, 1873-04-28
EDUCATING AMERICAN YoUTHs ABROAD

EDUCATING AMERICAN YOUTHS ABROAD.
The practice Of aendng American youth
abroad for educational purposes has increased so
much Of lato years tllat 1t haa at last developed
countor-movement among c1aBs Of promi-
mont American educators. Tho Hon. 3. q,
Nortlrop, tho Secretary Of tho Connecticut State
Board Of Education, has taken tho lead In tho
mnttor. Ho recently published M articlo IN tho
Christian Union, in which ho pointed out many
objections that occurred to him, md 10 pro-
poses to pursue the subject i'll moro elaborate
manner. It iB understood that President Eliot,
Of Harvard, Btoarns, Of Amherst, DR.. Mark Hop
kiuB, President Porter, aud other workorB In
American education, con9r In tho viows Of AIr.
Northrop, and will corporate ip tho etfort.to
check the migration Of go many Amor
ican students to European schools.
Thcse gentlemen occupy too high po-
sition to be suspected Of any selfish motive
In seeking to holp American youth ut home. It
is evident TINT their solo interest Is In tho cause
Of American education, aud that they honestly
bolieyo THO increasing practice Of attending
foreign schools Is banoful at once to tho Amorl-
can youth, and to tho American system of educa.
tion. THOR opposition is directed mainly agninst
the schools Of tho preparatory or academic
gradoa, tho benefits Of tho European University
aystom boing conceded for advanced students Of
well-disoplinod minds and natural character.
Tho general atatemont OF tho case Ia, TINT tho
customs Of European achoo1s havo q tendency to
unfit American youth for tho further pursuit Of
knowledge according to tho customs Of
American educational institutions, md also
that tho surroundings, social and political
are calculated to leave Impressions and inatil
ldoas that arc opposed to the duties Of American
citizenship. Tho objections urged oxtond to
both tho moral and tho mental Influences Which
surround tho American student abroad.
1t nay DO conceded that the general conolu-
sIons Of Mr. Northrop and those who sympathizo
with him aro correct aa applied to tho vast ma
jority OF tho American youth who aroaent abroad
to school, without however, admitting the Justice
of all tho arguments TINT are brought to boar
upon tho caao.~F tho practical duties Of Amor
ican lifo, wllothcr commercial or professional,
groat advantages ovor schooling abroad. This
conclusion neodB no other basis than tho obvious
adaptation OF educational practices to the cus-
toms aud hnbitB Of tho country, Tho formation
OF character and tho direction Of thought are
necessarily influenced by tho associations OF
early lfo. As rulo, therefore, elementary iu-
atruction looking to further development in
American colleges or universities, or what Ia
known as practical educatlon to lit an American
boy for tho hard, mattor-of-faot duttea Of acsiyo
business life, may bo bost pursued ut homo.
Tho rule ahould bo followed I'LL the moro because
OF tho danger that an American boy who goes
abroad to study will find Ills way into tho board-
ing-Hcllools which havo boon established on the
Continout-in Franco, Germany and gwitzor-
land-for tho English and American youth,
where tho system Ia apt to be superficial, tho dis
clpllno frequently lax, aud the oxponsoH always
unreasonable. It does not follow, however, that
tho curriculum Of tho German or Fronch schools
necessarily uuadaptod to tho American student.
Tho thoroughneBs Of tho prussian gymnasium
has scarcely dogoneratod al much aa Mr.. North
rop belioyoB, and ho Is also mistakop whom he
holds that Two yoars' preparation In tho study Of
tho German language Is uecoasary for the STU
don't to avail himaolf of the advantages whol. It
offera, Biz months In tho German school will
autlice to soouro groatsr proficiency in tho Lam
guage than rs many yoara' study Of the language
In AmorLca, aud wil enable tho student to pur~