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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (March 31, 1912)
. "., - C - - - - . s GHCTIOM TWO , io PAGED E D ITORIAL ' REAL EGTATE PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 31, 1912. EXPEL TIME-DRIED PEDANTRIES FROM SCHOOL CURRICULA' URGED Ban Francisco, March 0. "What this nation la sadly needing ! not mora schools ao much aa school of a modern typ achoola which shall minister toj the useful In llvlnr, and not to scholar ship that has ceased to be even orna mental; schools which shall teach the great problems of today, and not the petty gossip of forgotten yesterdays; schools which shall ring with the ham merstroXes of the world's workshops, and not echo the hollow mockeries of time-dried pedantries; schools which shall train cltisens of the. a-epubllc, who, as civil patriots, will batVe as heroic ally for. their civic, social and indus trial liberties aa their forefathers, the war patriots, battled forwar ideals." So declares Frederick Burk. president of the San Francisco ' state normal school, whose criticism of the high school curriculum is vigorous and de cisive. Principal Burke bases his statements tranc to the San Francisco state nor mal school of 39 accredited high school avea ri ataa . ir a In nViaitannA that the test examinations in the formal subjects of language, spelling, and arith metic showed the ' students admitted, aa a whole, to be distinctly better pre pared than any previous Incoming class. The lowest mark In spelling, based upon a tost of 150 words, was 14, and the language tests were satisfactory. Another test was Imposed, however, that, according to Principal Burk, dis closes a distinct weakness In the. high sohool system. Each student was asked to characterize in a line or so, the fol lowing persons In a way to state what they stand for. In general public Intelli gence: Queen Elizabeth, Ulysses, Ham let, Olfford Ptnchot, Dial, Lancelot, La Follette, Marcus Aurellus, David Har um, Pythias, Jane Addams, Huckleber ry Finn, Luther Burbank, Brer Rabbit, Carnegie, Beethoven; Booker T. Wash ington, Isaac, Samuel Compere, Millet, Darwin, Casslus, Henry Stanley, Pick ' wick. . The papers showed Individual varia tions, and the only general statement which can be made, according to Prin cipal Burbank, is that what the students had been distinctly and systematically taught, showed every evidence of hav ing been well and thoroughly taught. .... Purpose of the Test. ..-. -The test upon familiar persons lends Itself to more definite and significant statements and conclusions. The ques tions were not carefully selected, but were dictated orally upon the spur of the moment, and had more thought been ' expended In their choice, they could have .been greatly Improved. They were not . selected upon the principle thai; the stu dents should be expected to. be familiar with all of them; but they were selected upon the principle that some of them are systematically taught In the high scnoois ana oiners, inougn, very gen' rally known In present discussions among Intelligent people, are not usual' ly taught by the schools. The test rep. resented an attempt to1 compare, rela tively, the effectiveness of teaching in schools, with the degree of absorption from publlo discussions not subject to school Instruction. The answers were v not rigorously marked. Any answer that showed that the student- had iden tified the person within the range of the essential features' of -popular -acceptance was marked as fully correct; for ex- ; ample, that La Follette Is a United (States senator from Wisconsin, that 'Luther Burbank. Is a famous botanist of San Jose,' that Carnegie is a mil lionaire endowing libraries,' were ac cepted as approximations worthy for present purposes of full credit. "Five of these names Casslus, Ham let, Queen Elisabeth. Lancelot and Mar. cus Aurellus are those of persons or characters almost universally taught in the accredited schools. The total num ber of correct answers concerning these names Is 211 out of possibly 140 or 18 per cent. This is certainly a good showing. These figures. If the ratio Is borne out fr6m a larger number of grad uates, as most of us probably will ad mit, certainly indicats strongly and definitely the following conclusion: "The facts which the high schools at tempt to teach, through' systematic In struction are taught effectively. "The other names are those of per sons or characters not very generally, or not systematically, taught In the high schools. What knowledge our young -people obtain concerning them, as a rule, must be obtained by absorp tion through the