Page 2 University Daily Kansan Thursday, February 7, 1952
Daily Kansan Editorials
Practical Experience Has Educational Value
Any person connected with the field of education should give consideration to the report made recently by Dean Ernest O. Meiby of New York university. In it the call was put out for "less bookishness, more learning by doing."
Dean Melby, as head of the School of Education, directed his remarks specifically at the training given to those going into the teaching profession. However, the ideas he presents readily can be applied to almost all of the other fields.
Students must be prepared, he says, to take an active part in community life—to solve educational and social problems on a first-hand basis—if they are to fulfill their future roles as educational leaders.
"Student teaching, of course, is a relatively old device that seeks to give the prospective teacher an opportunity to learn by doing. Rarely, however, has it been conducted under conditions of sufficiently full participation, competent supervision, and continuity over a sufficient period of time to make it an effective element in the prospective teacher's program," he adds.
The proper type of training to bring about this result must be that which brings the students to grips with the problems at the practical level. Dean Melby maintains that even the advanced students at the doctoral level cannot do their work in libraries alone. "Field work is essential."
Many steps such as Dean Melby is advocating already in practice here. The School of Education sends its students out for eight straight weeks of practice teaching under actual conditions instead of the old method of one or two hours a day for a semester.
All law students are required to take a course in courtroom practice. In it they gather the material necessary to try a case, prepare their arguments and briefs and have actual court sessions complete with judge and jury.
The dean strongly favors workshops as a means of teacher training. Through them it is possible to integrate subject matter and experience into a realistic program.
All technical courses in the School of Journalism are run in connection with the Daily Kansan. In many there are specific amounts of time which must be spent on the job.
Undoubtedly examples of other schools of the University doing the same thing can be found. Some types of learning can make use of the practical education more readily than others.
But any person interested in making education more effective in its goals should check his work to see if it can't be improved by having "less bookishness, more learning by doing."
Joe Taylor.
Boy Scouts Celebrating Their 42nd Anniversary
This week the Boy Scouts of America are celebrating their 42nd anniversary.
Cub scouts, eagle scouts, and scout masters are helping each other to make themselves good citizens for a better community, country, and world.
The Boy Scout Week slogan is "Forward . . . on Liberty's Team." In their meetings, recreation hours, and through service to the public Boy Scouts strive to keep the bell of liberty ringing and the torch of freedom burning. By being loyal, helpful, kind, obedient, brave, clean, and reverent they accomplish this task.
Boy Scouts throughout the world work for each other regardless of race, creed, color, or nationality. This service, interest, and helpfulness is a lesson that diplomats would do well to imitate. Meaningless phrases would then be replaced by genuine actions in the interest of peace. —Joe Lastelic.
University Daily Kansan
News Room Student Newspaper of the Ad Room
KU 251 UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS KU.376
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sports Editor ... Judie Jones
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*Mail subscription rates: $3 a semester or $4.50 a year (add $1 a semester if in Lawrence). Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except afternoons and Sundays. University holidays and examination periods. Entered as second last month Sept. 17, 1910, at Lawrence, Kan., Post Office under act of March 3, 1879.
_etters:
Please publish the following in the interests of general information and edification.
Dear Editor:
Junior Disagrees With Sophomores
To Whom It May Concern:
Though perhaps unduly optimistic in assuming that someone will be concerned, we do hope that others shared our appreciation and enjoyment of the recent attempt of "a representative group" of sophomores to revive that fine old American tradition of school spirit. We might add, parenthetically, that it would require a "representative group" of sophomores to attempt such an undertaking.
We also notice that the crew hats will "distinguish" the sophomores; we suppose this refers to a matter of mutual identification, since to non-sophomores, sophomores are easily distinguishable at first glance.
Another dubious point about the sophomores; the article states "they reason." Obviously, everyone will have discarded this fatuous statement into the realm of the impossible and ridiculous, but the result at which the sophomores, willy-nilly, arrive is that class spirit, obviously a boon beyond compare, fosters an even more magnificent attainment, school spirit. Although we would be the last to admit that school spirit does not add a certain flavor to college life, we do not feel that it is something to be consciously strived for, but rather an unavoidable, intangible, and easily detected quality of the student body, somewhat akin to "B. O."
