School v. Education

Gove Hambidge, head research writer in the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and a popularizer of technical subjects, has a son at Haverford College and a daughter in high school. Mr. Hambidge has lately given much thought to U. S. Education. Last week he published a book on the subject, in the form of letters of advice to his son (New Aims in Education--Whittlesey House--$2). Neither flashy nor profound, Mr. Hambidge's book said in good plain English what many another parent thinks is wrong with U. S. schools.

Kansas-born Gove Hambidge believes that he wasted a lot of time at college (Columbia). His father never went beyond elementary school, but became a famed art scholar and originated the theory of "dynamic symmetry." Mr. Hambidge's conclusion: the only kind of education that counts is self-education.

Mr. Hambidge cites the case of a high-school graduate who was refused admission to a college because he flunked an English entrance examination and an oral intelligence test. Later someone investigated his high-school record, learned that at twelve he had read all of Shakespeare's plays and written an essay on Shakespeare in Politics; at 13 he read Hugo, Balzac, Moliere and Racine (in French) and wrote book reviews for a local newspaper; at 14 he learned Spanish by himself and translated three French comedies into English; at 15 he wrote a book on geography in French literature.

Some of Mr. Hambidge's tips to his son:

> "Don't pick an easy college."

> "Sometimes, in order to avoid a misfit, the educational system tries to alter the size of the student's neck. Don't let them try this on you. You can always pick up a shirt, but you will never be able to get another neck."

> "If education can become soundly individual and be put in the hands of excellent teachers, I should not worry too much about the curriculum. A student might begin with Aristotle, today's newspaper, gasoline engines, or the eternal verities, and still get somewhere. . . ."

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