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Show OFFENSlfituc Constitution in the Schools r WaSte of Time Needed for Other Things By DR. THOMAS M. BALLIET . Deaa of School of Pedagogy, New York Univeriity I cmisiilcr the Ktuily of tin; Constitution a sheer waste time fur the jjiipils of tlie schools, e.-pcrially of the high schools. Who tiinlerstaii'ls, the Constitution? It has Ij.cii the custom to hae in the high schools, textbooks on the 'onsl itul ion iiml to teach from them as though through them the instructors instruc-tors were actually im j.urti ng the science of government. In the first jilace, th"i (,'onstitution is a legal document beyond the comprehension of jJh: pupils of our elementary anil high schools. It is true that there are parts of the- Constitution which are simple enough. The student may learn from it how old a man must he before he can be a member of congress con-gress or of the senate and such details, but the principles enunciated in the instrument are beyond his depth. As a matter of fact, a decision of the Supreme court is required on any one clause when an application is made to concrete cases. This is so true that the working Constitution is made up of decisions of the Supreme :ourt rather than of the text of the Constitution itself. I would not give the impression that I do not regard the Constitution Constitu-tion of the L'nited States as worthy of study; but I do mean that it is a otudy not for immature boys and girls, but for college students and for citizens of mature judgment. Thousands of citizens know nothing about it at all and seem none the worse for it. The constitution of Great Britain Brit-ain is not even a written one, and yet the empire survives. The essential facts relating to our government which are referred to in the Constitution can be taught orally or from some small textbook. The discussion of the principles included in the document, on which so much time is now spent in the high schools, might well be left until the student has the right to vote. There is no reason why their study should be inflicted upon children of sixteen, especially when there are so many iiiore important subjects which should have attention. |
