. ‘PAGE EIGHT > “Under the heading. of “The High a ~ Schsol ‘Assault “on” Learning”; an ‘SL artiele ? from - the’ pen’ of "William | “James, Hail appeared in the October “, -18,- 1956, issue of: Saturday. Night. <2) Because of. the interést: which the- _ article: aroused, ‘it is reprinted ‘here:: * “Lately ’ we have been: regaled with “figures onthe: “alarming shortage ‘of scientists . ‘and engineers,’ ‘There are «teh vacancies’ for. every..top-engin-. -eering graduate from. the Canadian bes “universities and three jobs. open for os every graduate, at ‘the’ bottom of the lass. Russia. -is) now. .producing “twice: as many. scientists’ and engin- ~- eers as Canada and the lecinees a - States’ combined. , 4 It is not only in. engineering and: - Science that’ our shortage of trained “ “people: is So critical. The other pro- - fessions—teachers, doctors, dentists, -... Nurses, social :worker and: clergymen also show:a decline in new recruits '- either. relatively: to the growth of our population ‘or,-in the cases of _ teachers, doctors and. engineers, ‘even :an absolute decrease in num- : hers. -What has happened?*. --. For years . the ; academic. “high ie "school had: ‘been’ the foundation for training © “young Americans ».and ‘Canadians * “planning to. enter. the _ professions. -Qnly.’ boys. and. ‘girls “who were likely to take “up profes- sional: careers went to high school. : ~ Pupils. ‘who . ‘reached high school pensate for’ their cultural, deficien- | cies. ; : “But. ‘during | ‘the - 1920's .in: - the ‘United’ States and’. the . -1980’s' in Canada,:.a..silent-” revolution . “took place ‘in. the’ high. schools, ' the” full impact: of which: we. are only. feeling today. © This came’ as’ a’ result’ of raising. the school ‘leaving age ‘to 16 and the consequent pressure by ele- mentary - school: authorities. to: drop the high school, entrance examina- tions“and to. admit indiscriminately pupils from Grade eight. ‘The result was. to: flood: the: ‘high, schools. with youngsters who for the most. part had little cultural incentive towards academic: achievement. Gradually; as: these pupils becdme the -majority, ‘the - demand grew to them. “optional: subjects”. breviated -or : “optional”, trigonom- dead ' letter.’ to ‘do. well in: one’s. studies was gen-. a erally admired: (even. if: grudgingly) by. one’s classmates’ and not consid- ered’ to be the. ‘social: handicap ‘that it is today... Most young. people who went to high school came from mid- * dle "class' “backgrounds © “and: “the minority from the. working class’ had: enough: professional : ‘talent, ito. ‘com- these .‘“useless subjects” and in Can- science”. “As dainty and decorative” treat'as you. can make to “grace a ‘table... and so. ‘delicious, too! Use FF teischmann’ s Active Dry wk, Yeast fo, all. your home. a ise: until: doubled “in ‘bulk, “bout : hour,’ Bake i inca moderately hot. 375°, 5: . om "The Trojan, Women" en Toronto) .. . \ wed me © (trom mane fa ngay” - - Tues, — — "Tine t to, Go" ens “(ham Torontay , Wed, — Tr end. of Toud Hatt Mon : Avia os a eam Vencouver) fae a a Thurs —! "Down a lonely Road”. ps weve EE ewe Winnipeo) |, swe ; — "The Rood Between’ gy Sat. one “The: Dasortic Place * (ram Heblen).¢: ys . ibn ra come Penis a cu Wat) crenrenen \ ial (a “HIGH SCHOOL ASSAULT ON LEARNING | drop.a number of academic subjects. from.. the . curriculum. or to’.-make ‘The first to go-was Greek, then Latin (in most U.S. high schools), then the. modern languages’ such” as German and French. were ‘either eliminated or cut: down. Next the attack ‘centred on mathematics. Certain -.