The Cairo evening bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1868-1870, 1869-01-14
[From the American Educational Monthly. ]
The Ycnr,


Eighteen hundred and sixty eight has been
notable year in education, as in science
and politics and naturc-though differently
Some Of the grandest fetches of modern
science have been made during the past
twelve months Some of the deepest mys-
teries of the universe have been solved, to
the marvellous extension ofhuman ken The
restless heart OF Earth has throbbcd the
downfall Of cities and the uplifting of con.
tinents The restless heart ot man, strug-
Cling with the restraints of centuries, has
overthrown systems and governments lifting
nations, let us hope, To a higher plane, and
preparing the way for better things to come.
Human society is in fcrment, and the leaven
Of society has not escaped the changes which
IL has helped to produce. Yet the changes
in the condition and prospects of education,
which the year has brought about, the world
over, have been gcrmina rather than fruit
fll. There have been no brilliant achieve
ments or great catastrophes; but the germs
Of great things have been securely planted.
Those who can see the irut-bearing tree in
the tender blade or the sprouting seed, and
those only, will duly appreciate the magni.
tude OF the educational reforms which the
past year has seen quietly begun-or. rather,
the magnitude Of the results which they are
destined to produce.
Within the twelvemonth constitutional
provisions have been made in nearly all the
free public schools. Popular opinion has
been greatly improved In regard to the cdu-
cation of the laboring classes. And In many
places the work has been successfully be-
gun. We must patiently await the result.
The education Of people Is not the work of
year.
AT the North, the most promising event has
been, we think, the opening of our new
university at ithaca. Education. till now
has tended lnrrpiv Ia .Iivnrpn mind from Ia
Dor. That il, practically. In theory the
schools have pretended To prepare tho rising
generation to do the nations work better
than their fathers have done 1t. L.; effect,
they have chiefly fostered the idea that the
great object of Education Is 10 enable the
possessor to live without soilin. his hands.
They have failed therefore tO act as they
should, directly upon the class which does
the nations heavy work-thc great body of
producers.
Reasonably, or not, the instructions given
in the elementary schools Is determined 10y
what is required by the college. Heretofore,
these higher institutions have trained young
men chiefly for the so-called learned pro-
fessiors. Possibly but one In hundred of
the pupils of the elementary schools is fitted
by nature or PERMITTED by circumstances to
enter n college Yet the course of study
pursued in the schools has been shaped TO
meet the possible wants OF the possible one
TO the disregard of the real wants, to say
nothing OF the rights of the nincty-and-
nine.
Cornell university will change all this. As
great polytechnic labor school, IL will, in
time, train men for every department of hui
man industry. twill inspire adifferent am
bition and require more multihrious pre-
paraton, than colleges of the classic sort II
will also dignity labor; and grade the Ia
borer, not according 10 the material nc works
L., a.. ID la
works The public schools will have 10
supply its demands, while IL, In turn, will
help 10 suppl the higher demands of the
schools The result can scarcely fail to be
the broadening of the schools. They will
have to develop and train all the faculties Of
the pupil-not merely his eyes 10 distinguish
the varying shapes OF words, and his mem.
DRY 10 hold them fast: The needs of the
ninety .and.nine will have TO be regarded
equally with those of the one. Education
will thus be brought TO n proper basis-the
development and culture of the whole man
10 better fit him to do the worlds work
And men, trained to work. will honor the
workman. lfths does not solve the "labor
question" 1t will surely 60 very far toward
doing IL,
The endowment Of schools and colleges
continues To be our favorite means Of graft
flying public and private generosity. In this
respect the revolutions Of South America re-
tard, but they cannot wholly prevent the adj
vancement Of education. Several Of the
states are striving to initiate their more ia
vorcd neghbors at the North, with as much
success as the wretched condition Of South
American society gives reason TO hope for
Brazil is studying the school systems of the
world and the peculiar needs Of her own
people, with view to the establishment OF
system of public education. The Argen-
tine Republic has lately chosen as her chief
officer the man who, perhaps more than any
other, has labored for education IN South
America. And the leading minds of all
those unhappy States are casting about TO
discover what may be done for the elevation
OF the people. Many years must elapse be-
fore their efforts will be crowned with sue
cess yet II Is encouraging TO know that the
germs OF popular education are there and
living
In the Old World, England has failed to
fulfill the promises She made year ago
Educational reform, raised AS u party cry,
seemed TO be party necessity. Both par
ties, however, took il up, and after striving
for time to excel each other in vehement
shouting, both let ii drop to the dsappoint-
mcnt ~ many Yet, the agitation effected
good Many grievances were exposed and
public attention WAS called 10 the crying
need ofa better and more efficient system of
public education.
Germany continues 10 lead the world not
only in the "Wissenschaftliche Gcist,h but in
the spirit which educatcs each and every
one of her children France, from the place
OF "lC graiide culture is working down
through technical and normal schools, to
reach i'm time every strata of sOciaty Ans.