New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-24
EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS
LECTURE OF SENATOR sCHURZ.


attention and judicous applause marked their interest
in the speaker and his subject Tie lecture was under
the auspices the Franklin Literary Society, one OF
whose officers, william II. Williams. introduced the
speaker In these words o. aware that formal in
production is unnecessary inaSmuch You know very
well whom you have come to hear; but may say, with
truth certainly and trust without improperly that he
! is one 70 honor whom is 10 honor ourselves. Every
thoughtful citizen be deeply interested the sub
ject matter of the lecture which has been announced
and we may it happy privilege that 1t is to be
considered in our presence this evening by whose
culture and experience well qualify him to discuss
problems Of great commaD ding interest In behalf
then Of the members OF the Franklin Literary Society
OF their ellowcitzens here assembled have great
pleasure, Sir IN welcoming you 10 this platform
MI schurz SAID at the outset that his audience must
not expect either wittcisms hlgl-nOwD speech but
discourse-seriOus things In quetlanguage Ihe
lecturer stated that he should take NJ those parts
OF his subject showing how education should be applied
teach how 10 learn. how to work. how to live. ana
how to enjoy He then compared the education which
was deemed sufficient two generations ago with that
which scientific discover and the change Il has pro-
duced IN OF labor make present lndispensa-
bic for who would achieve respectable position
! IN life.
TIE faacy Of thinking that the main point In educa-
ton is to imDlrt many specific items Of knowledge as
possible was pointed out and 1t shown that pupils
shOald be taught that they should 70 on learning
]
excited desire for learning. ana shall be formed
habit of mind enabling them acquire to the best adj
This Mr.. Schurz illustrated from Ms own eA-
perieuce aud declared that the training ana discipline
Of mind odght 10 be the first point in elementary
education he considered the teaching that ought to BE-
gwen long before the teacher begins the work,
and claimed that by natural methods Of insirnc-
ton and by the avoidance OF forcing OF the
BRAIN much knowledge can be impaired at very
early age without injury to the child than Is generally
posi- ole Referring to the OF John Stuart
MIL taught Greek at the age OF three years by
his father he claimed that this Implied no extraordi-
uary strain GA the infant mind, aud instances OF
The ease with which very young children acquire diff
ferent languages. What parents ought TO consider
most OF NJ instructin- young children is TO teach
them how correctly, 10 hear correctly,
to understand correctly, aud how TO repro
duce correctly IN thought AMI language what
has been impaired to them Il IS not the fault Of the
eyes hat OF the percep.ye faculties back OF the eyes
that 50 many do not correctly Varied Illustrations
of tine prevalence seeing. hearing, and re-
production thought AMI Language were given and u
was said that there is more prolific source OF errors
follies and halfuncOnsciOus immortality than the hao
Of iuuefect perception, causing a untru; Afu.
ness and mental dishonesty l. IS the dly OF parents
OF elder brothers and sisters 10 cultivate in children
from their ears. youth habit Of correct perception
and reproduction what has been sad % them. IAis
can be done concerning the simplest objects ana IL the
simplest ways Following this r>t course " education
| comes the work OF the school teacher.
NJ 40 !! of instraciJI >cAoOis were then taken Up.
and e system 81 literal adhHr IRE % 'Ei-ok7 ana ~
tbe epc0n cement OF pe1o1ZIg I'D .yr Or rrle arr
ing was sttOu-4y coud-Aur,. 40 not only y.-iods 1.t
c4cul1tcd d.Iect.~ % encourage stupidity T. fe-e
the memory l. COOL bui 10 rey ON mat entFay m4fes
the vc.Ist Ounce. l. tic can be taught 80 sc4O' l'l
We not % attcmTt zoo much; bat % j. " the utEos.
importance tAat the cld 0e iu4hi ih ilshi way ana
tAdt thorough understanding and clear eAPahIt."A ID
original lang 0f the subjects taught be re lred of
the pupil aud 'lat risd aiLsfeAce TO 81, 4os oi an
N'''-f
educatIon Is to make the mlnd active ooserying and
receptive, 10 III men ana women I,r tte 9GD,s!Icai
selfeducat,oa winch rs t Feo most tn-i Important
touched upou the training or tea-uers ana tIe evil of
hayn. VINO only re-ard tncr profession a
ga bs cxr Dl nat ' of ali hard a5"r 1cl Is
the poorly paid IN proportion to H Vaihe ans -
true ia "a. cJInIcs; IaJ 4aci j. the more dInA-h
~ 11 ,r. money IN of6er cIlnrs tnan tracllng.
