Progressives' Project

Rich, suburban Bronxville, N. Y., has one of the most progressive and expensive school systems in the land. From nursery school up, Bronxville youngsters have much their own say about what they study, how they study it. When a subject must be covered, teachers make it so attractive that pupils imagine they are choosing it themselves. In junior high school English, mathematics and the social sciences are required. Elective subjects emphasized are French, German and Latin--all previously offered in grammar school. Senior high school students take, in addition to regular college preparatory work, "creative" courses like art, dramatics, handicraft. Last week Bronxville's school system was the chief issue in a warm village election. The Democratic candidates for school board, who attacked both the system's cost ($233 per pupil per year) and its progressivism, ran far ahead of their ticket, but not far enough to defeat the Republican candidates in a top-heavy Republican community.

Superintendent Willard Walcott Beatty, who has built up Bronxville's school system, could be thankful for the election result. If it had gone otherwise, Mr. Beatty would indeed have been embarrassed because he is president of the Progressive Education Association and that lusty young organization is currently nursing its biggest project.

Progressive education has never made much headway in U. S. secondary schools. Every schoolman knows why: students, teachers, principals and headmasters keep their eyes glued on the entrance requirements of the colleges. Progressive Educators saw long ago that if they wanted to do much tinkering in the secondary schools they must first make a deal with the colleges about special admissions. Three years ago they worked out a plan. They would select a few first-rate schools which were already progressive or wanted to be. Then they would persuade the colleges to waive, for five years, their usual requirements for graduates of those schools.

Director Wilford M. Aikin of St. Louis' John Burroughs School headed a committee to put the scheme across. By last week Chairman Aikin & committee had persuaded 275 colleges, including virtually all the big ones except Harvard and Yale, to agree. In 32 selected schools, ranging from Milton Academy outside Boston to the Denver High Schools, the plan is already in effect for part or all of the students. In June, 1936, the 32 schools will graduate about 1,000 students who will be admitted to college on the recommendation of principals and headmasters, plus school marks, plus showing on aptitude tests, plus distinction in outside activities. Many a student thus admitted might be unable to pass the College Entrance Board examinations. But Progressive Educators stake their reputations on the success of progressively educated students in outshining college mates admitted under the standard procedure.

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