The Problem of Values

The annual report of Dr. Henry S. Pritchett, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, continues to repay adventurous excavators. It has been discovered that he said, apropos of freak " special " courses in the public schools: " If the demands of the schools continue to increase at the present rate, the inability of society to pay the cost must bring about radical curtailments."

Professor Montgomery of the University of California views the problem otherwise. He told his mixed class in English that 7,000 of the 10,000 students at Berkeley " should be attached to the handle of a pick or a frying pan." Though limited to young Californians, the challenge was taken up in the East and a general sentiment expressed that 7,000 was too high. Presumably Professor Montgomery has no pride of exact opinion; 6,500 might satisfy him.

In any case, it is significant that the public is endeavoring as never before to discover what sort of education is worthwhile for what sort of people. As yet no accurate science of selection has been evolved. And the weight of opinion seems to be against any restriction or limitation.