pores of popular read ing, public discussions, or frem conver sation. The schools have, "for reasons they have never clearly explained, neg lected' to give Instruction In the knowl edge of the events, movements or af fairs with which these names art Iden tified. From these named, we may se lect those of seven persons Intimately connected with as many widespread and intense public movements, which have been and are of such vital importance to society, to the state and to every In dividual, that persons who are not fa miliar with these movements, can not be classed as persons at all In touch with world affairs. .The names selected for this consideration are those of 6am uel Compere, La Follette, Olfford Pln chot, Jane Addams, Booker T. Washing ton, Dlas and Charles Darwin. "It would seem Incredible that any class of people living In the present dire of the public agitation of the move ments represented by these names could remain Ignorant of them. Yet, In con trast with school taught knowledge, the test shows that only 143 answers out of a possible 280, or 51 per cent Were cor rect.". 'J'--.-' Many of the answers were ridiculous and bit wide of the mark. Bamuel (tem pers was accredited as a "United States senator," "king of the Democrats," law yer In the McNamara trial" and f "a character In fiction." (Jlf ford Plnehot was even described as a children's game. And these are two names of men of national prominence. Jane Addams was called "an American", and "a nov elist" One student named Booker T. Washington as "Lincoln's assassin Darwin was called "one of the plotters against Mary Queen of geots," "an au thor" (fiction), "an historian." But the- most lamentable blunders, points out Principal Burk, cams In the attempt. In this day Of political Insur gency, to Identify the name of La Fol lette. The same students' who gave In telligent answers concerning Casslus, a Roman Insurgent living before Christ, guessed La Follette to be "governor of California,'' Va , famous , Democrat," ."French general, who helped the Amer icans during the Revolutionary war," "Democratic candidate for the presi dency at coming primaries," a French man 'of the fourteenth century, who Pacific U. Orchestra to Play at Gladstone Chautauqua Orchestra of students of Pacific university at Forest. Grove. (Stfeckl to Tie jMratLI - Pacific University, Forest Grove, Or., March SO. Professor ' Frank : Thomas Chapman, director of the conservatory of muslo of Pacific university, is to have full charge of the muslo for the annual Chautauqua at Gladstone Park this summer, and some of the .features of his program have already been announced. Besides a number of soloists, who have been engaged, the Paclf io "U ." conserva tory orchestra has contracted to furnish muslo for the entire session. The or chestra will play for an hour each after noon and evening and give saered eon certs on the two Sunday afternons. A grand concert is also to be given on the last day of the meeting. ' . . . Professor Chapman will also have charge of the chorus of 150 yolcea Which Is to be prepared especially for Sunday llS-n- SPECIAL SALE GARLAND GAS RANGES TOMORROW MORNING WILL FIND EV ERYGARLANDGAS RANGE IN OUR STOVE . DEPARTMENT REDUCED IN PRICE. THE REDUCTIONS MADE WILL MAKE A MATERIAL SAVING TO THOSE MAKING PURCHASES DURING THE SALE. THE " SALE WILL CONTINUE FOR ONE ' WEEK. ; . ' AS A COMPARISON IN PRICES WE QUOTE . A FEW NUMBERS OF RANGES. . ' NO. 460, REGULAR $20.00, NOW .., .....f 17.50 NO. 170, REGULAR $35.00, NOW . f 3h00 , NO. 151, REGULAR $50.00, NOW . , ... , if 42.50 NO. 650, REGULAR $75.00, NOW f 62.00 OUR STOCK IS LARGE AND CONTAINS ALL THE LATEST PATTERNS. " DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE SALE, IS OVER , AND THEN WISH YOU HAD BOUGHT, BUT BUY NOW. -v ' - HdNEYM AN HARDWAREGO- FOURTH AND ALDER STREETS." afternoon concerts. It is not yet decid ed who -will direct It The orchestra, .which made a good record for Itself on the recent glee club tour, will be strengthened In Its Chau tauqua work by a cellist and a flutist from Portland, who will also be used in solo work. Professor Chapman played for several years in the Chicago sym phony orchestra, and had long training in Europe. .1 n .'it. explored," and "have never heard of it or him." ' .' ':' , A Significant Contrast. : ' .This contrast," says Mr. Burk. "in which the- school taught knowledge reaches an average of 28 per cent, while knowledge of actual world affairs not taught by the schools has an average of only tl per cent, very significantly and forcibly points to the following eonelu slon: . j v. . . :.; ; "That accurate knowledge of world affairs, however