y
in the Northeast, describes a condition which he says "I know by fairly
authoritative reports does exist in a considerable number of cities and
towns--not merely in a school here and there, but generally and
characteristically.

"In the city to which I definitely refer," Dr. Chancellor continues, "I
found that the intermediate and grammar grade teachers had
systematically, deliberately, and successfully sacrificed hundreds of
boys and girls upon the altar of examinations to the fetish of good
schools. They have been so anxious to have good schools that they have
kept an average of 20 per cent of their pupils one grade lower than they
belong. In some schools the average runs to above 35 per cent.

"Some teachers and some school superintendents cannot see that the
school is simply a machine for developing boys and girls; cannot see
that the machine in itself is worthless save as it contributes to human
welfare. A school may be so good as actually to damage the souls and
bodies of human beings. It damages their souls when the machine
operators, seeking 75 per cent in every subject, keep boys and girls in
grammar schools until they average sixteen years of age."[19] Dr.
Chancellor continues with a stinging arraignment of school officials who
sacrifice children to systems.

The article strikes an answering chord in the experiences of many men
and women. A friend came recently to our bungalow, and, with a troubled
face, spoke of his daughter's ill-health.

"She is not sick," he said, "but just ailing. These first May days have
taken her appetite. She needs the country air."

The daughter was a dear little girl of twelve--any one might have envied
the father of his treasure--and we offered to keep her with us for a
month in the country, and to go over her school work with her every day.
The father accepted our proposal on the spot, but two days later he came
back to say that he could not make the arrangements.

"It cannot be done," he explained, "because the school will not let her
off. I told the principal about my daughter's health and showed him the
advantage of a month in the country with her school work carefully
supervised. Her school is rather crowded, and as I want her to go on
with her class in the autumn, I asked him if he could arrange to keep
her place for her. In reply he said,--

"'I cannot do as you wish. Such cases as yours interfere seriously with
the working of the school.'"

VIII Boys and Girls