On the Firing Line in Education

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21762

Title

On the Firing Line in Education

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A. J. Ladd's 1919 collection challenges post-WWI educational criticism, arguing schools successfully produced citizens capable of wartime service. Covering physical education, child study, and the roles of home, church, and school, this volume advocates for balanced development over narrow practicality.

Summary up to 500 words

In "On the Firing Line in Education," A. J. Ladd vigorously defends American educational principles against post-World War I criticisms that schools failed to produce adequate soldiers. Ladd argues that the fundamental purpose of education has never been to create military recruits but rather to cultivate individuals of character, initiative, and democratic ideals. He asserts that the successful mobilization of the entire American populace during the war—from President Wilson to the common citizen—demonstrates the profound efficiency of the schools in training citizens capable of leadership and service. Ladd addresses specific shortcomings revealed by the war, such as physical defects in recruits, attributing them not to flawed educational theory but to a parsimonious public that ignored educator recommendations regarding physical education. He specifically highlights the "eye problem" in schools, urging immediate medical inspections to aid learning and prevent retardation. Furthermore, he critiques the "credit-for-quality" system in universities, warning that it demoralizes students and teachers, creates non-uniform standards that hinder transfers to graduate schools, and encourages cheating. The work emphasizes the vital, interconnected relationship between the home, the church, and the school, identifying the child as the central focus of all three institutions. Ladd posits that while mistakes occurred and some deficiencies existed, the schools nobly demonstrated their efficiency when faced with the supreme test of national emergency. He concludes that educators must maintain patience and continue preaching the "good gospel of reform" despite short-sighted critics, insisting that at any financial cost, society must provide for the physical, psychical, and moral development of the child to adequately educate all.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Education
• United States