a poor
job the educationists have done,
both in education and in the
social aspects of training.
The schools are trying to do
everything, and they do moth
ing well. They are trying to
perform the functions of the
church and the home, as we'll
as their own.
I fear. too, that many Ameri-
Ican parents consider teenhood
chiefly a time for their children
to have a lot of fun: abroad it
is considered a period of prep
aration for adulthood.
To become educated takes
sustained effort, hard work,
excellent instruction by teach
erS who themselves are excel
lently educated and who know
their subjects thoroughly.
In my opinion we are NOT
adequately planning for the
future. Education must be
given priority in our scheme of
things. 1t takes a long time to
produce highly educated men
and women. If we don't take
steps now to make sure we do
this through our educational
system, we will inevitably be
passed by the Russians.
American educationiSts keep
assuring us that our schools
ARE the best in the world" "
The evidence at hand shows all
too clearly that this is an illu-
sion. Nothing prevents us from
changing this illusion into a
reality.
| (The Associated presSl