Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-03-19

1870, the Commissioners Of Education
at Washington sent out series of care
fully drawn, comprehensive and search
ing questions. to the great centers of
labor in all parts of the United States
These centers were so selected as to
represent every kind of labor, from the
rudest and simplest up to the most
skilled. The object of the question was
TO determine the relative productiveness
of literate and illiterate labor. When
the answers came back they we're tabu-
lated, reduced and generalized, so as
to get at the average result over the
whole country. This investigation
one of the most interesting ever made
brought clearly to light the following
facts:
1st. That an average free Compton
school education, such as is provided in
all the states where the free common
school has become permanent insti-
tuition. adds fifty per cent. to the pro-
ductive power of the laborer, considered
as mere machine of production.
End. That the average academical
education adds one hundred per cent.
Sd. That the average collegiate or
university education adds from two to
three hundred per cent. to his average
annual productive capacity, to say
nothing of the vast increase to his man
illness, to his God-likeness.- Wisconsin
journal Of Education.
EDUCATION FOR THE LABoRER. In
its true sense, labor includes as well the
activity of the mind as that of the body.
the occupation of profession or
craftsmanship as the work of digging
bitches. In each case labor is honor
able.
Let us consider our subject in refer
ence to the more common usage of the
word, labor, Those humber occupa-
tons where only physical strength is
thought to be necessary. and where
education is so aften disregarded. First,
it will surely be admitted that if a man
be ambitious for more remunerative
life-work the chief avenue for rising
must be through increased intelligence.
1t is not circumstances so much as men
tai qualifications that determines ones
station in life.
But here is a man contented with his
lot, with perhaps only small family,
or none, to support, and fully satisfied
to chop or saw wood, to shovel on a
railroad or carry mortar for permanent
livelihood. 1t is probably well that
there are such men. But shall such a
mans mind be blank? Are his men,
tai endowments and possibilities to be
ignored and wasted? Shall bis evenings,
his noon hours. his holidays, his Sab
baths be spent in absolute mental va
cancy? As he bends over his saw or
shovel shall there be no thoughts with
which to beguile the weary hours, save
the satisfaction of hunger and the petty,
and too often vulgar,-topics and
Jokes of the street corners? Shall a
man, endowed with heavenly gifts, de-
scend to the level of a machinep A
thousand times No! answer all consid-
erations of reason. We do amiss to
grovel SO much. What delight to the
mentally trained laborer, while resting
at the close of the day,to spend an hour
or two in the elysian fields of science
and literature, or in instructive, elevat-
ing conversation How it fills out life!
How it expands ones horizoni At the
noon hour what a satisfaction to take
up book for few minutes and let
physical rest be mental exhiIaratiopi
How desirable that the laborer should
have food for his mind, that be should
think often of the stars above him, the
grass and flowers beneath, the birds
and air and sunshine around, the great
problems of mind and matter, and the
mysteries of time and eternity. II we
were compelled to spend life with a
pick in the dark depths of coal mine,
we would desire most intensely to eouip
our mind as far as possible and give it
material on which to feed during those
lonely hours of weary labor. In such
place the exercise of the mind would
be a priceless luxury.
In this age of cheap books, grand
possibilities are open to every laborer.
In some respects he is to be enyied
above the professional man. The earn
est teacher, for instance, has chance to
think of little else but the concerns of
bis profession. His mind is almost con-
stantly occupied with school matters.
La contrast. the mind of the laborer is
free to think, to mediate. to roam at
will through the most charming fields
OF thought, YEA, TO soar above the
dross OF earth to the realms of higher
existence. Oh precious privilege
Would that it were more highly valued.