Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-10-18
Practical Education for Infants.

The question arises, for a thousand
children of all classes, from each system
of education, which has given them the
best preparation for earning a living in
the world as it is, the public school sys-
TEN of America, or the nO-schOOl sys-
TEN How many has the public school
system provided with a living The
answer Is very easy. In a thousand
boys ten take to teaching other boys,
while they are studying law or medi-
cine. Two of these remain teachers all
their lives. Fifty go into bOokkeepers'
places, where ten remain. The rest dis
perset TO business OF all kinds, trades and
shOpkeeping, all of which have to be
learned, and in which the school educa-
tiOn ia of little use, save indirectly and
by its general cultivation of the intelli-
sence. of the thousand girls, fifty
20 to teaching. The rest forget all
thew ever learned. OF knowledge use
full to them as mothers they have ac-
quired nothing of housekeeping
duties less.
This Is the dark side of modern edu-
cation. There is of course bright one.
Take hundred wOrkmen, brought up
TO any given handicraft. especially one
requiring intelligence. The men who
can read and write, and who have en-
loved the benefits of an English educa-
ton, are more likely TO rise in the
world, To improve their position, than
those who have never known anything
but one round of work from their ear
liest years. To become a skilled work
man, indeed, education is absolutely
necessary. The question nremains-what
sort of education is most likely to help
them, one wholly theoretical, or one in
which practice and theory are joined
The answer is obvious. 1t is found in
the great and increasing popularity of
industrial schools, wherever such have
been established by private philan-
thrOpy. They are, so far, the only in
stitutions of an educational nature,
public or private, with whose benefits
no injury has been found to mingle.
The only objection to their universal
establishments found in their expense,
owing to the vast variety of mechani-
cal employments. These at present
render a complete scheme of industrial
schools as a national undertaking, too
difficult for practical adoption. Ideally
such a system would be the most per-
feet national education yet devised. 1t
would at once train the rising genera
tion into useful citizens and true wealth
producers. Failing that, let us see
what can he done with present systems
10 attain this most desirable end. We
find that the common schools tend to
produce ol-teachers, lawyers, doc
tors, politicians, newspaper men, book
keepers, clerks, brokers, and ali that
class of men vino live by their wits. OF
artisans, artists, and agrIculturalists,
capable of developing the wealth of
new country, they produce none. These
come from outside.
Happily for the future of our country,
a man has at last risen to accomplish
revolution in education, which prom
ises to supply the want we have refer
red to. The man and his sy stem are as
yet but little known here, but it is by
no means bold to say that when they
have taken complete possession of the
land, they will double the wealth and
prosperity of America, and what is
more. increase its stock of happiness
and virtue tenfold. Beginning i'm the
face OF chilling indifference and active
opposition, they have effected the COM
plete conquest of Germany, and aided
TO make il the practical and intellectual
leader of Europe. In America, where
the field is so much vaster, the oppor-
tuIities greater, they promise to do
still more. Need we say to those who
know both-the man is Frederick
Frebel. the system is the kindergar-
ten ?-The GGlary.