The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-27
For the National Era.
PROFESSOR TURNER'S PLAN FOR AN INDUS
TRIAL UNIVERSITY.


The Practical must be combined with the
Theoretical 10 this Democratic age Of ours,
1t has now come TO be thought that it is not
merely necessary TO think, but one must think
TO the purpose The teacher must teach to the
purpose, and this purpose must be practical.
/ To accomplish this practical purpose the
courses OF study in our academies and colleges
have been gradually modified to embrace new
sciences, thus diminishing the time 10 be de-
voted TO the languages, with their philosophy,
and the pure mathematics The obvious evil
Of this change has been the crowdng OF toe
great number of studies within an made
quate period of time and yet attention tC
these new sciences has become necessary tC
the very idea of a liberal education. Cores
ponding with the introduction OF these new
sciences the mother tongue has come gradually
10 be the great medium Of thought and senti-
mcnt giving us specimens Of rhetoric equa! 10
those Of by-gone ages, leaving the study OF
Latin of little use, except to the student Of the
barbarous technicalities of Law and Medicine
and the study of Greek and Hebrew of no prac-
teal use but TO the polemic theologian, To
many q one the question has occurred, Cannot
the mind receive NJ much discipline 10 the ao-
QUESTION of knowledge which is now filling
tut WoIiu WIN nhu hiCf 10 ib th' W.
votion Of years TO the study of the dead Ian
guages again to forget them within five years
after leaving school If the students of law,
medicine, and Theology, must still master these
languages, is the time usefulIy employed in
this acquisition for the merchant, the farmer,
and the mechanic But il not, the merchant,
the farmer, and the mechanic need 10 have
the true manhood developed by u thorough
course of mental discipline, no less than the
lawyer the physician, and the theologan.
IL this practicable in the study of what will
never be forgotten in consequence of the ne
cessary engrossment of time in the practical
pursuits Of after life, in the toll, thought and
activity Of manhood Can the reasoning pow
1ers, the imaginative susceptbIities, and the
moral and religious nature, be adequately cul-
sivsted in course of education adapted to the
wants of the industrial classes? The afhrma-
tive opinion has led President WaylGnd, of
Brown University, to recommend the adoption
of scientific course in that institution and
led to TN attempt, on small scale, to establish
an industrial school 10 connection with Harvard
College.
But 10 secure this idea its complete fulfil
ment. Professor j. b. Turner has proposed a
plan for mn Industrial University for the State
of Illinois to embrace in addition TO those
branches of knowledge necessary for every
intelligent mind, instruction also in those
branches particularly useful to the farmer the
mechanic, and the merchant.
The Legislature Of Illinois holds in trust
more than one hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars under tho names Of College and Seminary
Funds
Il is prSposed with this fund TO establish a
State Iaduariai University with courses OIL
study especially edapted to the wants OF those
who do not propose to enter the learned profes-
sions, In order that our farmers mechanics,
and merchants may be AZ we'll educated MS tho
lawyer the physician, and the theologian-the
education Of each class resting upon the same
broad basis Of general information, and the
thorough mastery Of the elementary sciences
while beyond thls, the candidates Tor success
ON the farm in the mechanics shop, aud In
the store, will be taught respectively in branches
of knowledge of everyday use in their fnturo
career Of thought and activity.
In order, however, 10 make the course OF
study complete and universal, the plan admits
of the incorporation Of classica! department,
for those who wish 10 acquire this branch Of
knowledge for mental discipline, or practical
use in the professions
The plan proposes the accumulation, M fast
~ may be, Of cabinets Of specimens, models
and drawings, illustrative Of the natural sci
ences, aud the colIsction Of library ade9usts
to the idea Of an industrial University The
Professors are not only 10 teach in their re-
spsc.ive departments, but they are also to make
experiments To establish uncertain points--thus
increasing the wealth and happiness Of the
community, by giving certainty 10 the direction
of labor whore now II 10 usoles~ly expended
upon false theories, or ia obsdienos to : mere
routine" the son doing ~ the fsthsi did
The various journals devoted TO agriculture,
horticulture, and the mechanic srtS, arc doing
much 70 establish certainty whore there Is now
uncertainty But with how much more success
might experiments be prosecuted in such an
institution as 10 proposed, than IN the hap-hoz-
ard manner 10 which Isolated sxpcrinsntsrs