The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-11-30
THE BEST EDUCATION.
That which Trains Hand and Brain
Together-A Great Mistake.
na4r,ff Eraa prass

Detroit free Press-
Each year brings to the general
public, as well as to the educators, the
conviction that the present system OF
education is inadequate to the demands
of the day. The great public, which
is more directly interested in school
methods than the educators them
selves, are waking to the conviction
that there is much useless expenditure
of time and effort in putting the boy
and girl through the course of study
in the schools. This conviction is not
limited TO any class OF intelligence. 1t
is permeating all classes. With this
more complete view of education
comes among the higher classes a
greater respect for skilled labor. In
these DAYS when riches suddenly take
to themselves wings and fly away !;
when there may be luxury one week
and penury the next, it is necessary
for every one to be prepared for these
emergencies. The exigencies in bust
ness life cannot always be foretold
with accuracy. The laws that govern
the evolutions of commerce are to q
certain extent the same in their ten
dency ana As unerring in their effect
as those that govern the evolutions OF
nature.
1t has long been a great mistake of
the rich 10 educate their children in
the eiflorescence o. knowledge, and to
teach them 10 view manual labor as
lowering in its influence. But self pres
ervation is one OF the firm laws OF
nature and there are bat compare
lively few people who would rather
starye to death than to work with
L tlosr E@nAs H.. e,f, l.
strong with us all, and there is the
| consciousness IN every one, at least in
nearly every one, that forces him TO
labor to save his own life. The compli-
cations of social conditions and the
consequent competition in all depart
ments of industrial and social life.
| together with these Sudden disappear
ances OF fortunes. are impressing upon
the minds of ali. the rich as well As
| he poor, the necessity OF being fore
| armed. The man who il armed is
| always ready for an attack. The man
who has skilled brain and hand 10
fall back upon is ready for an emer-
gency
II society Is 10 be compactly built
and enduring. we must all contribute
orr labor, not only 10 make il so, bat
to keep 1t so. We have now as much
OF the Gisintegrating element as we
| need, These are the criminal classes,
| the paupsrs, the insane. the bed-rid-
den, the homeless, the age.i. the in
firm. We have in this wide domain
many that are needy, but are not vet
the wards Of the public. With the in
crease of the population comes an in
| crease IN society's burdens. The COM
| pication in social conditions must be
| evident Ia everyone that will take the
| trouble 90 penetra'c the slight crus,
which cnveiops life in the United
! States. The only way to pat an obsta-
| Gle IN the nay of thi, alarming in
crease in or nou-produc.ug class, or
uOn-coniribBting classes, IS 20 educate
Gus children % become producers and
contributors. The present system OF
education i good 50 far As 1t goes. but
il does not 90 far enough.
II all members OF society we're pro
duoers as well a. consumers there
! would be less necessity for POOR
houses Practical education might.
| and undoubtedly would Lessen the
tendency 10 crime An Idle brain i
the devils workshop. is a saving As
true as t Is old. Thomas CARLYLE 5
ringing sentences may be quoted here.
says the Erea; philosopher: Produce.
| produce, produce II il be the most
inhniiesimal part OF product. in
Coils name produce u. Work while
il is yet day, FOR the night cometh
4 wherein NO man can work IL j.
the business o. those Who direct edu-
cation 70 consider these facts deeply.