popular and general, is not easily absorbed by : our young people without the assistance of our schools through systematic courses. "These considerations bring us face to face with the necessity of the reor ganisation of our school courses In order that our young people shall be r effi ciently fitted to perform their duties to their homes, their ' society and their state. Only ths schools can perform this service. , Since the schools - have proved their ability to teach the dead issues or -Koman pontics, tnere la no reason, If their energy were turned Into the new channels, why they could not teach , the living Issues surrounding mem in actuality. World Scholarship , Pedantic Scholar ship. "It Is Quite a popular form' of amuse ment of many critics of education to 11 lustrate the Ignorance of the world con cerning certain kinds of knowledge. Re cently, for example, it Is reported a Chi cago , lecturer asked '40. questions, as a test "of an 'educated . person,' among which were- the following: fi 'Name the treasurer of the United States.' 'How many justices are there on the bench of the supreme court of the United States and name five-of-them r ''What' is-a preposition T 'Name your. congressman,' Now, these Questions are of a type that, as a -matter of fact, very few people can answer. " Intelligent people do hot know them because they are not world knowledge. There is little occasion to use this kind, of knowledge and conse quently, If once learned, these worth less facts are soon, and also very profit ably forgotten. , .. , "This kind of knowledge is forgotten because the world does not use it. But the typical questions -here propodnded belong to the reverse type. They illus trate the . knowledge which the world does use and therefore the kind of schol arship, In which the schools should pre pare pupils. - ; '. Test of Knowledge Talues Is World Use, "I would not be construed as reject ing or undervaluing the knowledge of Casslus, Hamlet. Elijabeth, and of other school taught knowledge in which the students 1n this test sh6w profi ciency.. It Is valuable aa valuable as that which is 1 not taught because It also possesses world currency. I have made the contrast, not to e.xalt the one and belittle the other, but to illustrate the point that the high schools are pow erful engines to disseminate knowledge; that they teach well what they under take to teach, but that they are now neglecting to teach an area and kind of knowledge which world life now de mands. On the other hand, I would not be understood as approving of the huge bodies of knowledge included In the high school courses, which the world does pot use Latin, grammar. of for eign language, most of the unapplied and inapplicable mathematics and sci ence, history for history's sake, and all the disciplinary drills, -etc. ,:z origin of Pedantic Scholarship. ' "Therefore, these high school courses must continue to ,be what they are un til some eruptive upheaval of! an out raged public ; intelligence .disrupts i the hollow mockery of this term scholar ship.' v as we now , have it, scholar ship Is a, rudimentary organ preserved by the force of scholastic pedantry from the medieval agei. World life, was tjien regarded as defiling and the 'schol ar withdrew himself from It, or lived stpart as an alien In this w6rld,:tliat he might become a citlaen In the next. Scholarship .was, therefore, a kind of knowledge acquired by scholars for the especial reason tlfet it was unworldly and dealt with matters with which world affairs were not concerned. This was a legitimate training of -men, ' to exist apart, and aloof from the world. But in modern, times, be they wrong or right, all has been reversed. The world which God made Is and must be good, not evil; a place to Itve It, not out of. Our modern Welt-Gelst demands that we shall develop our heritage, shall bridle the powers of land, water, air; shall1 conquer the fierce social instincts so that all shall have guaranteed unto them the rights of liberty, lire and the pursuit of happiness. A new world-In telligence is leading from discovery t1 aiscovery, rrom invention to invention overturning In its progress the cher ished heirlooms of medieval asceticism; reconstructing - society, , government, science, art, and making thereby, with each step, a new scholarship a scholar ship of world action. But amid thlh jostle and bustle of modern' life, amid this hammering din Inthe.world'tjworkr shops, what' are our "scholars and our schools doing to fit the next genera tion to be , skilled workmen in these workshops? These : anachronisms are the blood tribute exacted by a palsied durational