Excerpt from Teachers College Record, 1913, Vol. 14: A Journal Devoted to the Practical Problems of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Professional Training of Teachers The reorganization of a school system, large or small, by which the industrial and commercial aspects of life are given adequate provision is not a simple problem. This problem in volves many factors, all of which must be taken into account, or disappointment and even serious and costly errors will fol low. In the haste to establish schools and courses in the field of the various practical arts, it is to be regretted that many cities have begun the work at great expense without any ade quate knowledge of their actual needs and possibilities. No intelligent physician prescribes remedial agencies until he has made a diagnosis of his case. To prescribe for the educational needs of a community one must know those needs. So many elements enter into this complex problem Of educational needs that nothing less than a rather comprehensive survey of the entire social situation can provide the necessary information. Such a survey emphasizes the democratic character of the public school system. It reveals the needs of all groups in the social whole. Any system of education neglecting the fundamental needs of any group must be regarded as inadequate and un democratic. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.