The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1882-01-20
OUR SCHOOLS.

| Piih S'Sh'iA'S :" "'i- PSi
of any Government, or the happipeas
of any beople. Man is so constitu-
ted hat little or nothing comes by
| intuition-everything must be learn
ed. Again, the lessons OF youth,
whether in learning or morals, make
the character of the man in after
years. It is therefore of primary
Importance that our schools, whether
common or otherwise, should be con-
Quoted with this two-fold obj ect.
But the question of what constitutes
|'that particular kind or sort of intel
ligencc most desirable, (for no man
can become infinitely wise), admits
of variety OF opinions. There
seems to have grown up in our edu-
cational circles preference for what
may not inappropriate!y be called
abstract knowledge in contradistinc,-
ion to practical knowledge, and really
it appears to us that in this our edo
Gators are sadly at fault. The
greatest good for the greatest num-
Der should be the notion educational
as well as other matters, and that the
present plan as applied TO the edu-
cation of our boys and girls does not
accomplish this, we believe to be in
disputable, but on the contrary op-
crates especially for the benefit of
the few who may wish to become
finished scholars or to engage in
some of the learned professions, So
called, and against the many who
must 10y brain and Drawn fill the
months, cover the backs and shelter
al from the storms; and what they
lack in brain they must make up In
Drawn, for all there is of wealth
comes Of the men who till the soil,
toll as artisans, dig in the mines or 60
down to the sea in ships. For them
should the streams of knowledge lie
made TO guSh forth their treasures
most abundantly. It is rot so now.
The college graduate is often bat the
poorest sort OF all excuse for a bust
ness man, or farmer, Or mechanic, or
miner, or navigator. He is but an
intelligent machine If you please,
that needs a directing hand to be of
any practical Use in the busy world,
except to make just such other ma
chimes as he.
Holding to these views and besides
believing most religiously in our free
school system, it is with special de.
light we notice move in the right
on the part of the schools |
of Oakland, where class or depart
ment has been created to teach prac-
tical knowledge, eomprehending
those things most important for a
young man to know when starting
out in the race of life. We do not
know how well this laudable effort
is succeeding, but we do. know it
ought to succeed, and if by any E.is-
chance this should fail, the time will
come when a like effort will not fail. !
Men were made for husbands, and /
women for wives. Each pair should
nave home of their own. The hus-
band should provide for the house
hold and stand ready to defend the
heartEstone, and the wife should be
1 helpmect, dispensing with the hand
If judgment, economy and prudence
he means for livelihood furnished
oy the husband.
The young man graduate from our
nigh schools should be fitted to 90
,ut into the world, either as mer-
chant, mechanic, farmer or profess
onal man, so far as the main essen
.ials for success are concerned. He
should, in addition to the usual Eng
ish branches, have something in the
way of higher mathematics; but far
more important, he should have a
thorough knowledge of bookkeeping,
and everything of a general nature
with business. We be-
ieEe it to be a fact that more than
nalf the failures In business-all
kinds considered-is owing to igno-
rance of bookkeeping on the part of
principals. If the destiny of man is
@ earn bread, surely our schools
should fit him as best they may for
hat purpose, and not as mere orna-
nent for. the delectation of society.
But what ofthe woman? We ans
wer, apply the same principle to her
education. She should be taught, IN
addition to the ordinary English
branches, the best way to Keep house.
ind to make home hapP. As the
road to human happiness generally !