system from the youth of a world that has grown centuries beyond Its schools snd colleges. . We Are AU BesponslMa. "But in a larger sense of good dti- senship, the high school teachers and all Intelligent citizens are responsible for this greedy hold of tradition upon our schools. We are responsible in 'that we conceal the truth, that we do not go to the houietops and proclaim the scandal of the schools and universities and call upon all good citizens to rally to tbe cause of educational reorganiza tion. We schoolmen snd schoolwomen have remained silent We have allowed and are allowing society and the state to sleep on. In false confidence in us. Since we do not, by our own unaided strength, shake off the traditional ped antry, the people must be awakened. A Policy of Xeooastzucttoa, "As steps In this policy of construc tion, I suggest the following: "1 That we agitate and urge the es tablishment of a system of state su pervision of high schools through a com mission or board, in. place of university accrediting' end under conditions that will leave this commission or board un trammeled by the prejudices of the tra ditional dogmas of medieval scholarship, and the high schools free to substitute the standards of a modern scholarship, based upon world efficiency. z mat. as individuals and conjoint ly, we proceed with every opportunity to appraise our schools' scholarship In terms of tbe kind of knowledge and in telligence the modern world Is uslnsr, and freely publish the results so that all Intelligent people may comprehend thj problem and assist in reorganization." Ilanlon Goes to Prison, ll'nlttd Press Leased Wire.) Seattle. March 30.Herbert Hanlon. tbe newspaperman who defended a charge ot grand larceny by placing the blame for tbe crime on Howard, his younger brother, was sentenced by Judge Ronald today to from two and a half to IS years In tbe reformatory. , Hanlon Is it. During the trial Howard as sumed the blame, but the jury refused to believe his story. The stolen goods were furs and clothing valued at $300, taken from the office of J, F. Douglas, a wealthy lawyer. Union telegraphers have paid a total of 1752.100 in death benefits since the death benefit feature was Instituted. GROWING OF ASrtRS APPEALS TO ASTORIARS Slm Burwxi of The JoorniLI - Salem, Or,, March 28. Astoria wiQ win all the aster prizes that are to be given at the next state fair If her present enthusiasm In aster cultivation remains unabated. Word has reached Superintendent Alderman that Astoria will make a specialty of growing asters during tbe summer, and that vacant lota, back yards, and otherwise unsightly spots will become beautiful with cholo est asters. . August Hildebrand. Astoria's park commissioner, has announced that he will give each child who will enter the contest a package of aster seeds free. At the children fair In connection with the regatta next August, Mr. Hildebrand will award 10 prlzs for the best asters brought in. The prizes will be for tha most beautifully colored asters, for' a. bouquet of asters of the most colors. for the largest aster, and for the ntoest blue-aster. ..-. Children and grown-ups on both sides if lower Columbia river, are invited to join the contest. Instructions on the cultivation of the aster will be fur nished. The Astorlans fully expeot to win all the prizes offered for their flower at the state children's industrial contest at the state fair. Factory for Rent. Two floors In new brick building Just completed at Hood and Baker streets, South Portland; long lease, low rental, building Is well lighted and will make an ideal location for manufacturing plant. A. L. FISH, care of Journal, ' Journal Want Ads bring results. Read This Ad, Then Turn to Pages 6-7,Scc.5 and Read Every Word "(LMffi ee vPonnMe Paigje AimMOTMeeinnieiiiitt In the Center of Section 5, Pages 6 and 7 of Our Great Greatly Effecting Prices in Every Department of the Store Sale Begins Tomorrow at 8 A. M. Turn to the Big Ad and Then Read Every Word Comparison Sale 6 Three Famous Makeo on Sale "Carter" Merodew ZimmerliM Women who have always depended upon .Olds, Wortman & Kins to sup- K l ply their Underwear needs, especially those who will have' no other than M one of the above brands, should have forethought enough to know thatjp such. an opportunity will not come again very soon, and therefore lay ir.f. , their season's .supply at these low prices.' Take earlyadvantage of the sale. u 11 mm :'::Srfct3? i We are Sole Agents in Portland for "Carter's Underwear for Women. Proud of it, too Here's a sale of "Carter's" Underwear that won't occur azain this season. It is not a sale of bid goods or last year's stock, but the fresh new Spring and Summer stock, of "Carter's" Underwear, which has, been in the.'liouse scarcelv one week. It will pay all wearers of "Carter's" Underwear to buy enough to last them for one year. "Carter" 65c Women's Vests and Tights Special at 50c Each White, spring needle ribbed, cotton, Spring and Summer weights;-Vests all shapes, high neck," low neck, long sleeves, quarter, or half sleeves; tights ankle or JA knee length ; sizes 4, ; 5 and 6. Special..... ......v JllC Extra sizes, regular price 75 cents; special, 65 each. - ' .