WORDSWORTH characterized

SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE

as "The rapt one with the godlike forehead." LAMB writing of his early school days at Christ's Hospital called him, "the in spired charity boy." Another had occasion to allude to him as a man of magnificent beginnings. Alas for the possessor of the godlike forehead that his body was tormented with neuralgic pains and that, like another great Englishman of letters, his genius had the handicap of a drug habit. His His inspirations were often nullified by his indolence. He frequently began in brilliant style what he found himself unable to finish, as for instance his "Cristobel" and "Kubla Khan."

Here is the beginning, magnificent or otherwise, of Volume XXIX of Educational Foundations. In frank appreciation of the high standing and recognized abilities of our contributors, in consideration of the timely interest of the subjects discussed herein and convinced of the practical value of our several departments we believe that the year's work is

thus projected on

a lofty plane. Lest the COLERIDGE analogy be drawn too closely we assure the reader, gentle of course, that our plans provide for the maintenance of this high level thruout the year. The danger of our inspirations being balked either by opium or indolence is presumably negligible. The powers permitting, this volume shall be rather like "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner", a poem famed for persistent excellence, worthy the poet of the godlike forehead.

If Louis the Fifteenth's belief in a devil was sufficient to justify CARLYLE'S ascription of a religious faith to that monarch, our determination to war against every evil influence that threatens true educational progress is a measure of evidence of our faith in the power of education. We cannot make the world safe for democracy unless we make the people fit for democracy. Against the conservatism that enslaves and against the radicalism that precipitates disaster we shall continue to battle with all the forces at our command. That process only

is truly educational which results in right thinking and contributes to right living.

The Great War is injecting new problems into the field of education, toward the solution of which we hope to contribute. Our columns are open at all times to those of our readers who have clear-cut convictions and are able to express them in convincing language. This is in part the purpose of "The New Educational Foundations."

How like a family should we beeditors, publishers, contributors, subscribers, agents differing on occasion, yet united in the golden bonds of an intellectual kinship! And let there be no suspicion that these precious pages of ours shall be given over to controversy to the exclusion of random simplicities and heart redeeming contemplations. No man has yet been able to draw a straight line between the dreaming of great dreams and the doing of great deeds. In this highly privileged family of ours we are capable of understanding the gifted KEATS when he writes,

"He ne'er is crowned With immortality, who fears to follow Where airy voices lead."

"Vacational Education"

"An acre of Middlesex is better than a principality in Utopia," said MACAULAY.

Dreamers are entitled to their dreams. God pity the man who has them not. But in this practical world we must look carefully to our Middle

sex acres.

Education has for years been slowly readjusting its methods for the purpose of securing more practical results, that is, results demanded by this swift mechanical age.

The long summer vacation, consecrated to idleness, is a tradition long held sacred. It is now an anachronism. It is a delusion and a snare, or worse. It is bad psychology, bad economics, bad morals, bad pedagogy.

Neither too much labor nor too much rest is good for man. The one wears him out, the other rusts him out. Most of us would prefer to go out by the wearing rather than by the rusting process, if choice must be made.

Many a lad who has hailed with delight the advent of the summer vacation, has longed for it to close. Robust young Americans, however much they may chafe at the restraints of the classroom, have some sense of the value of time and are glad of opportunities to employ it wisely. What is needed therefore is an educational program which will provide for our young people occupations combining educative and industrial values during the out-of-door season. Of course the allotted tasks should be congenial, the conditions wholesome and the supervision as wise as the wisdom of the world can produce.

There is nothing entirely new in this theory, but, it has required a big war, with its lash of necessity, to drive us to action. Now a marvelous thing has happened to the youth of our land. Thousands of our young patriots have been cheerfully cultivating the soil during the summer, doing a good bit for Uncle Sam, and getting an understanding of life at its sources which is

worth more than many months of "book larnin'." The work has been done thru various forms of organization, the most efficient of which is probably that known as the Industrial Army Camp. In connection with expert military and agricultural in

struction many features of educational and recreational value are easily adaptable. Our educational leaders will be woefully remiss if they fail to profit by the experiences of the summer of 1917. "Vacational education" has won a place in the world's new order.

The sum of $1,000 is to be paid by the City of Baltimore for a statement of the principles of American citizenship worthy of being announced and used thruout the nation as a Citizen's Creed. Such a statement is much needed, especially for use in the schools.

The plan originated with Educational Foundations and has been most nobly and energetically furthered by the Vigilantes.

The contest closes on September 14th.

During the summer newspapers and magazines have given considerable space to the project, all approving. Manuscripts have been arriving at headquarters in large numbers and from all parts of the country. It is hoped that among them will be found

the document that will meet with the unanimous preference of the committee and that will make the author richer by $1,000 in money, and the country richer in the possession of a new and competent enunciation of the great ideals which guide us as a people even as the heavenly constellations assist the mariner in keeping his bearings on the perilous deep.

The contest has already been a success to the degree in which it has furnished an incentive toward a reexamination of our doctrines and a more intelligent comprehension of the functions of citizenship in a free country.

Correspondence should be addressed to the Committee in care of Educational Foundations, 31 E. 27th St., New York City.