“useless”’ branches’ of ‘mabhematics™:such © as algebra and” ‘geometry. became ab- etry all but. disappeared’ as an upper school option and calculus became a ada, chemistry: and. physics: became: optional: subjects ‘or ‘reduced: to ‘a kitchen: course called. Levees doulyaral, ‘Pledge has note ocenrred, Py We | simply. evaporated, 7 i Nh SAANICH PR TINSULA. AND. GULF ISLANDS REVIEW “The ‘course. offered in shop, com-: mercial practice or home economics: are’ shoddy substitutes for appren- ticeships in industry,. the. -precise re- quirements ‘ofa business college,. or the art .of- a mother's guiding hand in’ cookery and: home planning. Yet’ these’:thoroughly ‘inadequate’ voca- tional.courses have been ‘allowed like a cancer. to grow. wpon: ‘the: profes- sional ‘areas of education and finally. to choke them off. The . professionally”: inclined | ‘stu- ‘dent, finds himself lost:in.a mob of. his fellows who have few interests. lin. school: other than: propagating their species “and playing. Batough their work. : j Willy-nilly . our secondary schools today are encouraging | ‘the. ‘practice of menticide or mind Killing. Only the mediocre pupil is rewarded soc- ially.and.as he is promoted anyway there is little incentive towards excellence. -_ Drastic as they are, the inroads made: into. the: professional curricu-. lum still have not-been sufficient. to guarantee that: three-fourths of the pupils. will. “pass. Teachers who ‘at- tempt-:to maintain ‘the’ standards demanded : -by: the® course”of study ‘soon discover: that they must fail : expect them to master more. than : *Vhalf.-of-:the’, material in ‘their sub- ~The. erosion : of the academic. cure: riculum: was. still far from: complete. More “useless subjects”: were still to "| get the. axe:or feel the slicer.:.The sciences—particularly chemistry and physics—were to be cut’ down to size ‘until half the high. schools in the’ United’ States no longer. offered ject. Many teachers | then. resort: to boosting: grades, using ridiculously easy marking or even drilling: pupils | on: the’? “very questions to appear on the. exams, “With the resort to these subterfuges a certain number of un- deserving. pupils will “get: by”. But .even.. this is: not ‘enough. ©. A* large. number ‘of: pupils - inevitably fail— but failure-is no longer the: obstacle to ‘promotion it once was."On such. sophistries ‘that “the: teen-ager: is: “| better.’ off.” in-school: than on ..the _ Street” or that “it is better ‘that the. pupil.) remain with ©-his.” own: age’ 7 group”,. youngsters. - with. as > many: | as: five’ failing: subjects® ‘out of seven Vor: eight: are’ promoted anyway. ‘This’ * significance: of'.a \pass-or. a: “failure is: thus” blurred. both: in the’ A od as well: asthe teacher's mind. : ‘Although in :some schools. ‘pupils : who - ‘take’. the language” options: ‘|| naturally segregate themselves into: ‘| what might: loosely be thought of: as an academic form, these classes tend to: be: larger’.than: the: ‘non-academic. ‘forms ‘partly because: ‘such’ pupils are. ; better fitted ‘to De . ‘in terms ‘of educating’ for. the ‘pro=' “WEEKLY REPORT OF: NORTH SAANICH STATION. “This -is ‘the time’ of -year’ when |. --those who plan to grow. some apples willbe’ ‘wondering what | ‘Kind of trees to ‘obtain.. mistake ‘and: no. -one likes to admit : that he’ has been: wrong.’ But ‘the experiment of “mass education. has failed. Let us be humbled by: this. ‘fact before it’ is: too: late. In the’ meantime I would. like ‘to offer a suggested program for teach- ‘ers who are more interested in edu- cation than “a promotion to easier or better paying schools as’ well as. for all public-spirited. citizens: 1.. Urge the reintroduction of pupil- screening through examinations and aptitude’ tests at Grade 6, Grade 8, Grade .10-and’ Grade.-12° to ‘select pupils. both willing and- able’ to achieve in: the. professional fields.. 2. Urge the establishment of guid- ance centres co-operating: with local farmers, merchants, unions and _.in- dustry * for. the: placement. ‘of .mon- academic. teen-agers as ahpr eres and hired help. : 3... Required that | no ‘secondaty school class should exceed’ 20 pupils so.that adequate attention: may. be given’ to. the needs Of: each academic pupil... . 4. Urge the establishment: of pri- ‘vate “and ‘government scholarships |. of a minimum of $1,500 each’ to assist pupils of inadequate financial means, but who have the’ emotional and intellectual resources to further their. education: : 5. Cut. ‘out home ‘beonodiics,” Biioge work ° and commercial . courses: and require of: every secondary school pupil: at least one. ancient and mod- em language; . commencing ‘the’ mod-' ern language: (French) --at. Grade. 7. Cut. out social studies: and -reinstate’ geography. and ‘history in. Grades 9-and-10.