Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-14

and water, the form of the earth, its rela- |
ton to the sun as the source of light and
heat, and then that the pupil be lead to
form his own judgment, or be aided in
verify ing the judgments of others re-
speeding the natural results of these con-
ditions in the distribution of heat and
cold, change of seasons, productions and
industries of life.
Arithmetic in several of its processes is
essential as the minds instrument, but be-
yond these its value is wholly disciplinary,
and no defense can be made for its contin-
uance except for the purpose of training
the power of reason.
APPLIED TO MORALS,
the new education decides that memorlz-
ing moral precept does not establish it
as personal conviction in the character
of the learner. Actions of moral beings
have moral qualities, as howsr has the
physical quality of fragrance, and that the
moral Judgment of a child can only be cul
tivated by directing his attention to the
act itself with a view to calling out his own
judgment. The Importance of this princi-
pie warrants that its application to home
training be noticed. Under the severe
discipline and spirit of the old, the arbi
trary judgment and opinions of consci-
entious parent were imposed upon the son
for belief and practice to the entire neg
lect of such presentation of questions or
courses of action that would strengthen
the boys Judgment, and would make the
transition to independent action safe and
natural. His early years pass in moral
ssrvility, or in spirit of INSTRUMENTATION,
and when he leaves home with weakness
of character, and often enters upon O.
rsckles5ness of belief and practice which
may astonish but which may be easily sez-
planned.
then, ia its true meaning, is the character
lstic of the new education. What ara its
relations to learning? Culture is the
measure of mans ability to make hls
own whatever Of good there ia or has been
in the world. The cultivated eye alons
can see, the disciplined mind alone can
make its own, the great thoughts tcat are
treasured in literature. But more than
this, genuine culture ensures knowledge
as necessary result of tho activity. The
quick eye and the thoughtful mind will
bring knowledge, as the life of the plant
changes soil and moisture to its own flower
and fruit.
THE GENERAL REsULTs.-THE DIFFIsULTIEs
AND DEMANDS.
How far, then, is our system of public
schools under the influence of the new ed
ucationP It must be admitted that some
of the dark shadows of the old are still
resting upon us, and that We are doing
many things only because We are held by
the authority of ancient practice and the
difficulties il the way Of mseting the de
mands of the new. Of England the able
writer Of the article On education IN the
Cyolopaedia Britannica says: "The science
Of education is still far in a.1Vance OF the
arr, Schoolm asters ara still psHenaing
thai beat energies teaching subl>''s
which have been universally condemned
by educational reformers for the last t="
hundred years" Ia Nv England q
county has been discovered which seemed
10 have escaped every Influence Of the
age, and has been thoroughly advertised
as fair sample Of the work of the schools
of America. While I am satisfied that
this criticism does not fairly apply to the
schools Of our thriving cities and to many
schools of the country, it is not to be de-
MED that there is far too much of rote learn
ing of useless matter without even the viz
tue of thoroughness. Grammar is learned
with no knowledge how to use the language
with correctness, geography is too often q
! COG eilation Of details OF useless names;
arithmetic, a iabofed process of doing
sans without intelligence or practical ad-
vantage, and natural science, like all the
rest is taught momentarily from text
book without apparatus and experiment,
| and with an entire Indifference to it's legit-
innate results. To this level the work CT
| teaching must gravitate in proportion az
the ability and ambition of the teacher de-
teriorates. It is not Just, however, to as
| sumo this as general or without remedy
In all our professional training, normal
| schools and institutes, the effort is to es-
tablish right views. Tbs practical results
of the schools have improved. The train
ing eomprehends more fully the range Of
the ohild's powers. The task Of the kin
dergartsn, Industrial drawing and in SOM
cases the use of tools, the enlargement o
laboratories, museums and PHILOSOPHERS
departments from the kindergarten to tn
university, all prove that the culture O
our school systems is adapting itself t
the demands of the age, AID is fitting it
pupils for an intelligent apprenticeship il
whatever industry their tastes may direct
IN ESTIMATING THE RESULTS
of our system of popular education
must be remembered that it is but one c
the educating agencies of this new civil
cation. 1t has sometimes received honor
that have belonged to the fsmil
or pure social sentimen
It has also been loaded with the respon
sibllity of saving children already beyon
the reach of home. church or social sent
ment. In the aggregate result it has he
It's shsre of influence.
There has nsver appeared the parable
of times SO abundant in opportunities, g
!, grand in it's enterprises, in which men an
women have found so much in life wort
: living for and so Intelligent and eager i
its pursuit.
During the decade ending with the yea
, in which Richard Grant White made n
] attack on the public schools of New Yor
} city, speaking of it as "a school sJstel
which according to the experience of ha
, century is deterioration in purity {
f morals, in decsncy Of life,in thrift and
. all that goes to make up a good citizen
, During that decade according to the sp
, cial report of the police department tt
8 arrests fell from $3.50 to 65.393. The pre-
sent generation, filling all the position
of industry IN government, In profession