Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-02-20
EDUCA TIOMAL RETOLI TON


Whatever has been the belief of many Of
our best and most useful citizens in favor of
classical studies and the general educational
systems Of the old collegiate institutions, it
instruction has been of late greatly abridg-
ed. Whether wise and desirable, or not, so
it is. We have before u.s. as we write, the
First General Announcement Of the new
Cornell University at Ithaca, New York, an
institution of ample foundation, and extern
sive plan. mainly endowed by the liberality
of single citizen, the really Honorable
Ezra Cornell.
On the very first page of tie pamphlets
are these revolutionary words, forming q
battle flag, which this new movement ba
IONS at its front g.
In all the instruction in these Depart
''ments, constant effort will be made t
educate men to speedily become procti
''caliy useful IN deUeioping the resource
''d,id in aiding IN tie general progress
"ofthe country.
The italics are in the pamphlet. They
are meant to be prominent and significant
as conveying the leading idea of the insiiu
ton. So practical is this idea. that in tn
Department of Agriculture, young men art
to he taught the actual operations unde
that head in the Department of the Me
chanic Arts they may be, if they desire, ed
ucatp1 frn thn pyprnes .trharun of ihnn,if.,C.
tories and workshops, lSc., Sc. The con
slant policy of giving mental discipline t,
every student by studies which take praeti
cal hold upon the tastes, aspirations, am
work of his life, is declared to be part o
the first feature of the University. In pun
suance of this, modern languages, "whiel
have become so indispensable in goo
education, are to chiefly supersede tn
place and labor usually given to the dea,
tongues
Other extracts from the pamphlet "
might make, which would show how revo
lutionary of all the old college theories
that of this one, but probably the substitr
ton of modern languages for Latin an
Greek, where either class is to be rciectet
is the best and most vivid idea We can DIV
to the reader, and really quite enough TO el
list the enthusiasm Of one class Of educ,
tors or gain the hearty condemnation Of til
other.
We cannot discuss here the theories
these two classes, nor are we prepared
present to side with either. The course
American civilization is, indeed, fast wor
ing out the problem, and the practical ella
acter of our National mind is riding direct
over the difficulties it presents. Wheth
wisely or not, our people insist on being e
ucated with especial reference to the wo
they intend to perform, and that as spccdil
asuninterruptcdly, and as simply as possib
Commercial Colleges, where only the /
tails of mercantile business are laugh
Farm Schools, where boys are expected
learn the probabilities of pillow holdin
Polytechnic Colleges, for chemists, mine
and engineers, are all growing in numb
In capacity, and patronage They indie,
the course of travel, whether that be in
right direction or not
We are therefore greatly interested in
future of this most grand and txtens
movement in New York. Its great liberal
in every feature cannot but enlist our war
est sympathies. Its platform is broad q
prehensive, and catholic, The purpose
the founder was to provide ian institut
where any person can find instruction
''any study" 1t is desired to 'bring ab
a closer and more manly intercourse
sympathy between Faculty and student
The petty indictments to study will be
jceted, and "thoee professors will be sou
''who can stir enthusiasm, and who
''thus cause students to do far more ii
''under u perfunetory pieccmeal stud
Crceds and sectarian ideas are foreign TO
scope of the institution, Of course, and
the terms of the charter, no trustee, pro
sor, or student ''can be accepted or reiec
ION account of any religious or polt
''opinions which he may or may not no
This great University is the result of
combined bounty of the General Cow
mcnt and of Mr.. Cornell The 800, 600 a,
Of public land to which thc State was c
under the Agricultural College Act,
given by the Legislature to this institut
upon conditions, of which the most inn
tant was that Mr. Cornell should give
an endowment of five hundred thous
dollars. He has not only done this, bu