Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1869-03-30
AMERICAN SCHOOLS FOR AMERICAN
STUDENTS.

STUDENTS.
1t is of the first Importance that the
schools which train American boys for
the scientific profession should be Ameri-
can. Europeaa schools teach American
students great many things which are
not only inapplicable in America, but
positively misleading and dangerous. The
prices Of labor, fuel, dnd transportation
are SO very unlike in Europe and in this
country, that methods and processes which
are profitable there are ruinous here, in
spite Of the fact that scientific principles
do not change with the latitude and long
tude. The conditions of success in all
manufacturing and mining industries are
very different in thinly peopled conn
try Of immense distances from what they
are in compact, crowded communities; SO
that it is not to be wondered at, if men
thoroughly imbued with the spirit of Euro
pean schools, and taught only the practice
and results of established European in
dustries are less successful than could be
wished when they attempt to put their
school knowledge in practice under the
n vel American conditions. A man who
has spent all his apprenticeship in
building Datch galliots is not likely to
exc j in building Blltimore clippers. An
uneducated Welsh miner, perfectly fami-
lar with every detail of his trade at
home, is utterly lost if he is put down
among strange rocks and minerals. His
home experience is almost useless to him.
A well trained man, perfectly comre-
tent to superinteud zinc works in Belgium
OF Silesia, may easily prove an unsa e
guide in Pennsylvania or Illinois. An
architect, who would have no difficulty
in finishing tasteful house or handsome
church in Paris within his estimates,
m ght be quite unable to make feasib' G
p ans and binding Specifications in New
York. Conditions Of business and ways
os living in America are fundamentally y
different from European habits and condi-
tons. An average American does net
cat, drink, sleep, work or amuse himself
like an average European. He wants
different tools, carriages, cars, steamboats,,
clothes, medicines, and houses His nee
essities and his luxuries are both unlike
those Of the European. The industries
which exist to supply American wants
are therefore not like the corresponding
European industries. They will be bet
ter learned at home than abroad. Tlo
whole spirit of the school at home will
be in conformity with American require;
ments. The spirits of an European school
cannot be but foreign in many respects TO
American habits. 1t is not now as IT
was thirty years ago, when all American
boy had to 60 to Europe if he wanted 10
learn chemical analysis or the elements tf
engineering Now one might as we'll go
to Europe to learn the multiplication ta-
be, as to stady the common subjects in
chemistry, physics, mechanics, aud engin-
ooring. The instruction in these and
many other scientific subjects is as gocd
Iilseveral American schools and colleges as
| it is anywhere in Europe. More schoo' S
are needed but even now the American
should do all his student-work at home.
When he has bee, ,me master in his art,
he may well go to Europe to see hog his
business is there conducted Atlantic
Monthly.
In school recently teacher took oc-
.asion to relate an anecdote Of little girl
| who tried to "overcomc evil with good y