The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-07-06
Sources of Education.


1t is a mistake to suppose that practi-
cal education is to be obtained only from
teachers and in the school ROOM. 1t is
just as natural for the mind to be open
to the reception of new ideas, as it is for
the growing plant to absorb material for
its growth through rootlet and leaf. Ed
u~cation in its true sense, is the ever in
creasing ability to do the best thing at
the best time and in the best way. In
order to possess this ability it is not nee
essary that person should ascend among
the stars or descend into the depths OF
earth or ocean to learn the secrets there
of, however desirable such knowledge
may be.
In no respect is mutual dependence
more forcibly illustrated than in the mat
ter of personal education. When in the
presence of others, we instinctively feel
that they can impart something to US
from their fund of knowledge and not be
impoverished thereby. Hence the charm
Of intelligent conversation and of listen
ing to those who have a greater fund of
general or special information than our
selves. In this very thing consists one
OF the attractions of city over country life.
Mind is brought in contact with mind,
new thought is envoked, new aspirations
awakened, and new plans entered upon.
The cases of voluntary isolation from the
society and influence of others, are few.
Association and not separation is the uni
versal law.
In the process of popular education,
we believe that too much credit has been
given to teachers and books, and too lit
tie to contact with our fellow men and to
that dissemination of the worlds daily do
ings, the newspaper. 1t is a rare thing
at the present day to find a family into
which at least n newspaper does not
make its weekly visit, while into most
two or three find their way. The educa-
tional influence OF these is beyond caleu-
latlon. The process is slow to be sure,
but it is effectual. Many a man whose
early advantages were limited has made
such a use of his opportunities as to be
regarded authority not only on local
questions, but on those involving the in
terests of the State and nation as we'll
Such men will always be found constant
and careful readers of newspapers.
In erecting a building the first requi-
site is a foundation laid deep and strong,
upon which to place the superstructure.
In the educational process the work of
the school room and the subsequent read
ing of standard works form the founda-
ton. With the present facilities, if this
foundation is defective, it is the fault of
the builder. The superstructure consists
of such critical and accurate knowledge
of the worlds movements as will enable
one to take his place and perform his
part in the grand march of events. This
qualification can only be obtained by con-
tact with living, progressive men, and by
the constant perusal of that epitome of
the worlds doings, the newspaper. That
education which consists of the bare
framework of the dry facts of the past is
of little practical use, although its pos
SCISSOR may have the reputation of being
a learned man but cover this framework
with a growing, practical knowledge of
the worlds daily progress, held in place
by a lively interest in the same, and you
have an educational result that will en-
title the architect and possessor to high
position among his fellow men.