The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-09-08
PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION.
BY r. C. BEYNoN.

Deyonu the range OF existing Opln-
. ions respecting education, we want to
see the public opinion taking careful
step forward SO that it will be sound
and clear with regard to such an i'm
portant subject. 1t is question of the
1 day and of vital consequence. Our
I pend upon il.
The present methods of education
which the American people may feel
proud of, are not inferior to any, and
) only equalled by comparatively few.
Our common schools are becoming
proverbial. They impart such modify
ing influence throughout the republic
: which excite the admiration of foreign
ers when they come slightly conversant
with the liberal efforts to enlighten the
masses.
Still we do not hold that the present
adaptedness of the school machinery is
sufficient to meet the wants OF the flu
turc. There is ample means of con-
structing anew and remOdeling the var
ious parts SO as to work with moro pre-
cision. IT is a well known fact to every
observer that our present method fails
to develop the whole man. 1t lacks
symmetry ard completeness.
Plato, one of the towering lights of
Greek though, centuries ago, saw the
necessity of developing the factors of
man equally. One should not be enlarg-
ed at the expense of the others. The
mental powers nowadays are made to
predominant over the others. There
ought TO be an equal degree of progress
between them for a well educated man.
We must avoid the other extremes;
they are equally as dangerous. Too
much of the moral and religious cul-
ture without a sound judgment how to
adjust its proper use, will make fana-
| tic. E f.[s --it+
Again, the excessive training of the
physical, will produce muscular chris
| tianity." We shall have an OVerabun-
dance of muscles, sinews and nerves.
think we can arrive at an obvious
conclusion by asserting that these de-
plorable deficiencies in the process of
education will produce pernicious re-
suits. An over pressure of the powers
of the intellect, regardless of its accom-
panying factors, will eventually give
| rise to a class of men who will throng
the business circles of our country
destitute of high moral rectitude, and
who, from the want of physical atten-
ton, will suffer innumerable evils
which ought to be summed for our
welfare. So the opposite tendencies,
where they exist, envolve fanaticism
and ignorance.
The great desideratum of the Ameri-
can student to-day is the want of
more symmetrical and well proportion
ed relation between the different de-
partments which cooperate to make
the perfect man. However, he is not
so defective in many respects, as those
belonging to different natiOnalities.
We can easily detect in them, without
prejudice, crude characteristics which |
detract from the stature of a perfect
collegian.
There are many desirable excellencies |
which we can embody in our own man
ner of culture, found in the German and |
English methods. The German is and |
will be our great rival in educational |
affairs. 1t imparts thought in true
philosophical sense, and on this point |
of view I will Iconcede that they sur
pass us. In this direction efforts should |
be made by our educators to shape |
thought in a more logical form. But |
we do not wish for the American stu
dent to be assimilated with the stains |
of RIGHTEOUSNESS, profigacy, and intern
perance, which the German students in |
dulge. 1t is amazing that such degree |
of immortality is fostered by men who |
rise above the ordinary stature of intel |
lect. A friend of mine, who has spent |
several years in Heidelberg and other |
celebrated schools of Germany, said, |
that when he was made acquainted with |
the Divinity Lecturer of one of the in |
stitutions, he was invited by him to a
lager saloon, and there the acquaintance
was made. This learned Divine is a
man of rare abilities, man who is ac-
knowledged, by some, to have surpass-
ed the eminent DIR. Owen on many
points of Theology. What would we
Professor of Divinity, like William
Park, or Ii. b. Smith, inviting their pu-
pills to the alter of intemperance! /
shall let You predict the result.
The Universities of Oxford and Cam
bridge have won high degree of cele-
brity. They are worthy to rank among
| the first-class Universities of the world,
krt N 80 x,xc a., - tNot Io COS.
commonwealth of England enjoy their
privileges? Few, indeed, are able to
reap their benefits. The barriers of
wealth and non-conformity deprive the
commonwealth from the advantages.
The adherents of the established Epis-
copacy and the lordly caste only find it
easy of access.
What is the important object in the
matter of education we should strive to
establish, and not to relax our endeav-
ors until we have reached the goal.
| We are in need of more compact ma
tional system, where the different re-
| quisite qualities shall blend together so
as to form a perfect curriculum of
knowledge. On the other hand we are
obliged to avoid the rctarding practices
which exist in American colleges and
universities, but not so much as in the
German schools, where noble manhood
is injured by them. We need not dread
the defect of our English contemporar-
les in making their religion, to some
extent, an educational and political ma
chine for the elite of society. Chris
tianity must be the fundamental ele-
ment on which the others can repOse.
do not mean the christianity as it ex-
lists in numerous forms at the present
day. We want the pure and practical
one, which lies not in confessions of
faith" and sectarian animosities, but
one that consists of principles and in
centives arising from them, which con-
duce us to practice them every day.
Can't we agitate for a national uni
versity, where the different elements
which are essential to make pure man
hood, will eliminate? There ought to
exist from the most obscure district