New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-03-06
THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1878.
The Educational Question Among
Orr People.


The conviction seems TO he gaining ground
tina, the education Of our youth should take
a more practical shape. That il to say, that
the teacher should make II part OF his own
training for educational work to ascertain,
10 some extent, the peculiar bias and the
natural susceptibility of his pupil.
Many teacher fails In his undertaking,
not SO much from lack Of ability, As from
lack Of sympathy. The tendency IS to place
more stress upon the routine Of teaching than
is put upon the method Of drawing out some
thing in the pupils mind to get hold OF and
guide.
In our present condition We need this prac-
teal study and instruction more than any
other class Of people.
The children Of the poorest German bling
with them to this country transmitted ten
deucy to learning Poor as they may have
been in the fatheIland, their ancestors have
been the subjects Of instruction for genera
lions. and as economical as they may be
here tho parent never grudges, nor does
tho student often waste, by idieness, the
money paid lOT TUITION.
The proverb that "a Dutchman Will live
where any but Scotchman would s.arve,'
IS generally construed into reflection upon
the stinginess of both the Dutch and Scotch;
but a little reflection will show that this
Is a false view. Both these races have been
recipients Of thorough. sound, practical edu-
cation for centuries, and both have received,
and are still transmitting the two great Sc
crets Of commercial success, namely, the art
of making money and the art of saving it.
But the money view of educational success,
though an important one, is somewhat low
one. Money builds school-houses, buys
books, and pays instructors. Yet money
alone, and what money can buy, cannot
guide genius or even control hrst-class tai
ent sympathy, conscience, and panstaking
are masters here.
Our various benevolent associations alike
the American Missionary Association and
others, have dotted the South, here and
there, with useful institutions OF learning.
New Orleans, Nashville, Atlanta, and Hamp-
ton each contain splendid monuments TO the
talent, industry, and devotion of the officers
Of the American Missionary Association, as
well as magnificent proofs OF anti-slayery
beneyolence and from these Institutions are
hocking forth TO engage in the stern battle
Of life many colored youth who will give
the land scholars that lost them as slaves.
And vet ii is remarkable how few of these
graduates are prepared to enter at once, even
tIs.p
Of the professions for which they have been
prepared.
College life seems TO have produced sort
Of enervation upon the will OF those who have
had to submit to its discipline. They gener-
ally seek for a clerkshp or a small political
office, when they should brace their purpose
. TO a contest in virgin fields of activity for
mastering their proposed professions where
they can make clients, patients, and converts,
who will nestle in their affections and assist
IN building up permanent regulations and
wealth for them.
What is the trouble here? Are the teach
ers keeping up the old mistake that colOred
people are not amenable TO the same agen-
eies to which white people yield? Or are
they destitute of the knowledge whereby to
effect their own desires and to reach what
should be their highest aim?
A lack of the feelings of selfrespect is,
perhaps, the heaviest curse slavery has be-
queathed our race ; and next to that in per-
nicious consequences, is the lack of the habits
of self-reliance. The first makes us accept
the estimate which pro-slavery men put upon
our ability, and the latter proves to the white
man that we have accepted it. We see but
one cure for these twin-evils, and that is
healthy sympathy and fresh manly inter-
course with colored students on the part OF
professors, along with some application Of
methods of teaching whereby the aptitude of
the teacher to instruct shall be tested by the
thoroughness with which the pupil is laid
open to himself. Thus only will the knowl-
edge of both teacher and student blend into
the result Of ADLER instructors and more sue
Csssful graduates.