The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-12-24
Tee HNICAL STt DIES IN The uU4i-
MON SCHOOLS.


If education is to be made imperative
by law, the public schools ought certainly
TO be useful enough to justify the law
The people want no nonsense. A niue
education, that little being to the pur-
pose, is better thousand times than
quantity of scraps picked up among the
'eraphies and the 'Ologies. Technical
studies, excellentin their way, have no
business in these schools, neve. intended
for special preparation. 1t is unwise, for
example, TO talk of introducing phuno-
graphy there Comparatively few news
papers or authors need the constant ser
vices ofaccomplished phonographers,a and
the Courts cannot supportany large mum
ber. The profession of phonOgnphy-lf
it may be called profession-dOes not
offer instant and assured employment
Nor does it offer hope of advancement in
work or wages. 1t is the last work III the
world which ought to occupy the sOrely-
needed time of pupils in public schools.
Even if it were of more urgent and
practical sort it would be out of place
there. Photography, telegraphy, and
other studies like these, belong of right
to the technical schools. free, if posi-
ble,l which we hope to see established
before many years i'll every large town in
the country If the public schools should
give absolutely thorough instruction in
the imperative English branches, little
time could be found for these trade stud
les, and still less for accomplishment like
the arts and languages. 1t is not consery-
ative to say that our common schools are
attempting tro much. The results are to
be seen in the young people who come
out of them unable to handle the ordina-
nv branches Of an English education with
instant and intelligent for e. We are
glad to see that authorities are begin
ming to realize those results. Mr. Will
liam Wood of this city, who has been
School Commissioner for several years,
and is therefore critic measurably COM
petent to speak, frankly calls the system
oneof''cheap and inefficient instruction"
Without being too sweeping, it must be
said that these epithets are Justified In
the effort to make comprehensive
course, the trainers have succeeded only
in giving common school pupils smat-
tering alike of the solid branches and of
various sciences, which colld at any rate
be ofsmall use to the majority. These
are some of the studies which Mr.. Wood
has mentioned as imposed upon puplsn
the grammar schools, of ages from II to
l3years Mechanics, hydrostatlcs, pneu-
MATES, acoustics, pyrOnOmics, optics, mag
netism, electricity, astronomy and chem
istry." This is absurdity without excuse.
These subjects cannot be studied thor
oughly enough to make them of placti-
cal value, and they absorb time that
should be given to others. If anything
be addeC, at that stage, to the general
course, it should be Il study on govern
ment, law, and human rights-subjetts OF
which American boys are, as rule, rldic-
ulously ignorant.
We do not. of course, wish to be un-
derstood us condemning entirely scien-
tifc studies for young Americans. we
condemn them when they push their way
into places where they are intrusive and
valueless. We heartily advocate techni-
cal schools which should reparc for
special work those advanced pupils OF
the common schools who need and desire
such PREPARATION. In these technical
scho Is science can be made largely avail
able. In the common schools it Is some
times degraded by inapt and superficial
treatment.
Drawing is part of education which
is apparently gaining ground in the pub
lie schools without support by amy glow
ing precedent Of success. We would al
wise school boards to consider long and
well before they prescribe for all pupilsa
study which paratively few can use
in active life. 1t j. questionable whether
TIE training in drawing will be valuable
enough to young men and women en' er-
ing upon the ordinary traces to conn en-
safe them for the deprivation in other
studies. A majority of committee of
the Detroit School Board has, a. will be
seen in another column, decided in the
negative, and this careful decision de-
serves consideration as grave us that
given to the advocates Of the system, 1t
is sometimes said that the study is a
meals OF general culture, but it is not yet
proved that it is the study best adapted
to the purpose.-N. Y. Tribune