-.. v :,,Cartert,, $1.00 Women Vests and Tights at Only 85c Fine white lisle thread, spring needle rib; all shapes in Vests and QC Tights.--Size's- 4, 5 and 6. Specially priced at. the garment only ODC "Carter's" $1.25 WomenV VesU aiid Tights Only $1.00 ?Fjne Mjk jisle thread, fit spring needle rib, all shapes in Vests (1 AA and Tights.--Sires 4, S and 6.- Bargainized a special -price,-eachT vlUU "Cuttr'tr' $1.25 Women'a Union Suits Special at $1.00 White light weight cotton, fine 6pring needle rib. tnarJe low neck and wide knee, plain, but finished withpretty scalloped edge. Sizes AA 4.-5 and 6; regular $1.25 Vests and Tigbts, bargainized at only 4i.UU Extra sizes in same grade Vests andnTights, regular $1.50, special, f 1.25 "Carter's" $1.25 Women'a Union Suits Special at $1.00 Fine light weight white cotton spring needle rib, long or short a f A A sleeves, high or low cut neck, ankle or knee length; 4, 5 and 6, 9lUU Extra sizes in same grade Union Suits, regular price $1.50, special(J?1.25 "Carter's" $1.75 Women's Union Suits Special at $1150 White lisle thread, fine spring needle rib, all styles, shapes CI'CA and sizes. Take advantage of this special low price, suit, 1DU "Carter's" $2.00 Women's Union Suits Special at $1.65 Light weight white lisle thread, low neck no sleeves, knee 01 ?C length; sizes 4, 5 and 6. Specially priced at, only, the suit ?1.0D Extra sizes, regularly priced at $2.25 the suit, special at only f 1.8.5 "Carter's $2.25 Women's Silk Lisle Union Suits at $2.00 Finest grade white silk lisle thread, spring needle rib, low t AA jieck, no sleevesi ankle or knee leritn. Specially; priced at v5UU "Merode" Hand-Finished Women's Underwear Only 45c Vests and Tights, Spring weights, fine ribbed white cotton, high of low neck, long or short sleeves; ankle or knee length lights fo match. JC Come in sizes. 4. 5 and 6. Bargainized for juick selling t, each,-rOC Extra sizes in the same quality garments, specially priced at only 50 "Merode" Hand-Finished Women's 65c Underwear at 50c Vests and Tights, spring weights, fine ribbed white lisle thread; high or low neck, long or short sleeves, ankle or knee length tights; come PA m sizes 4, 5 and 6; specially bargainized at only, the garment 0"C The same quality Vests and Tights in extra sizes, special at onlv 63 ? -"Merode"- Hand-Finished Women's $1.25 UnderWear $1 Vests and. Tights, spring weights, fine ribbed silk and lisle f AA thread; all shapes in vests and tights; sizes 4, 5 and 6; special, f lUu "Merode" Hand-Finished Women's $1 Union Suits 85c Spring weight, fine ribbed white cotton, high or low neck, long or QC short sleeves, ankle or knee lengths; sizes 4, 5 and 6; special at OOC iueroae nana nnisnea union &uits m extra sizes, special at, suit, fl.OO ' U."J r!!A- J f or1 n c vi r i m i lauu-f misneq x. j union ouits uniy q ,UU a m - ' v wierode Fine quality ribbed wliite lisle thread, high or low cut neck; M AA long or short sleeves, knee or ankle lengths; sizes 4, 5 and 6, at M UU Merode hand finished Union Suits, same as above in extra sizes, f 1.25 Merode" Women's $2.25 Union Suits Special at $1.95 Silk lisle thread, beautifully finished, ankle or knee length, AC with er without sleeves; sizes 4, 5 and 6;specially priced at $IJD Women's 35c and 40c Imported Vests Special Only 25c Fine Swiss ribbed white lisjle thread; low neck, no sleeves, plain nr and neatly finished with silk ribbon, all sizes; special at, each 40C 'Zimmerli" Women's $2.25 and $150 Union Suits $1.95 Fine imported quality Swiss ribbed white cotton or lisle thread, n reinforced, low neck, no sleeves, knee length; sizes 4, 5 and 6, OltvD "Zimmerli" Women's $4.00 Union Suits Special C3.23 Best imported quality Swiss ribbed white lihle thread, reinforce-!, ! neck, no sleeves, knee length; trimmed with hand crochet fin- ish. Come in sizes 4, 5 and 6. Specially priced at only, the suit, k ? . ' sands of fresh, new-Spring and Summer garments received within the last week. The famous "Mero" II. is controlled in Portland by Olds, Wortman & King, and will not bo placed on t?dz cab t--' '