The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-18

During the next three or four weeks we
shall hear great many platitudes on educa-
ton from the chosen orators of the literary
societies at our colleges. The choice of
orators is usually made from motives so whim-
steal that it is not surprising SO few Com
mencement addresses attract any attention
whatever. Because o man has made some fame
as lawyer or politician is no reason Why he
should be asked to come back to his alma
mater and bore everybody with speech on
subject which he has not thought about since
he left college; nor is there any reason why
the old line of topics should be any longer
discussed. There is nothing new to be said
of the poems and romances of Sir Walter
Scott and kindred subjects Advice to young
men even is a well-worn theme, that
might be left to the baccalaureate sermon.
There are plenty of new themes growing
out of the progress of the age which would be
filter subjects for discussion. It was good
impulse which prompted the young men of .
Massachusetts, college two or three years ago
to ask New York editor 70 tell them some
thing about the profession of journalism.
The editor could not fail to interest and in
struct them, for he came before them with q
fresh topic, concerning which he knew great
deal and they nothing. The influence Of rail-
roads upon society and morals, the changes
wrought by modern discovery in both natural
philosophy and natural SCIENCE are subjects
which have never been investigated. What
could be more interesting than study Of the
present epoch since the application Of steam
divorced the world from its traditions? Even
those who study men and society the most
have not yet given us book or paper or o
speech on the social and moral aspects Of the
means of modern travel Our social and po-
litical life suggests new subjects at every turn,
but they are all neglected by college orators,
including even the improved methods of edu-
cation OF the past few years.
We make the suggestion because the college
year is about to close. We do not expect,
however, to work an immediate revolution in
the character of the addresses delivered before
the college societies. Those which are to be
read at the coming Commandments are al
ready written and in rehearsal before the par
lor mirrors OF presumptive orators What we
wish to do is to call the attention Of persons
connected with our leading colleges to the
changes which have taken place in the last
forty years, and the consequent necessity of
looking upon educational processes from
different standpoint. The common schools
have become the foundation for all subsequent
instruction. 1t is idle to oppose them either
for sectarian or social reasons, and what is of
more Importance is the fact that our colleges
must adopt the methods OF instruction which
find favor in the common schools. In conse-
quence the controversy about the value of the
classics in mental training is practically over.
If the older colleges fail to appreciate this fact
younger institutions will spring up to take
their places. Harvard occupies the first place
among our institutions to-day, not because she
is the oldest, but for the reason that she is,
with all her years, the youngest of our colleges.
Her optional courses give wider opportunities
than are afforded by those institutions which
conhne themselves to an effete curriculum.
This, then, is the topic we wish to suggest for
Commencement Day-the great question OF
how to make our colleges take up the work OF
the common schools and carry it forward In
the spirit in which it was begun. 1t Is on this
question and ON the necessity Of adapting
collegiate instruction to the needs OF the
time that college professors and the alumni OF
all our higher schools should 0ive their i'm