THE MICHIGAN DAILY
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1944
I I
THE PENDULUM:
High Schools Neglect the Classics
By BERNARD ROSENBERG
MR. PANUSH'S letter to The Daily
puzzles me a great deal. He
seemed to be saying that I both over-
stated and understated the case
against secondary education.
My opinion is that the article in
question was too mild, but for reas-
ons directly opposed to those of Mr.
Panush. He fears that the American
high schools are "quite a
behind the technological
tural advancement of the
Aside from the ambiguity
statement (how can the
be culturally ahead of
schools?) technological
stands alone as the one
America about which we
few steps
and cul-
country."
of such a
"country"
its high
efficiency
aspect of
need not
worry. We have outdistanced the
world in that area. Gadgets and
comforts we have aplenty.
The law of the market place
holds sway over the whole of our
culture. Ruthlessness and trick-
ery with all their underhanded de-
vices have come to be the admired
mores. Every large industry has
its trade schools. I do not see why
America should turn its secondary
educational system into an adjunct
of big business. Nor is there any
reason for the addition of further
science courses to the curriculum.
They are already required to a
large enough extent. We have our
troubles not because too few stu-
dents know the valence of hydro-
gen, but because too few students
know how to balance the human
equation. Science prides itself on
being purely descriptive. It tries
to tell what is-not what should
be. But modern man, beset on
every side with situations that de-
mand an ethic, has to go beyond
science*in search of it.
Any attempt to transfer the posi-
tivist standards of, let us say, chem-
istry into the social sphere is ex-
tremely hazardous. The Nazi state,
for instance, has not been uncon-
genial to the development of science,
at least in the medical and explos-
ive branches of the field. Science is
amoral and proud of it. Right and
wrong are meaningless terms to men
engaged in thet manipulation of lab-
oratory apparatus. But, for the mil-
lions of people who must choose be-
tween fascism and democracy no such
detachment is possible.
THE notorious and shameful fact
is that the average graduate of a
French lycee or a continental gym-
nasium or an English grammar
school knows more than most col-
lege students in the U. S. A. They
do not know more theorems. They
know more classics. They have been
instructed in the bases of a Western
civilization the very existence of
which is hazy in the minds of Amer-
ican high school pupils.
Keep trade schools, by all means.
Let those better suited to such insti-
tutions go there. But to bury the
michroscopic number of valuable
courses taught at present in a mass
of technology would be disastrous.
Mr. Panush ignored the chief ar-
guments I mentioned. This may be
taken as tacit acknowledgement of
their validity. 'However, there is
more to be said on the subject.
For, young people are today
caught in a system rapidly running
wild-like Charlie Chaplin on an
assembly line in "Modern Times"
-in its frantic effort to mass pro-
duce minds the same way Henry
Ford mass produces cars: coldly,
uniformly, automatically. Demo-
cratize until Doomsday, and you
cannot make equal the capacities
or the frailities of the human mind.
The essence of democracy cannot
for long lie in standardization; on
the contrary, it is the surest way
to destroy democratic faith. So
long as we standardize high school
learning in accordance with our
own peculiar materialism, we will
be unhealthily repressing those
whose ambition it is to go higher,
just so long, indeed, will we plabe
a premium on mediocrity and toy
with its concomitant, frustration.
This calamity can be avoided part-
ly by elevating the position through
increasing the pay of high school
instructors so that they do not them-
selves personify the mis-fit middle
class of our times. We can do so
partly by ceasing to preach democ-
racy less vigorously than we practice
authoritarianism in the high schools.
We can do so partly by eliminating,
once for all, the pernicious marking
system.
The need is for more study of this
system, for less congratulatory back-
slapping at annual conclaves that
accomplish nothing. But, para-
mountly, we must have an electorate
awakened to the existence of such a
problem as the high school.
