Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-11
SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION
The fdueatisEai Braneh Discussing the
value or STUDYING Latin and Greek.

A Saratoga Springs special OF Tuesday
saws: The meeting OF the American Social
Science Association this morning was de.
voted 10 the department OF education.
Professor w. +. Harris, OF Concord. Mass,
chairman Of the department, called 1t
10 order and delivered the opening ad-
dress, his theme being, "The study
OF Latin and Greek In American Col
leges." He said all modern Christian
nations make the study Of Latin ana creek
fill an important place in the course pre-.
scribed for thorough education. iet
theseare dead languages" so called. DeinS
no longer spoken by any people, ana thcy
are not used to any extent as written Ian.
guages. Such state OF facts Is calculated
to arouse question and protest. why
should so much time be occupied In learn
Ing languages that are not generally used In
writing or speaking? Latin aud Greek
are The languages OF the two peoples that
hinge European TO Asiatic civilization.
The theoretical insight OF all modern peo-
PIES Is borrowed from the Greeks, and from
Rome VIC get political forms and nsages. it
~ the law-making consciousness OF the
world. Roman history Is the history OF the
tTansmutation OF rude violence, robber liie.
into mutual recognition OF rights explicitly
stated and defined. When the forms OF
reasonable action are discovered and de-
fined, institutions become possible. It is
the essential relation which Greece and
Rene have to modern civilization that
makes the study Of their spiri. so important
In modern education. study OF Greek
and Latin forms habit OF looking at
essential forms which enter into modern
ne. and the individuals view OF the
world is fixed for his whole life. III q
few in 4 new community have even smat-
terjnr OF Latin, and the Others have nothing
ef IL whatever, the expressing and admins
teripg the forms which mould institutions
will fall TO the few. In our civil and po-
hticaI forms we live Roman life to-day. In
conclusion, Professor Harris said the vo-
cabulary OF language gives the person the
view of the world attained by his race or
pcople, aud helps him to understand HIM
self. IL enables one to understand and
deal with ones time and situation, besides
making him acquainted with the forces
which have conquered the world.
Rev, ii. Wayland, OF Philadelphia, dill
fered from Professor Harris. and argued
that the studies most desired were those
which fitted the student for practical life.
The study of social and political economy.
science. and arts should take the place OF
the study OF Latin and Greek. Mr.. Mowry
followed i'm behalf Of Latin and Greek as
the best preparation for scientific study.
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION.
"Tbc Higher Education OF Women" and
Industrial Education" were the other
subjects Of the day. On the latter topic
President Walker. ofthe Massachusetts, In
stitute Of Technology, read an elaborate
paper. Industrial education he defined to
mean. first. applied science and tech
noloqy--to train the architect. engineer.
geologlst, chemist. and mctGllurgist. and
| not TO educate the men who are 10
| do the manual work OF modern
| indus;ry. Second, it means so-calied
"tradc schools'-to train and educate ac'
tual workers in the various branches oil
modem industry. a third Is for training
in mechanical work. All are OF great value
to the youth OF our day, and President
Walker urged strongly their multiplication
| everywhere.
4 Joint meeting with the National Pri'
| son-ECfom Association was he'd in th'
evening, at which Secretary Sanbor reaC
his animal report, which contained an abl'
| discussion II THE Commonwealth OF 80
clal Science"