New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-25
"EDUCATION ABROAD

Under this modest title Professor North
rop has given 70 the public very valua-
BILE work, the fruit of a thorough acquaint-
ance with the subjects treated of, acquired
| by profound study. wide experience, and
above ALL that animating zeal which is the
soul of all earnest effort tor the good Of
| others.
The first essay. Education Abroad" is
an impartial examination into the advan.
tages and disadvantages attendant upon
the practice Of educating American youth
in Europe. which has prevailed for con.
siderable period, and is on the increase.
After fully admitting the excellence Of the
instruction and training to be obtained
at foreign. especially German universities,
and specifying some Of the most benef.
cial results of such training. Mr.. North
rop pertinently inquiries. ''Does It all
compensate for the want of home in.
fuences at this formative period-from
eight to eighteen years-when character
is largely moulded and fixed?" He adds:
american society and associations giving
practical knowledge Of our modes Of
thought, intercourse and influence are the
very educational forces needed by the
American student who aspires to lead Or
control public sentiment whereas the
constantly listening to laudations Of mon
archical governments and disparagernents
Of flee institutions at SO susceptible an
age. united with the glamour OF 'the
ma gnifcens architecture. the grand libra.
ries. art galleries, churches. cathedrals,
and palaces. museums. monuments and
triumphal arches. the geological and
botanical gardens. etc" have q tendency
to undermine their patriotism and vir-
tually denationalize them.
In support Of his views, MIR. Eorthrop
cites the opinion of many experienced
educators, presidents of colleges, literary
men, and others, among whom are some
that speak from parental experience, hav-
ing sent their boys to France or Germany
to be educated. All concur in the opinion
that the culture obtained by foreign edu-
cation, being chiefly pathological and
aesthetic, is dearly bought by the loss of
'early training in the incip;ent citizen
ship and the practical lessons of Ameri-
can life, and nearly all favor the view
that the advantages peculiar to study in
the great universities of Europe might
better be sought after the completion Of
thorough course at home. III one
word, the accepted doctrine among those
lights of the educational world seems to
be, let Americans be educated in America.
The other papers, on 1.-The Legal Pre-
vention of Illiteracy." Couture and
knowledge" and other kindred subjects,
are replete with interest. We would call
especial attention to that headed Labor
as an Education" which shows the error
Of letting boys grow up without any par
ticular vocation, and sets forth in clear,
plain, strong language the necessity of
practical knowledge in some industrial
pursuit as an element of intellectual crl.
tUe.
These papers should be carefully read
by everybody interested, directly or in.
directly in the great subject Of education,
and it may not be amiss to add that the
pr inting and binding are not unworthy OF
the matter, making the book in all res
poets desirable addition to the library.