DAILY OFFICIAL
BULLETIN
The Road Back
L-C
_
is proper care of men who have contracted Misbehaving Trainees . .
tuberculosis or had such a condition aggravated
while in the services. Discharged tuberculous SEVERAY nights ago, while watching a motion
veterans are now returning to homes in Michi- picture at one of the local theatres, I ob-
gan at the rate of 300per month. served three soldiers (somehow I resent calling
Existing federal and state statutes are in- them that, behaving in the manner which we
adequate to provide for care of these veterans, normally expect only from a youngster of twelve
the Executive Committee of the Michigan Tu- or thirteen). They yelled, whistled, and literally
berculosis Association reports. Already more wrestled in the aisles, making it impossible for
than half of the younger veterans, admitted any one around them to enjoy, or even to watch,
to hospitals fortuberculosis treatment, have the picture in progress. On various occasions
left the hospitals prematurely to return to they held loud conversations which carried ac-
their homes, their diseases still active. cross the entire balcony, apparently oblivious to
Patients are actually encouraged to leave the anger of the people around them. No one
hospitals by an extra money incentive for in the entire audience was willing to speak to
discharged men who are treated at home in- them demanding decent behaviour, chiefly I
stead of in the hospital. There is also a lack suppose, because they were in uniform. They
of control over patients, their coming and were very much aware of this and determined
going at will, irrespective of their condition to exploit their unearned prerogative to the
and against " medical advice. For these reas- limit. Time and time again I have seen this
ons results obtained in veterans' hospitals same spirit in evidence. "The world owes me a
have proved inferior to those recorded in living" seems to have become the slogan of
well-managed state, municipal and private many of these University trainees. Can it be
:sanatoria. that they have been reading too much of their
Obviously, veterans who are allowed to leave own propaganda?
hospitals with active tuberculosis are a men- I resent this attitude bitterly, but only par-
ace to family and community and are in danger tially because it constitutes a selfish abuse of
themselves. There is not time to squabble over misguided patriotism. Primarily, I am angry
the problem of whether their care should be because it misrepresents the majority of ser-
left entirely to the federal government or to vicemen who are doing the actual fighting in
local units or whether it should be divided be-4 this war. I have just returned from the Asi-
tween the several authorities. Immediate leg- atic theatre, where, after serving for a year
islation is needed to insure proper care of these on an active front, I was given a medical dis-
men and protection of the community. charge. I have'known intimately the men
-Jennie Fitch who are making the real sacrifices, and I
know that they are quite unaware of having
earned any right to disregard the tacit rules
of decent human behaviour. It seems very
unfair that others 'should demand privileges
which even they deny.
Most of the fellows here on campus are living
in clean quarters, eating three meals a day,
and dating over the weekends. I, along with
thousands of others, have slept on the ground,
eaten dehydrated foods and gone unwashed for
months on end. Yet, somehow I still feel bound
by the laws of society which require a'certain
standard of behaviour from us all. As a matter
of fact, I am still very grateful to be back in a
place where only a selfish minority denies these
normal considerations 'to the people around
them. -John Muehl
with proper leadership and equipment many be-
lieve they could do an A-1 job in taking other
objectives.
The final decision probably depends (1) on
political factors; (2) on transportation. Re-
garding the latter, the Air Transport Command
continues to perform miracles in carrying every
drop of gasoline, all airplane parts, personnel,
food, and every conceivable type of equipment
to U. S. air bases in China.
As the enemy now full well knows-though
the U. S. public may not-these transport
planes now fly during the monsoon season,
which the British previously said was impos-
sible.
Forthright Congressman Usher Burdick of
North Dakota intends to pay tribute shortly to
the great job done by the Chinese and by the
Air Transport Command in this war theatre.
Stalin-Churchill Cordiality
Those who have watched the diplomatic wheels
go round from the close-up inside, report that
Stalin and Churchill are now getting along
famously.
This is important because it was not the case
at Teheran, where Roosevelt and Stalin did the
getting along and Churchill didn't. That was
when the present Second Front in France was
the topic of considerable argument and when
Churchill, bidding farewell to Stalin, said:
"Well, good-bye, Marshall. I'll see you in
Berlin."
'"es," replied Stalin; "I in a tank and you
in a Pullman car."
Churchill's friends point out that at Teheran
he was in the early stages of a very severe illness
and definitely not himself.
Since then, Churchill seems to have got over
any complexes regarding Stalin, and Stalin takes
a like position toward Churchill. There has been
complete teamword between the two for some
time.
Both British and American diplomats also
pay tribute to the cooperation of the Russians
in recent months on most subjects, even includ-
ing Poland. The general view in diplomatic
circles is that Stalir has been reasonable regard-
ing Poland, and that Polish problems will work
out satisfactorily in the end, despite occasional
fireworks from the exiled Polish press.
