Jeannette High School - Jayhawk Yearbook (Jeannette, PA)

Page 12 text:

6 i 91 6 YEAR BOOK PROF. E. W. LONG Superintendent of the Jeannette Borough Public Schools

Page 11 text:

TN recognition of the interest and support that has made this hook possible, it is gratefully dedicated to the Board of Directors of the Jeannette Schools.

Page 13 text:

j g i 6 YEAR BOOK 7 Aims and Ideals IN' these days of educational unrest it is well to define a general policy. There is little disagreement regarding the best practice for primary and intermediate grades, but the organization of the grammar and High schools is under discussion throughout the land. (ienerally speaking there is one great principle involved, and this is the struggle between social and state efficiency versus the liberty and opportunity of the individual. Since its beginning, America has been known as The Land of the Free,” a land where society is not stratified into rigid class divisions, where the son of the humblest citizen max rise to the highest position of preferment in the land. e are, as a people, rather proud of this fact and our schools have aimed to give a common culture to all children, in order that every child might have an equal chance to rise to any | osition to which hi'' ambition and energy might carry him. But lately we have been much disturbed by the doctrine of social and,state efficiency, a doctrine which is a product in large measure of k form of government existing in Kurope, and radically different from our own. We are much impressesd with the economic results which this efficiency has secured, and some reformers are urging that we adapt our schools to this new system of things. To have this type of efficiency the children must be trained early in a definite vocation, This early choice of vocation must limit the freedom of the individual to choose his life work in the light of his native ability, for few children at the age of twelve years are capable of forming a correct estimate of vocational v alues, nor are thev sufficiently developed that others may wisely direct them. Nearly all of the educational unrest centers about this struggle between individual freedom and group efficiency. There is one safe and consistent course to pursue. W e must liberalize and broaden our course of study and adapt it to vocational needs of boys and girls only so far as such a course of procedure will not rob them of the cherished American privilege of working out their life’s destiny in their own way. These changes will be made just as soon as suitable room is pr vided for the administration of these much needed studies. And! sv in the c; nfusion f educational counsels, our aim is to follow the ldcn n can, to set a high standard along lines that are tried and aj proved, to be ready at any time to discard anything in education that has outlived its usefulness and to welcome anything that will i ake richer and happier the lives of our boys and girls. K. W. LONG.