The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-08-03
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.

- SS~AAAVANAA OVAO WNs
THE following reasons for the small
attendance at. our colleges, were given
BY Hon. JOHN EATON, the new President
Of Marietta College, in bis insugural I'D.
dress. 1t wonld be we'll for our Normsl
TO profit by the advice and make
an effort to create a stimulus in their pu.
pills to climb higher rather than espe-
cially cram them for examinations. An
ncessant desire to advance is far more
beneficial to young man or woman
than to be able TO answer enough techni.
cal questions for q certificate:
lucy 90 nUt RnoW I1e advantages
u thorough culture 10 oil the pursuits
of life.
2. They do not know the favorable
under which that culture
may be obtained here.
8. Too often the course OF study at
their doors, and upon which they nrst
enter, are so shaped that steps upward
are not open to them. These courses
are indeed useful laddurs OF learning ss
far IS they go; but while they reach
down TO the lowest condition Of the
child's intelligence, they have no steps
leading to the college or university. Ger.
tainly they are not like the ladder OF Ja.
cob's dream, with lis foot on the earth,
and steps leading up to heaven, with an.
gels ascending thereon. Too often the
trained or unwise teacher al.
lows his vanity to be 6attered with an
idea that there is nothing above bin, that
the course be offers is 80 good 80 the
best, and that be can point to the short
eat and surest way to success In life
Was this the use OF learning that led
the poet to sing OF SO little learning as .
dangerous thipgf" A little learning 10
not a dangerous thing when possessed
with he right spirit which seeks for wis.
dom in gaming knowledge, and in hitting
up others TO their highest opportunities
But learning, however little or much, is
dangerous when it pufis up with conceit
or vanity, or misdirects inquiring minds.
We should everywhere protest agsinet
the misdirection of youth by those who
are formally employed and paid to be
their teachers. How much damage hiss
been done by these false guides How
many aspiring yooths have been switch.
ed of from the great through lines OF
culture and run upon track which
proves only siding! How many men
amid the responsibilities OF lie have
made failures or lost opportunities, due
to the misdirec,ion of the teacher, and,
learning too late his want Of wisdom,
have bowed their beads in dissppoint
ment and shame! Sufficient are the i'm.
pediments to q broad and liberal cduca-
tion imbedd,d d in the foundations of so-
ciety and wrought into it's custom and
appearances along the entire course OF
life. The work Of the teacher ID not TO
multiply them but to aid In overcoming
,bem without purposelv adding others.
His responsibility is great every way,
whether be turn 10 the knowledge requir.
ed OF him in his subjects, or his mastery
OF the best melhods,or the power tr pen.
citrate character, and it's conditions, and
to adapt the order OF work 10 the nature
OF each individual, or TO give each .
healthy growth from the start. but espe.
cislly and above all is his responsibility
great with reference to choices which
determine the whole career OF the pupil'A
life. The demands OF our great activi.
ties. moral. industrial civil and religious,
all require the best every child's lite can
yield. and unite to exact OF the teacher
the wisest direction Of escb youth in the
choice of the great course he 10 to puF.
sue; and time aud eternity, man and
God, enforce these demsnds.
4. Another reason why young men are
not forthcoming for higher study is the
mistaken notion about money. makiag
and spending. Society is pervaded by
the desire to make haste 10 get ricb. The
precept, "get money honestly II you can.
but get money" is enforced upon the
young with fatal effect. They seem to
see all things In eocietY determined by
wealth ; Its true value and lts honest get.
ting are kept ont Of sight. The delay OF
their getting rich by Eve or six years OF
preparation is to them only folly
s, There are men in the lower ranks
OF the learned professions who seek to
draw bright young men away from thor.
ough preparation and to induce them to
enter practice by the sbortest cut. Bu,
the great men at the bead have left rich
legacy OF advice sgainst bssiy assump-
iion OF professional responsibility they
point to The failures and crowded condi.
tion below and to the room and success
higher up.
6. Still another influence which ope.
rates powerfully oesinst thorough college
culture may be found In certain pervert.
ed ideas about youth.
(a) On the one hand sordid parents
would use the youth of their children
without reference to their preparation
for lie but specially TO increase their
gains on the farm or 10 the chop, thus
dwar fng their character and perhaps
crippling them 10 body.
10y Again there are parents who rush
to another extreme and use the tender
years OF their children to crafty their
vanity, withdrawing them from all tha,
is useful, and giving them over to mere
show. The daughter comes 10 womsn.
hood On overgrown doll-tbe son .
dude, nobody or roue.
(c) Other parents with generally right
purposes do not know how to adjust
the coming responsibilities with The
growth OF youth. They do not know.
like the parent bird, just when to lei
the hedgling fY and gain tood for itself.
and either ruin the child by allowing no
burdens TO be borne, or by thtustirg
them upon HIM so soon that bis pow.
ers ale injured forever.
(d) Another perversion Of childhood
results from the surrendcring of the par