However, our main complaint is that the members of the class of '45 will be mightily outraged to have their own cherished class yell paraphrased and plagiarized (although the latter seems to be a common trait among KU people). But, no doubt, the overriding importance of such heroic values as school spirit outweighs any ethical, and all esthetic, considerations.
Michael McNalley,
College junior.
Short Ones
Vice-President Barkley is in the hospital with an eye disorder. Some of the sights in Washington are discouraging.
The New Hampshire primary, which President Truman called "eyewash" has possibilities of developing into a tear-jerker.
Evangelist Billy Graham is back on the soap box, we notice. Overlooking his violent oratory, it's relieving to hear from a man who doesn't hesitate to state his beliefs.
Mrs. Mary Lois Jones, Marshall, Mo, has been jailed because of sending "scurrilous and defamatory" matter through the mails to President Truman. Evidently she isn't impressed with the practice of supporting a state's favorite son.
In a "high price" riot in Rio de Janeiro, 30 persons were injured. The excitement was over a rapid rise in the price of meat. It looks like a high premium on steaks for black eyes.
Prabha Dutt Brahmachari, Hindu holy man challenging loquacious Prime Minister Nehru of India for a parliament seat, doesn't speak a word. He sits while his lieutenants do the talking. A policy worth considering for presidential candidates here at home.
Newbold Morris Invades Crowded Investigating Field
There's a new investigator headed for Washington. His job in that over-crowded investigating profession is to direct the clean-up of the federal government.
The investigator's name is Newbold Morris, and his new title is that of Special Assistant Attorney General. He's a prominent, 50-year-old, New York City lawyer, and he calls himself "an Abraham Lincoln Republican."
Morris was appointed to the clean-up post by Attorney General J. Howard McGrath. President Truman put McGrath in over-all charge of the federal investigation and McGrath in turn (with HST's okay) appointed Morris, promising him "complete enthusiastic and unlimited cooperation." The appointment does not require Senate approval.
The strange part of all these goings on is that McGrath himself is under investigation by a House judiciary sub-committee and Morris's name has appeared in studies of a deal involving war surplus oil tankers. This tanker business will soon come under investigation by a Senate investigating sub-committee. (Of course it must be noted that investigation doesn't mean guilt—especially in investigation-happy Washington Morris very possibly will not even be called as a witness in the tanker investigation, though his name has figured in the deal.)
Morris says he never met McGrath until the Attorney General offered him the appointment on Jan. 30. He also says he was impressed with McGrath's "sincerity and good faith." And, most important of all, he says he will go to the "very top" in his investigation, even if it should involve his immediate superior, McGrath. He emphasizes that there will be no "white wash." The new investigator adds that his first job will be to investigate the justice department.
The end product of Morris's labors is to be a report giving:
(1) His estimates of the depth and scope of official misconduct.
(2) His recommendations for improving systems and procedures of appointing personnel and supervising their conduct after appointment.
Truman told him he was to ask for anything he wanted from any agency or department.
Newbold Morris began his political career in 1928 when he was named to the New York City Republican committee. He later served as president of the New York City council from 1938-1946, and he twice ran and was defeated by Democrat William O'Dwyer for the office of mayor of that city. After his second try in 1949 he devoted his time to private law practice. He is a member of a family important in the political life of New York for 300 years, and he even numbers a signer of the Declaration of Independence among his ancestors.
Prominent Republican critics of his appointment were Senators Karl E. Mundt of South Dakota; Robert A. Taft of Ohio, and Richard Nixon of California. Nixon termed the appointment a "White House phony"
Though he praised Morris as a lawyer, Senator Taft said he had no confidence in the proposed investigation because it would be under the justice department.
Replying to Taft's statement, Morris said, "I'm not under the department of justice. I'm completely independent . . . It is entirely non-political. I'm designated as a Special Assistant Attorney General, but I'm going to investigate the department of justice itself."
"Justice itself." At least everyone will (we hope) be thoroughly investigated, and with all this digging surely evil will out
Ellsworth Zahm.