(Copyright, 1944, United Features Syndicate)
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16, 1944
VOL. LIV No. 31-S
All notices for The Daily Official Bul-
letin are to be sent to the Office of the
Summer Session, in typewritten form
by 3:30 p. m. of the day preceding its
publication, except on Saturday when
the notices should be submitted by
11:30 a. m.
Notices
Recommendations for Departmen-
tal Honors: Teaching departments
wishing to recommend tentative Aug-
ust graduates from the College of
Literature, Science and the Arts and
the School of Education for depart-
mental honors should send such
names to the Registrar's Office, Rm.
4, University Hall, by noon Aug. 30.
Recommendations for tenative Octo-
ber candidates should be in the Reg-
istrar's Office by noon Oct. 25.
Robert L. Williams
Assistant Registrar
To Members of the Faculty of the
Summer Session: Should you desire
to attend the breakfast for the can-
didates for the Master's degree Sun-
day morning, 9 a.m., at the Michigan.
League Ball Room, you may purchase
tickets in the Office of the Summer
Session, 1213 Angell Hall. The price
is 75 cents.
Attention Hopwood Contestants:
All manuscripts for the summer con-
test must be in the Hopwood Room
this Friday by 4:30 p.m.
R. W. Cowden
Lectures
Today: Dr. Enrique Testa of Chile
will speak on "How Chile Streng-
thens the Inter-American Front" at,
8 p.m., Kellogg Auditorium. The
public is cordially invited.
Next Monday, Aug. 21, Professor
Oscar Lange, University of Chicago,
will speak on "The Soviet Union in
World Politics" at 4:10 p.m. in the
Rackham Amphitheatre. The lecture
is open to the public free of charge.
Academic Notices
Students in Speech: Robert Shay-
on, Producer - Director, Columbia
Broadcasting System, will speak at
the assembly of the Department of
Speech at 3 p.m. today in the Rack-
ham Amphitheatre. The public is
invited.
Bacteriology Seminar: Thursday,
Aug. 17, at 10:30 a.m. in Rm. 1564
East Medical Building. Subject: "Re-
port of Research Work on Influenza
Virus," by Dr. J. B. Sarracino. All
interested are invited.
Concerts
The Regular Thursday Evening
Record Concert will be held in the
Men's Lounge of the Graduate School
at 7:45 p.m. The program will consisti
of Beethoven's Egmont Overture, De-1
bussy's Nocturnes, the "Surprise"
Symphony of Haydn, and Les Pre-
ludes of Liszt. These programs are
held every Thursday evening for the
benefit of graduate students, service-I
men, and their guests.
The University Summer Session
Band, William D. Reveili, Conductor,
presents an outdoor concert on Sun-
day evening, Aug. 20, 7:30 p.m. on
steps of Rackham Building.
The program will be as follows:
National Anthem; March-"El Cab-
allero", Joseph Olivadoti; Panis An-
gelicus, Cesar Franck; March-"The
Footlifter", Henry Fillmore (Con-
ducted by William D. Revelli); Mala-
guena, Ernesto Lecuotia; On the
Hudson, Edwin Franko Goldman
(Conducted by Mr. Leonard Mer-
etta).
Symphonic Episods, Felix Fou-
drain; Child Prodigy, Morton Gould
(Piano Soloist-Miss Helen Francis,
Conducted by Mr/ William Fitch;
March-"Love's Own Sweet Song",
Kalman (from operetta "Sari");
Overture Militaire, Haydn-Skornika;
March-"The Stars and Stripes For-
ever," John Phillip Sousa.
Open to the public. In case of in-
clement weather, concert will be
played in Hill Auditorium.
Student Recital: On Tuesday eve-
ning, Aug. 22, at 8:30, the School of
Music will present a program of
string quartet music, given by the
students of Mr. Gilbert Ross's String
Quartet Class. The program will in-
clude chamber music by Mozart,
Beethoven and Schubert. The public
is cordially invited to attend the
recital which will be given in the
Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre.
Exhibitions
General Library, Main Lobby. Mod-
ern fine printing.
Museums Building: "What the Ser-
viceman May See in the Pacific
Area." (Animal Exhibits).
