Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Social Problems And Their Peaceful Solution.
every little head alike , and then at a given signal—the attaining a certain agethe quasi-scholars axe to be foisted upon Society as finished pieces of machinery . No ! education is not a cramming-in , but a drawing-out ; not a loading of tiny brains with hard disjointed factsbut a developing
, of innate qualities of metal , the temper of which is to be developed gradually hour by hour , until some day the perfect unit Avill be fitted into the perfect machine , Avhere there will be no more jar of imperfection , nor any more decay .
But is this so Avith us to day 1 Oh ! Avhat a perverse world it is ! Sometimes this way up , sometimes that . How fickle is fortune ! to-day a man is on his head , to-morroAV on his heels . Even so it is AA'ith our very language ; like all the rest
it partakes of the contagion : what meant good yesterday , means bad to-day ; tomorrow , perchance , may mean either , neither , or both . Educare to draw out !
Educate to cram in ! Education , in days gone by—the discoA'ering of the hidden qualities of the embryo man ; the drawing them forth ; tlie strengthening and building them up ; the filling in of the faulty places •and then the crowning work of the wholethe
teach-, ing the member of society how to best use his natural gifts thus matured for the wellbeing of himself and his fellows . Education , iu these clays of ours- a conglomerating of the units of Society into an indefinable mass , a reducing every capacit
y to an arbitrary standard ; a very intellectual bed of Procrustes . AVhat an excellent plan is this to foster ! How becoming our age . of progress ! Ours is an epoch of purity , and therefore Ave collect all our filth , material and
intellectual alike into nice receptacles , Avhich Ave carefully whitewash—outside What beautiful systems of sewage Ave have , nothing offensive to eye or nose , all refuse carefully put out of sight , and left thereout of mind I After effects 1—Nonsense !
How nicely , again , our putrid meat is dressed and cooked-up for the hungry , hoAv appetizing it is . ' how it tickles the palate ! After effects ?—Nonsense ! Our pet vices , again , our moral plague spots , how temptingly are they suggested in the very language of "virtue , how beautifully bound
in their covers of green and gold , and then presented to the edifying of our sons and daughters : well-read they are , and Avell digested too . Yes ! and after effects ? - ~ Nonsense ! AVho heeds them now 1—trul y not now , but alas ! alas ! for the future I !
Time was Avhen the Peer dined off his plate , the Pauper ( AVC use the term in no ill-natured sense ) off his peAvter . But there are no Paupers now ! all must , forsooth , he Peers ! But where is the sterling metal to come from ? Srerling metal ? AVe
do not Avant that , " Avhat the eye does not see , the heart does not grieve after ;" ours is the age of cheap beauty ! So long as Ave have stucco and whitewash , lacquer , and varnish , electro-plate , and paste , what do we want with your stoneyour gold
, , your jeAvels ? This age is too fast to delve , it only skims the surface : plating and paste are enough for us . This is a utilitarian age , and therefore we do not want solid worth , but superficial glitter I We do not want usebut merely appearance ! So
, , too , Avith education ; Ave want all to be , to outward appearance , plump and good , and so our cry is—like the poulterer ' s—cram I AVhat then is the reason given for thus
artificiall y forcing upAvards the general standard of education 1 It is that all are equal : that all , let them be born in whatever station of life they may , should have an equally free and open field for advancement in social position . Granted , Avithout a moment ' s hesitationthe principle ! Yet are
, the means employed conducive to the . end ? Equally , Avithout a moment ' s hesitation , No ! In fact the only result that Ave obtain is the thoroughly unfitting the vast majority of our population for the duties of their position in life .
