Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-03-23
EDUCATION AT OXFORD.

~ AosAANt
presents q singular illustration Of the way
in which ancient institutions Of learning
change and grow. and yet contrive to lose
their usefulness.
Sir Kay Shuttleworth, in a recent
speech. shows that long before the Be-
formation the Church received q large part
OF its recruits from the poorer CLASSES,
who thus rose to power and greatness,
and laid the foundation Of the liberties
since developed. At that time schools
were endowed, which are now the great
public schools Of Harrow, Winchester and
the like, while at present only the son Of
ths aristocracy are generally educated.
The schools Of the abbeys, cathedrals,
collegiate churches, and other ssncsuaries
Of piety and learning. used to send up
such crowds Of students to Cambridge and
Oxford, that it seems almost fabulous
(though ,rue) that in the thirteenth CEN
fury their numbers at Oxford are stated
to have amounted to at least fifteen thou
sand (some say thirty thousand), accom-
modated in three hundred halls and inns.
In 1909 three thousand migrated from Ok
ford to Cambridge. and after the middle of
the fourteenth century there were still
from three thousand to four thousand
students at Oxford. There were then
foundation scholarships and Steamships,
which now have almost ceased to comprise
the sons Of laboring men, poor tradesmen,
tenant farmers, or even yeomen.
Now, the highest arissocrscy have con-
trived SO completely to get possession Of
the University Of Oxford. and even the
Grammar Schools, that the poorest classes
are entirely driven from the hope Of CIV
ing their children the means Of rising
through education. But what made
these institutions what they are, as en-
dowments and as seats Of learning, was
their popular character, and not their
aris,ocratic element. No% there are n
or two thousand students at Oxford, in
stead Of twenty to thirty thousand. And
yet then the population Of England was
but from three to four millions, while now
Great Britain numbers upwards OF thirty
millions. No doubt one or two Of these
young lordlings will squander as many
thousands annually at Oxford as men OF
the humber classes would pounds, but
they will never make learning popular or
useful TO the masses. These very habits
Of extravaganza keep thousands away
keep away, too. those Of the finest consti-
tu,ions for mind-work.
It may be said that the sndowments
came from the rich, from kings and great
men, and therefore It Is but right their
sons should reap the advantage OF these
institutions. But if this were true, the
money was given for the support Of the
INDECENT students Of the poorer classes,
and to provide teachers for them and for
Oxford as q popular and poor mGn's home
Of learning. while now the whole aim and
spirit Of the institution is entirely changed.
But many Of the endowmenss were poor
mems fields. voluntarily bequeathed in re-
turn for the college having educated some
son or relative. These fields have now
become the sources Of enormous revenues.
Many of those who have given most mag
ni6cently have been the sons Of poor men,
who had got along by the education given
them freely, and who in gratitude wished.
by making the institutions rich. to enable
them to support more Of the children Of
the poor. Will it ever be thus with our
institution Of learning that are now most
popular and open for the poors
In one respect it il the natural tendency
Of all good institutions Of learning to rise.
That is, in proportion as industrious and
successful scholars are trained, those who
have the means will seek out the best for
their sons. But it is only BY making
mind and merit the sole test Of fitness that
institutions Of this kind are kept pure and
popular, and useful in the highest degree.
AL knowledge comes from God; it is his
free gift to man, and through one man to
others. Freely ye have received, freely
give" said the great Teacher. The mis-
sion which England has forsaken it is
now our province to take up. e., the
work Of making the highest and most per-
fec. education open to the masses-open
to all who will come, rich or poor. and as
nearly as possible without money and
without price.