The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1876-03-11
HOW MuC.l EDUCATION =?
TFOR The REGISTER.

Education, in all its interests, is
grand old subject. 1t has been the theme
for discussion by all classes. The juve-
nile essayist in the public school, the
college graduate, the learned professor,
the literary lecturer, the editorial fra
ternity, the profound statesman and the
warm hearted philanthropist have all
spent time and talent if by some means
they might so represent the claims OF
education upon the human intellect and
set forth the beneficiary results thereof,
that all men everywhere might make the
bes, use possible of the educational priv
ileges given them; and yet ignorance
abounds. But the most appalling fact
is that there are dozens of boys and girls.
Young men and ladies in our State which
are SO abundantly blessed with school
privileges, who actually refuse to go to
school. They much prefer to spend four
or five days earning money enough to
buy set of gold shirt-studs or ear drops
than to spend half that time adorning
their minds with jewels of truth more
precious than rubies and more va liable
than glittering gold. Go speak to that
young man lettering on the street cor
ner with cigar in his mouth about the
value of an education. He will tell you
that many men have got rich without
an education. He can count his own
money, and that is all he needs. Count
his own money! Yes, and more than he
will ever own. With such persons, tt
accumulate money, real estate and stock
is the all-important object of life. They
know nothing of the higher enjoyments
which a well-informed and intelligen'
mind aE5rds and certainly they do moi
comprehend the true object of life. To
what extent then shall We educate (? The
answer must depend upon circumstances
: To illustrate; if 1 wish to become a
millwright, bricklayer. farmer or
merchant I would not think it wise tt
spend half dozen years grubbng among
the decayed roots of the dead languages
} Hence the better plan is to select som'
vocation in which We wish, to become
useful, and inform ourselves on tina
, particular subject. But in general
would answer this question by saying
, that we ought not be satisfied with on
educational attachments until we ca,
\ read and write smoothly, spell correctly
understand synthesis and analysis OF tn
English language, master any mathema'
zeal problem that might occur in bust
ness transactions, keep neatly and col
e rectly all our accounts, have such
knowledge of the geography OF the cart
, as to be able to locate the principal di
visions, islands, lakes, rivers, seas, noun
4 tains and cities, and be familiar wit
!. the history of our own nation.
| Persons who are this we'll informed ca
a enter upon the duties of life perhaF
:, for usefulness in any ordinary vocation
" Some say they have not the time an
" means to educate themselves. l thin
ID they are mistaken. l believe that wit
it our present educational privileges mini
\. tenths of the youth can obtain thoroug
English education if they ,ciH. Do M
y then content yourself with the idea tbs
1t you can raise grain and feed stock {
wash, cook, and sew tears Just as we
without an education as with one. The.
a things are not the object of life.
ID pity the poor being that has no high
1t motive in life than to ''get rich"