Teaching ought De noble prOicasl"u, iies WORK.
and IL should b. com pcnsIed IA proportion 10 III worm
Great improvement Oren made Ia large cities ana
Town, IN la. respect. Uut tAe.e Is ID danger tina. TOO
Tle u.rtn1ls len should NC used IN The education Of
cir. were then discussed. On the one AIud rcop- say
mat cIII sh0d be taught ;uat hey 81" have desire
peTdcnTly and become successful hwycrs doctors,
bankers railway directors politicians, &, GA the Other
hand That woman 10 uc .. ts.r anu -ooA
Won IN must know too much Whie opposing Tie
latter and claiming tAIt al tAe occupations iof
t,cm should DE opened 10 them, tAr lecturer Gi NO.
believe system Oi e"lcItoI OF % seci4' of'et "AcA
mont! stimulate al ambition Iu women a. 20 through
NE alone. l. a. hot wei Tor women 10 ne alone ana
Nvr. ant mothers The tru- He'd 81 III 4h Is iAe IAN
Nv c.9ce. Bat women are not 10 De eAic"c1 OAy IoE
faHy home when Is the fist nurs"r7 of society ana
he STATE aud the wle ana nOiHer Hois Tue ieadlAi-
sIru OF social order in nor hands. SIe AIs Inc Lig-
r.t duties most exalted mission anu icr these not
only her moral naUIe. Uut her mud ahI Latute, must
h. yrppareI for b.-t methods. Girls snonJ learn
H. Sc low to establish ofsan.+t ana man
nave desire for home The BAD Elects upon families
Of life observation-disclosures ana notes were set fortA IN
strun. tors am IL Wa, declared I-t ~ these places
| mere can be home no desirable privacy, no
proper family cohesion, no t feeling or mutual pend
/ elcr and responsibility, NHlch lhdAe up Ile ILH"y
relations. part " the fanny AID socia troubles
found IL the country are pf0iuc"a oy W. aIIe-tt4AI
influence OF bOdrdng-hOnsr ana holel ne ana sun ne
Is generally resOrted 10 necause young women have not
have grl'u not the confidence to attempt L. or else
| they have taste for II. Aiter some r.
! marks upon the ABILITY ANA training required IN
the female head or household. the lecturer spoke
/ Of the mistake made Dy young women WA0 maze "a
! tions alone 10 influence Young men toward marriage.
From this reasOn largely, Inc nu-iDer Of yOuns men
! Is increasing and the NUMBER OF single women anu of
single Is charging co. too is rae nunDf OF iAInl
lies where there no children. Where the spirit OF
tnnn men m pro-perous crcum Stances and wuen the
rearing children avoided BECAUSE OF expense or
because they bar 10 social pleasures II Is sign OF
evil import 10 society and the nation and checked
! will lead Bring up your girls not III luxury
and improvIIence, but in simplicity OF habit II NOR
! ouch understanding OF Their true worth ana iuture
! standlng aud with such training Will make them
the happy and useful heads OF pleasant households.
woman is the natural center OF All social virtues ana IN
her atlaOs phere they grow best A. woman Ills her
place and performs her duty she VIII be the good OF
! Inc evil genius of society
! The good wncn might be accomplished by the
wealthy IN providing innocent and elevatlug anuse-
meDt for the poorer classes spoken OF, and tine
province of education III art aud music eloquenty e1-
planned.
Tue lecture lasted nearly hour and half. and was
delivered simple, unlmplssionei manner, with no
OF gesture or emphasis but the clear ana
Of the arguments, the sincerity VI the
anu his thorough uyasTey o. MS theme much I'M
dressed VI whom lie lost not a single one
until the close.