Rackham Galleries: Original water
colors by Soviet children (50 pit-
tures), and Reproduction of Book
Illustrations by Soviet Artists. Cir-
culated by the National Council of
American-Soviet Friendship, New
York. Open daily, 2-5 and 7-10 p.m.,
through Saturday, Aug. 19.
Clements Library: "Army News and
Views in Seven Wars." American
military publications, particularly of
the present war.
Architecture Building, First-floor
cases. Exhibitions of student work.
Michigan Historical Collections:
160 Rackham IBuilding. The Growth
of the University of Michigan in
Pictures.
Events Today
Sociedad Hispanica: Those inter-
ety immediately following the lec-
ture.
All women interested in Education
are invited to the final luncheon of
this summer, Russian Tea Room,
Michigan League, today from 11:45
to 1 o'clock. Speaker will be Miss
Ai-djen Lo, graduate student, who
will discuss the topic "Educational
Problems in China." Come and bring
your friends.
A.S.C.E.-A.I.E.E. Joint Meeting to-
day: Prof. Arthur Aiton of the His-
tory Department will speak on "En-
gineering in South America." All
members, prospective members and
others interested in this topic are
urged to attend. Final list of Navy
members of A.S.C.E. will be made
following this meeting, 7:30, at the
Union.
"The Chocolate Soldier," an oper-
etta by Oscar Straus and Stanislaus
Stange, will be presented this eve-
ning, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
and Monday evenings, Aug. 16, 17, 18,
19 and 21. The School of Music will
collaborate with the Michigan Rep-
ertory Players in this production.
Performances will begin at 8:30 p.m.,
in the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre.
Tickets on sale in the theatre box
office. Box office hours: Monday and
Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for the
balance of the week, 10 a.m. to 8:30
p.m.
Wednesday, Aug: 16, The Mid-
Week Respite from Your Academic
Labors: Dance and relax at the USO.
Junior hostesses. Lots of new tunes
on the disks and FUN. Refreshments,
of course.
French Tea today at 4 p.m. in the
Grill Room of the Michigan League.
'Coming Events
Chinese Block.laps in India
were stopped and the Assam Valley was saved.
Two facts stand out as a result of this
hitherto untold chapter in the war. One was
the amazing performance of the Air Trans-
port Command, which flew in all kinds of
weather over the most difficult terrain in the
world. They took General Chennault's gaso-
line and flew it in reverse, not to aid China,
but to aid India.
The other was the example of what the
Chinese troops could do in a pinch and what
they might be able to do against Japan in
North China if' properly equipped and led.
Early in the war, before the Japs took Burma
and Singapore, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek
formally offered Chinese troops to Prime Mini-
ster Churchill to fight in India or any other
place in the Orient. The offer was refused. The
Chinese believed at the time that Churchill did
not want Chinese troops in Burma, a country
once part of China, which the Chinese some-
times talk about getting back.
Chinese on the Job
SINCE THEN the Chinese have done a great
job in building the airports from which U. S.
B-29's take off for the bombing of Japan. And
Pi Lambda Theta: Supper meeting
in Russian Tea room at the Michigan
League on Thursday, Aug. 17 at,5:30
p.m. The picnic scheduled for the
last meeting has been cancelled.
Cynthia M. Jones, Publicity Ch.
321 S. Division
French Club: The last meeting of
the club will take place tomorrow
Thursday, Aug. 17, at 8 p.m. in the
Michigan League. Mr. Sami Turan,
Grad., will speak on "La vie des
etudiants parisiens." Group singing
and social hour. All students, ser-
vicemen and faculty people inter-
ested are cordially invited.
The last open clinic of the Univer-
sity of Michigan Fresh Air Camp will
be held Friday, Aug. 18, at 8:30 p.m.
at the main lodge, Patterson Lake.
The consulting specialist will be Dr.
Leonard Himler, Psychiatrist, of U.
of Michigan Health Service.
Deceptive Miles .. .
Does our Russian ally know that
his advance is only taking him into
a trap the wily Germans have pre-
pared and will spring at the most
devastating moment? If that view
is a little startling, it is on good auth-
n,.fx "Thre is" soumNai hnp
BARNABY
By Crockett Johnson
I
Whv nra wp nnirin fo, Icao
Sem 5prn~1ttina. somehow, thatf we
I Also, we need Gus, the Ghost,
. . .