The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-02-04
What Shall We Do With Our
Boys?

Boys?
There is no question more perplexing
to the average parent than that just
asked, 'sWhat shall we do with our
boys?" And we repeat it for the double
purpose OF endorsing the sensible and
common sense views expressed edl-
torially in that sturdy and practical
journal the Philadelphia Ledger, and
for expressing our dissent to the too
prevalent notion that an academic or
collegiate education is only Necessary as
a preparation for the professions. In
other words, we do not believe in the
polytechnic system as popularity under
stood or that boy should be educated
solely with reference to particular
calling or avocation in advance of his
requirement of general education.
We hold this opinion because we be-
Eeve the educated worker will outstrip
the uneducated one in any pursuit or
calling, whether it be professional,
mechanical or commercial, and that
there is just as much necessity that
your son should receive the best general
education you can afford him if he
intends to become mechanic, as if he
intended to read law or study medicine.
But IN any case the groundwork OF a
solid education should be laid as prefa-
tory to special or technical one in
any profession, art, mechanical or scien-
tlfc occupation; and all the better if it
be a classical education. Not that a
mechanic would be better workman
simply because he had crammed his
head with an undlgested mass of Latin
or Greek roots, but if profitably studied
the mental training required to acquire
them, and the aids they would prove to
him in understanding his own language,
would prove of material benefit to the
advancement i'll life of any intelligent
artisan, particularly in the higher
branches of mechanics.
But to revert to the editorial referred
to; "What shall we do with our boys?"
It's writer replies
"Of course, the boys have been sent
to school or college, but the education
they received there, even If they were
graduated from one or the other of the
scientific or technical schools of Har-
ward, Lehigh, Towne or Stevens, is but
preparatory to their entering upon some
promising occupation or career of ac-
tivlty-of bread or fortune winning.
''To all educated men the profession
of the law, of medicine or journalism
IS open, but similarly are all these pro-
LESSONS crowded. To be sure, there is
always room for one more, provided
that he possess extraordinary abilities.
Among the topmost branches of all
professions there are vacant spaces
enough. but it is not easy to leap to
them at single bound from the college
boys desk. 1t requires not only a
great deal of peculiar ability, but much
time, ambition and persistent effort to
climb to them.
"For every empty place in the pro-
LESSONS worth contending for there are
scores or hundreds OF eager, well
equipped asplrants, and only one can
gain it. The common mistake made
by the bright, ambitious young fellows
who have just LETT college, and who are
planning great careers for themselves,
is that of not going outside the learned
professions. All the honor of achieve
ment, much less all the fortune, is not
to be found in them. Indeed, the
greatest honors or the largest fortunes
have not been made by professional
men, but by men who took off their
coats, rolled up their sleeves and went
to work in more material pursuits.
"But, it IS urged, that outside the
professions capital, and in these days Of
gigantic 'trusts" great deal of it, is
essential to pecuniary success. In what
is called business capital is primary
necessity, but there are other things
that can be done besides pleading,
physicking, writing, buying and selling
All the railroads have not yet been
built, all the bridges constructed, the
electric problem is not half solved.
chemistry is filled with undiscovered
secrets, the capabilities of the steam
engine are not yet exhausted, and the
capabilities of motors other than steam