AVhat does the artisan want with abstruse mathematics , or with a knowledge of languages t Give him a fair start by teaching him to read and write , and , Avhat is still better , by making him feel that to do his duty manfully and
contentedly in whatever station of life God has been pleased to place him is true knowledge indeed ; thus prepared let him learn his art practically , and follow it up conscientiously , and we shall have an honest man , a good Avorkman , and an estimable member of society . Should the man , beyond this superstructure of practical knoAVledge built up upoc a solid foundation of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Social Problems And Their Peaceful Solution.
every little head alike , and then at a given signal—the attaining a certain agethe quasi-scholars axe to be foisted upon Society as finished pieces of machinery . No ! education is not a cramming-in , but a drawing-out ; not a loading of tiny brains with hard disjointed factsbut a developing
, of innate qualities of metal , the temper of which is to be developed gradually hour by hour , until some day the perfect unit Avill be fitted into the perfect machine , Avhere there will be no more jar of imperfection , nor any more decay .
But is this so Avith us to day 1 Oh ! Avhat a perverse world it is ! Sometimes this way up , sometimes that . How fickle is fortune ! to-day a man is on his head , to-morroAV on his heels . Even so it is AA'ith our very language ; like all the rest
it partakes of the contagion : what meant good yesterday , means bad to-day ; tomorrow , perchance , may mean either , neither , or both . Educare to draw out !
Educate to cram in ! Education , in days gone by—the discoA'ering of the hidden qualities of the embryo man ; the drawing them forth ; tlie strengthening and building them up ; the filling in of the faulty places •and then the crowning work of the wholethe
teach-, ing the member of society how to best use his natural gifts thus matured for the wellbeing of himself and his fellows . Education , iu these clays of ours- a conglomerating of the units of Society into an indefinable mass , a reducing every capacit
y to an arbitrary standard ; a very intellectual bed of Procrustes . AVhat an excellent plan is this to foster ! How becoming our age . of progress ! Ours is an epoch of purity , and therefore Ave collect all our filth , material and
intellectual alike into nice receptacles , Avhich Ave carefully whitewash—outside What beautiful systems of sewage Ave have , nothing offensive to eye or nose , all refuse carefully put out of sight , and left thereout of mind I After effects 1—Nonsense !
How nicely , again , our putrid meat is dressed and cooked-up for the hungry , hoAv appetizing it is . ' how it tickles the palate ! After effects ?—Nonsense ! Our pet vices , again , our moral plague spots , how temptingly are they suggested in the very language of "virtue , how beautifully bound
in their covers of green and gold , and then presented to the edifying of our sons and daughters : well-read they are , and Avell digested too . Yes ! and after effects ? - ~ Nonsense ! AVho heeds them now 1—trul y not now , but alas ! alas ! for the future I !
Time was Avhen the Peer dined off his plate , the Pauper ( AVC use the term in no ill-natured sense ) off his peAvter . But there are no Paupers now ! all must , forsooth , he Peers ! But where is the sterling metal to come from ? Srerling metal ? AVe
do not Avant that , " Avhat the eye does not see , the heart does not grieve after ;" ours is the age of cheap beauty ! So long as Ave have stucco and whitewash , lacquer , and varnish , electro-plate , and paste , what do we want with your stoneyour gold
, , your jeAvels ? This age is too fast to delve , it only skims the surface : plating and paste are enough for us . This is a utilitarian age , and therefore we do not want solid worth , but superficial glitter I We do not want usebut merely appearance ! So
, , too , Avith education ; Ave want all to be , to outward appearance , plump and good , and so our cry is—like the poulterer ' s—cram I AVhat then is the reason given for thus
artificiall y forcing upAvards the general standard of education 1 It is that all are equal : that all , let them be born in whatever station of life they may , should have an equally free and open field for advancement in social position . Granted , Avithout a moment ' s hesitationthe principle ! Yet are
, the means employed conducive to the . end ? Equally , Avithout a moment ' s hesitation , No ! In fact the only result that Ave obtain is the thoroughly unfitting the vast majority of our population for the duties of their position in life .
AVhat does the artisan want with abstruse mathematics , or with a knowledge of languages t Give him a fair start by teaching him to read and write , and , Avhat is still better , by making him feel that to do his duty manfully and
contentedly in whatever station of life God has been pleased to place him is true knowledge indeed ; thus prepared let him learn his art practically , and follow it up conscientiously , and we shall have an honest man , a good Avorkman , and an estimable member of society . Should the man , beyond this superstructure of practical knoAVledge built up upoc a solid foundation of