Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 205, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1916 — Study of Constitution in the Schools Waite of Time Needed for Other Things [ARTICLE]

Study of Constitution in the Schools Waite of Time Needed for Other Things

By DR. THOMAS M. BALLIET

Dean of School of Pedagogy. New York University

1 consider the study of the Constitution a sheer waste of time for the pupils of the schools, especially of the high schools. Who understands the Constitution? It has been the custom to have in the high schools, textbooks on the Constitution and to teach from them as though through them the instructors were actually imparting the science of government. In the first place, the Constitution is a legal document beyond the comprehension of the pupils of our elementary and 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 be before he can be a member of congress 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 court rather than of the text of the Constitution itself. I would not give the impression that I do not regard the Constitution of the United States as worthy of study; but I do mean that it is a study not for immature boys and girls, but sor _college students and 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 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 bo 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 more important subjects which should have attention.