Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-10-26
Newspapers as Educators.

Newspapers AZ EducatOrS.
1t is now generally conceded that
newspapers are the great educators
of the masses. Their cheapness
places them at the disposal of every
body, and the enterprise displayed
in collecting and disseminating the
news renders them an absolute ne
cessity to those who would keep up
with the thought and progress of the
times. The true newspaper is q
brief epitome of the current events.
1t cannot, of course, devote its space
to the discussion of a few special
topics, or it would be q vehicle
of news only in very limited
sense; nor would the game be worth
the candle, in this short life, when
proficiency in any given study or
science is only desirable as a means
of attainment of some greater OBJ
ject. 1t would doubtless pay the
man who builds wind-mills to study
pnaumatics, as it would the modern
preacher to grope among the vague
superstitions of antiquity, and with
the dignity of veritable Pickwick
occasionally bring them forth and
give them an airing; for by SO do
ing the former will know precisely
how to trim his sails to catch the
favoring gales, and the latter may
ride the popular breeze which a dis
play of erudition and profound wis.,
dom always raises.
The lecture of Mr.. Utter to young
people, in Unity Church, Sunday
evening, upon " What to Read" was
faulty in-several particulars. He
advised his hearers to read books,
to acquire education, as if every
thing instructive or tending to dis
cipline the mind was found, like
butter-nuts, in hard covers. This,
would probably have been consid-
cred in a liberal sense as partially
stated proposition, had he not fol-
lowed with disparagement of news
papers, by way of contrast, which
left no doubt of his meaning. what
ever opinion we may form OF the
amount of thought bestowed upon
the subject. We grant the power
of books as educators in details, on
any given subject. They are like
tenanted houses, with the legend
"For particulars Inquire Within, "
where those wanting tc purchase, to
rent, or in search of any special in
formation, may knock and be adj
mitted. The newspaper, however, is
the town-clock, that gives essential
information, at the right time, and
on matters which regulate all the
affairs of life.
Education does not consist of
Greek roots, nor does it necessarily
constitute itself the key to the Tai
mud. To be well informed on many
subjects, is to possess . general and
useful education, while to be thor
oughly instructsd in few. 10 to be
partially educated, whether service
ably or not depending on circum-
stance A pesson cannot habitually
read, even . psssably conducted
newspaper. without cleaning many
subjects for pru6tab,e thoaght, many
suggestions that lead to research and
end in adequate reward in new kelds
Of mental discovery. The children
OF the fszaily supplied with q live
daily newspaper are notably more
intelligent than those Who are NOT
and il has been advocated by modern
educators that vell-conaucted news
Pspen entirely saper.eas the stand
ard readers IN our common schools
II 10 claimed that this change vould
inpsrt . sessnl ksovlsdge Of cur
treat evsnts, and led 10 ths invest