The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-17
STUDYING LAW IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

education the pupil Of the public school is
crammed with great variety Of information
The casual observer Of the infant prodigies of
learning is apt to be impressed with the be-
lief that instruction is given on every subject
with which the human mind is likely to Crap
pie during its earthly existence. The cold
blooded suggestion from Buffalo lawyer that
school readers should contain an elementary
few things have been omitted from the cur
riculum. This lawyer is of the opinion that
children would be much better off after i'm
bibing the principles set forth by Gritty and
Blackstone than in being filled with trashy
poetry and overdone moral tales. It is hardly
probable that this gentleman believes that
the rising generation would, by obtaining
this school-book knowledge, be fitted for con-
Quoting their own lawsuits or be better
bring up their own offspring in the way they
should 60 1t can scarcely be that the Buff
falo lawyer is so unprincipled as to have in
mind the fact that knowledge of the laws
Intricacies often proves a convenience to those
persons who desire to evade them No mem
Der Of the profession would recommend diff
fused knowledge of the principles on which
his art is founded with such idea in mind, for
the reason if no other, that it would not inure
L. c.
What the promulgator of this scheme undoubt-
edly has in view is not that all boys and girls
should become expert practitioners at the bar,
but that they should know little law-not
too much, but just enough. It is a we'll
known fact that slight familiarity with the
interior of the human frame, added to a smat
tsring of the science Of medicine, leads the
victim of such information into a confirmed
habit of consulting doctors and of taking drugs.
The acquaintance, for instance, with the exact
location of the liver impels the possessor of such
dangerous knowledge to secure medical treat
ment whenever he feels twinge in the neigh
borhood Of that organ; whereas if, III blissful
ignorance, he thought the pang symptom of
too much dinner, the physician would lose
fee. The same principle undoubtedly obtains
in regard to law as to medicine. Let the in
dividual ''study law" in school text book,
and forthwith he will feel that he is qualified
to become legal luminary of high degree.
Should he pursue his investigations further,
be will discover his mistake, and no harm will
be done; but in case he does not, he will be
on the alert to maintain his legal rights, and,
depending on his school book, will be perfectly
sure that he has good case. AS q conse-
quence, he will hasten to an attorney, pos
sibly the Buffalo man, and contribute
of his substance to that individuals ex-
cheGuer. 1t is great scheme, but
the trouble will be that if this
study is introduced into the schools
members of other professions will insist upon
to add a medical department to the primary
grades, and if all the 'pathies' are not given
a showing war will result What will happen
if the mysteries Of allopathy, homeopathy and
oil the rest are instilled into the youthful
mind, no one but a Virgins can forecast.
Teachers of morality have already had their
chance towards improving the coming man,
but, with~the other callings given an opening,
the preachers will demand more room. If
- r. l.,
sine, they may as we'll learn theology,
and, if the Buffalo mans system
10 carried to its logical conclusion,
ihe youth Of the future may add to his varied
store of professional knowledge few facts
concerning predestination, probation after
death and infant baptism. AS it will prob
ably be some little time before the public
sehoo, system is improved by the addition of
these studies-school readers containing
all the requirements will need care in
sditing-we venture to suggest as a compro-
mise that newspapers be substituted for the
trashy poetry and overdone moral tales of
which the Buffalo man complains. A nice
alean newspaper, the Sunday Journal, for in
stance contains something of all matters,
legal, medical and theological, to say nothing
about few other useful things and the mind
Of tie child of the period can but be benefited
by regular perusal.
smMm~m~m~@mzM~
MEDICAL EDUCATION.
1t may not be generally known, but it is
aona the less a fact that Indiana is TAKING the