° 6. Cut: out: sade 13. cA: properly reorganized academic ‘program: from’ Grades 9 through | 12° would ‘not: re" ‘quire‘the: extra, year. which only” con-. stitutes: a ‘prolongaition of «:the -im-. maturity: Of: adolescence.’ Grade. 12 pupils should be able to do Grade 13. work." iy Be ‘Extension © of! ‘the ” *kehool « “day from’ 9 am.:to 4.30- pm. with school open ° six’. days - hs “week. Saturdays should. be: used ‘primarily for. group .| excursions; field = “trips, ete. 8. Abolition of local school boards. Most soca eee boards have si : ‘becomes: bushy: ‘and. remains. ‘quite 1.is | they = tend: to®, produce. a. relatively i ‘large amount f des’ tended: to: screen out the non- | thal i academic’ pupil and’ to further..con-.|- the clock turned ‘brek on our. schools, | aN However, “he recognizes that. ‘not ovory popwar. change = is. n° reforin, “Bad as our high ‘schools .were be-. .,| fore. ‘tho. 1930's, they.-.were. atleast) » | doing the minimum: Job sof: educat~ | AiR oing’ young people for the professtona,.| fi “A Youngeters then: wore seldony taught to think; 90% of the work wis. done “Dy rote: momory Yet the, youth’ of the 20's. andeear ¥-80's nb lenst pos- oP 8O8sO he: body. of! knowledge.’ with 2) Wwiieh :they- could, think, should: the _Unelnatlon or the Opportunity. arise. |: “| Today: ourshteh. schoals. rely Just: na |: || Much on rote niemory. bul the know- “Ted Nequired is superficial and less, ‘prelovant.lo- profosstonnl tradidnygs. . Morcoyer. hibits of.work.. Mid: ons quiry: AYO-Not ONcouraged: ini group Has. mass. education. then: been ‘ 1& failure?. °r think:the’ answer : is -an’ unqualified yes”, if. we-are thinking’ of, non-agademle: ‘pupils playing: Aub Weadomla: Worked ine, tevolt; of the: masses ie our ‘schools. ‘hans: triumphed. “The: result ) has been that. the cultured: minority from which, our. tencherg: must: be reorted has spread: itselt so: thin’ that the expected diffusion of know. “Th. has Tn spite of all their: ‘professions concorning the -vietory: of the pros Jetarlat, Russlan: educators have. not been decoived by slogans ns we have fn. North Amoarlen: They have ‘rote Ved Unt the tfort to. edneate everyone really means edneating no One, Boleghon“Is. rigtd in: ‘Teussln, and only. pupils with - wbllty:: are given’ WMUSh: formal education aa thoy: can: usatully ahaa: dens for scholnstia: Invptoybmenta wre alred by the ‘varlous ‘elaques' of tenchera and professional: dudntons at the toaghers' conventions and ae: somlation meetings, Nothing . fs ac- compllahed tor” the: slmple: reason. that: everyone. ts seared: to. touch the ren iasue, Pride naturally yee ~_— na a tran i Aeatling: our terrible ed. by: Producing’ three ‘tween “blossom ' clusters ‘whereas’ the’| # datter.. typically: ‘produces: only.” one’ leaf between ‘blossom clusters. ‘Thus two. ‘stems, the ‘lat ‘al ‘gtowth. peing: | pinched ‘ouk:, from the: axils of ‘the ‘| tied ‘to, the. ‘stake. This system pro- e | duces: ‘high quality: fruit: but: gives’ ‘a ‘lower. yield per plant, and. require: ; You'll save: 20% to 30; OF er more: : ‘Biggest Savings of the Spring Season, , Just 3 say? “Charge ie", -For home ‘garderis: dwarf. trees: on: ‘number IX: Malling rootstock’ offer ‘excellent - possibilities, - This: root= stock™ “keeps the: trees - quite - small and .size* can “be. further governed ‘by ‘pruning. so that. all operations such..’as pruning, thinning, : and picking - can: be -carried’- out © from’ the. ground.: Apart: from’ size con- venience, the. dwarf: trees. mature: their" crop at least a week earlier than standard size trees. . This can be: a ‘marked advantage: for. com- mercial crops.’ ‘The. question of: ma- turity is Of importance - in parvest: ng. oe Fruit: that is ‘harvested too: ‘esnly never attains the quality of fruit that is harvested at prime condi- tion:: It “is: generally recognized that the fruit from | dwarf. trees is of. superior | quality: to fruit: from ‘standard trees. -When earlier. ma~ turity is‘also available it.can quick- dy: be seen ‘that quality is influenced | in’ more: than one way. “To° get - the. very best. ‘from your : apple trees -the ‘date. of © harvesting must. be. carefully: watched. It is better to. harvest. the’ ‘crop ‘at. two 10-day ° intervals, ‘store ‘the fruit cin a cool place and then Sample it at intervals to ‘determine which: date : is best. : “It -is - ‘only since. the. turn | ‘ofthe century that the tomato has become a staple item | in’ the. diet: At. one time it. was. looked . on: with : -Suspi- cion. and even regarded by some’as poisonous. . Today the tomato ranks: close to the..top. Samong. vegetables i in: popularity. a ; .., While - essentially ‘a warm season crop: tomatoes may -be grown quite successfully in most: seasons in; this area.’ ‘The. work - of:. plant” breeders: in* producing more” widely’ adapt-.) } ‘able varieties“ has ‘been ‘largely. re- sponsible for the fact that tomatoes |... oS can. be grown. today. in. locations | “like giant. thermos. bottles): provide’ clean “hot water: at’ the: exact: tempersture you. require. at the low: cost of. approximately 90c. to: $1 ‘per person per. month for the: aver- formerly.” considered” . Unsuitable. There are: two main types. ‘of: to- matoes, indeterminate: or tall’. cand determinate”: “Or = ‘wart. A. ‘typical plant. of . the® ‘former : ‘is® distinguish- for ‘a given’ length of:stem: there is fas ‘greater. ‘amount of: fruit: set: on: a. _ ‘determinate. plant.: “Since: ‘this: ‘type tends to. ‘branch: ‘profusely, the. plant dwarf. Because of. this’ growth. ‘habit ~ leaves: be-' on 1 every Ray Day item. D ign pb bE tad ha ach edit a “redta dt data eas tence Seca cnp 4b warns bbs ich GA abs de Dat gc. coseé seas emecsece., Wednesday, February 27, 1957, || PREPARE F OR WORLD DAY - OF PRAYER > -Avmeeting was held on souigy ‘19 at the home of Mrs. C. H. Par- nell to arrange: for the. World. Day of. Prayer: service ~ which® is. to. “be held on Friday, March: 8. ‘resenting. the following | ‘churches: Anglican,.- Baptist, : Four Square, ‘Pentecostal, Seventh-day | Advent- ist, and’ United: ‘The service is ‘to. Church on Beacon Ave.; at 2.30'p.m. Mrs. service, and - ladies church, will. take part. ~ ‘Mys. L, Theaker will be the’ guest soloist,...On’: this: day, from. early dawn to late.evening, companies of Christians around..the -world will from each be united. in a service of. prayer,. to be ‘ held in the Bethel. Baptist { E and, thanksgiving, and the \ We denn ‘home’. : today. a steps 2 year. an age family of four... “Buy: on n Bay. Day. and Pay by April 0th, Morton © will conduct the | Tf you: have ‘some non- automatic tank that requires attention. down in: the ‘base- “ment, someone has. to climb. about. 24, 4,000; : With a: ‘modern ‘automatic electric ‘stor=. oa 7 age water : heater, you can have. ‘all the. hot. water your family wants, 24° hours” a day, = without any: effort: on your part. Automatic ta electric. storage ‘water heaters (insulated To. get complete satisfaction you. should : make sure that, you. get. the right size. heater Y h 6040 D for sare q tollf ives service on wally your E : Special Phone Order Service opens ‘at 8. 00 am, Friday. “Just ask | f or the order et ee and: shop: for your needs by number . « One call for all: departments, — in 4 Be‘aura to: ‘see the Big. 16- Page Supplement enclosed § in eran Ti ime hursday Colonist, . bag Rote Be 3 7 | ane ee | Bazan Bay Group | -|Enjoys Show Of ‘Travel Pictures. On Monday, Feb. 18, the Bazan. “Bay group of St. Paul's and Shady Creek. United» churches sponsored: ... an: evening of:pictures at the: Ross" -'|.MacKay-Blatchford ‘home: ..” fA ‘Tawelve -ladies were. present, Tep-. . Rev... J.. -Bompas. welcomed the: “guests. and introduced’ E.R: Hall," -- who showed pictures of his recent © trip; north’ and ‘east. That the fine: ‘pictures ‘and interesting. comment...” “ary were much enjoyed was evident from the ‘generous contributions; The president, Mrs. D. R. Cook, moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr, Halland invited all to. remain for refreshments and ‘a social ‘time. hope waS expressed that all who can do so, will avail themselves of the privilege” of joining this ‘reat, —_ throng. Plenty. of - hot water. is” “needed” in. ‘the Bs : . hot. water for: bathing, — for laundry, “for ‘dishwashing, for: ~house-": -..Cleaning.. ....in fact there are over 100 uses) for. hot water in the average household — * Ae SET = ae STE ‘ar : a