Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-06-30

EASTERN SHORE, Nd, June 20, 1880.

4 EASTERN SHORE, Nd, June ~, lcoV.
!. MEssRs. EDIToRs Seeing in the dill
,, ferent papers Of the country just at thi
: season so many eulogies delivered AM
. calculations made at the various com
mcncements, could not refrain from
] thinking Of the striking contrast b.
!. tween German aud American college
Allow me here to cite an American
authority, who was himself a SUDDEN
and graduate Of an American and Ger
man college, and WHO speaks here open
ly and impartially. Tho American col
legiAn is, he says-but pardon the ex
lpress!on--simply a school boy OF larger
growth. lie may bs old enough to lus
uriate moustache, muscular enough to
rev in the Saratoga regatta, eloquent
enough to carry off some gold medal,
studious enough to be regarded by bis
associates q prodigy learning, but
with oil that, he il none the less q
sohoo!boy. Barring the entire period
of his course he ia made to fe2l
that he Is looked upon as one iDCapa-
BILE Of judging and acting for himself.
His college-life is mere continuation
Of his school life. IL il true, his teach
ers are able men, there is greater va
riety Of character among his associates,
yet in all substantial respects be is still
q school boy. On tbs other hand, 1t is
quite different with German student,
who ia a young man, free 10 select his
studies, his professors, to regulate his
own course Of life, to lie Whist his own
energy make him, who hiss no favors
to ask nor TO expect, who will 20.
be euiog!zGd or his talents praised,
or his merits extolled and sckpoT-
lodged by library Of premiums or
gold medals; who is depending on his
own actions aud has not the conviction
of the American student, that the col
lege snd lis professors are depending
on and draw their support from him.
| am quite sure, that il any American
Tcollegs would treat its STUDENTS With
that Indifference and impartiality, as
is done in Germany, If it would niaEo
them understand ths! they arr study
ing not fer premiums and medals, bat
for their own competency and accom-
pIishment, that 1t was nothing but
vanity in their mind, 10 put their conl
parRtively email merits On public
exhibition on commencement: day and
finally II our colleges would enjoy such
an Independence as 10 make the pn-
pills feel that the colleges are not in
need Of them, different resnl! would
eas.e. /. is u known fact that cur
colleges are more or less depending on
their pupils and that their teachers are
looking upon them as the soutca of
their support aud until this difficulty
is removed We can look for no fair sd-
ucaticnal reform. He1ce the plain and
evident fact, why IL the present indie
pendent public high schools more
thorough and careful education and
better chance for self-perfectiOu is CIV
TN than in college, because tbs pub.
lie school does not rely on or favor the
pupils, who have to stand alone on
their own merits. 1t is therefore, the
state authority, which in union with
an independent but perfect and COM
ple,e public school system, can bring
about the desirable reform. Members OF
The Board Of Education in the various
States have SO fsracComplishei great
.hiugs, but still! greater ones they will
have 10 perform at seine future period,
hey ought 10 bs able AID Jealous men,
because their duty and Office are seri- {
,us, and the battles they will have TO
light In the campaign against modern 9
bigotry and baTbGrjsn are severe /
against men, who hGys made it their |
object and only ain to argue against =
popular and free education, and to Ii
rush all intellectual and moral doySl- =
,pmsnt OF the nasses and 10 plant tho p
1anner Of modern barbarian OH the r
uins of an all.sasing civilization. Can ,
hey be tue oiIizenb of this great Ka- =
public, If they rob the glorious crown r
II our independence Of that diamond !
With which it was adorned by the greet .
wisdom and knowledge Of our forefa. 9
hers and which was to sparkle for ever n
n glory and perfection through TIE ed a
lcation of all our children. Let us n
make our youth realize, that they live G
o study and not study to live and that O
hay perform this work eimply for two h
.onest motives ont Of love for learn h
OK and to become lit and useful men, +
'srs of society. Nov one more remark, =
nth all due respeot to the established
ofms of college commencemepts, 1t
7ould certainly he more proper and use
al if they would be turned int public y
XaEningtious, where different picture a
Tould be revealed to tbs public, i
Yours Truly, II. w. P. II