The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-03-11
American Schools for Am. Students.

1t is of the first importance that the
Schools which train American boys for
the scientific profession should be Ameri-
can. European schools teach American
students many things which are not only
inapplicable in America, but positively
misleading and dangerous. The prices
Of labor, fuel, and 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 longi-
| tude. The conditions of success liz all
manufacturing and mining industries are
very different in thinly peopled country
| CT 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 Eu-
ropean schools, and taught only the prac-
ices and results Of established European
industries, are less successful than could
be wished when they attempt to put
their school knowledge in practice under
the novel American conditions. A man
who has spent all his apprenticeship in
building Dutch galliots is not likely to
excel IN building Baltimore clippers. An
uneducated Welsh miner, perfectly IA
mIliar 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 MIN.
A well-tralned man, perfectly competent
to superlntend zinc works In Belgium or
Sllesla, may easily. prove an unsafe guide
IN Pennsylvania or Illinois. An architect
who has no difficulty In finishing taste
ful house or handsome church IN Paris
within his estimates, might be quite I'M
able to make feasible plans and binding
specifications In New York. Conditions
Of business and ways Of living in America
are Fundamentally different from Euro
pean habits and conditions. An average
American does not eat, drink, sleep, |
work or amuse himself like an average |
European. He wants different tools, car
rlages, cars, steamboats,, clothes, medi- |
cines, and houses. His necessities and |
his Injuries are both unlike those of the |
European. The industries which exist to
supply American wants are therefore not
like the corresponding European indus
tries. They Will be better learned at
home than abroad. The whole spirit of
the school at home will be in conformity /
with American requirements. The spirit
of European school cannot be but for |
elgn In many respects to American habits.
1t is not now as it was thirty years age,
when an American boy had to go to Eu- /
rope if he wanted to learn chemical an
alysis or the elements OF engineering. |
Now one might as well go to Europe to
learn the multiplication table, as to study
the common subjects in chemistry, phys
les, mechanics and engineering. The in
struction in these and many other seien-
tine subjects is as good in several Ameri-
can schools and colleges as it is anywhere
in Europe. More schools are needed
but even now the American should do all /
his student-work at home. When he has
become master in his art, he may well
go TO Europe to see how his business is
there conducted. Atlantic 4Aoatbiy for
Murch.