Principles of Secondary Education

explain the complexity and the importance of the present problem in secondary education. But to these is added one other, an entirely new one and a dominating one. This fact is that there is a dawning perception that secondary education must become universal as elementary education has now become. This situation is not clearly recognized, but its existence explains much of the uncertainty and much of the difficulty of the present. In all of the highly developed modern societies the inadequacy of the existing form of elementary education is being recognized. In addition a special vocational training is needed for the rank and file of society workers; and the selected leaders in professional or vocational activities of a higher social and intellectual status should have a broader general education as a basis for their subsequent vocational training. Hence in European countries extended systems of diversified secondary schools have developed, including not only the varied forms of schools preparatory to the professions and to scientific employments, but a like variety of technical vocational schools for those engaged in common industry of any form. Several German states and other Teutonic countries make it incumbent on practically every individual entering into industry or commerce to take such training. That for the higher professional and scientific employments has long been obligatory. In English-speaking countries, more jealous of individual initiati...