On the Firing Line in Education

the Firing Line in Education, by
Adoniram Judson Ladd

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Title: On the Firing Line in Education
Author: Adoniram Judson Ladd
Release Date: June 7, 2007 [EBook #21762]
Language: English
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ON THE FIRING LINE IN EDUCATION

BY
A. J. LADD Professor of Education, State University of North Dakota

BOSTON RICHARD G. BADGER THE GORHAM PRESS
COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY RICHARD G. BADGER
All Rights Reserved Made in the United States of America
The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A.

PREFACE
Of the ten studies making up this little volume only one, the last, aside
from the Introduction, was designed primarily for publication. Each of
the others had a definite personal audience in mind while being
prepared. Still, nearly all have later found their way into print, and
some have been reprinted in other periodicals and quoted quite
extensively in still others. Many letters of appreciation, too, from
strangers who have chanced to read this address or that, have come to
the writer. These facts, together with expressions of appreciation upon
delivery and with definite suggestions from many for publication, have
finally led the writer to feel that possibly their gathering together might
be worth while. But in fairness to himself, as well as to others, also in
the interests of accuracy, he is prompted to give an additional reason
for venturing upon the hazardous undertaking of offering "cold meats"
to people not overly hungry. Not words of praise alone, no matter how
warm, would justify such a decision, for one can never take such
expressions at quite their face value--'tis so easy to make pleasant
remarks! So the matter was thrown back to where it belonged all the
time--upon the writer to decide the case on the merits of the various
discussions as dealing with present-day educational problems.
While separate addresses, upon different topics, given at different times,

and with no thought of connection, they all do bear upon one great
matter of universal interest--that of education. The title, "On the Firing
Line in Education," belongs specifically to but the first of the topics
discust. Still, it is appropriate to the entire group since the various
matters handled are fundamental and the positions taken considerably
in advance of common use. But we are clearly moving in the general
direction indicated--'twill not be long now before the main army has
caught up, and then the firing line will be still further advanced.
I have a very definite conviction that, at any financial cost, we should
provide thru the school for the physical as well as for the psychical and
the moral development of the child. This is not to take the place of the
home--merely to supplement the work of the majority of homes. Only
thus can we adequately educate all. I believe, too, that in any scientific
view of the educational process the sense organs are paramount in
importance, and therefore urge their care and training. That the
positions taken in the various addresses upon these and other matters
are sound has been pretty well demonstrated during the last two years
when the demands of war have faced us. This is made clear in the
Introduction that follows.
I am under obligations to the various periodicals in which these studies
have appeared for permission to use them again in this form. I also
appreciate the courtesy of Mr. Badger, the publisher, in allowing me to
use certain simplified forms of spelling, thus departing from the usual
over-conservative practise of publishers. Is not this, too, one of the
firing-line activities?
A. J. LADD
Grand Forks, North Dakota, March, 1919
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
INTRODUCTION--HAVE THE SCHOOLS BEEN DISCREDIT

ED BY THE REVELATIONS OF THE WAR 13
I. ON THE FIRING LINE IN EDUCATION 37
Social Betterment, the Dominant Motive in Education 38
Child Study 43
Physical Education 50
The Educational Survey 51
Vocational Guidance 53
The Educational Psychologist 56
II. THE RELATION OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY TO THE HIGH
SCHOOLS OF THE STATE 63
The Elementary School 65
The High School 67
The State University 75
III. THE UNIVERSITY AND THE TEACHER 89
The Kind of Teachers the University Should Employ 91
The University Teacher in his Classroom