The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-01-02
The Best education.


Each year briggs to the general pub.ic.
as well as to the educators. the conviction
that the present system Of education IS
inadequate 20 the demands d the DAY.
The great pabiir. wbich IS more dirs-iiy
Interested in school methoistha theei-
icators themselves. are waking TO the
conviction that there is mush useless ex-
peuditure Of time aud effort ia puitiag
the boy and girl through the course OF
study ia the schools. Tnis conviction is
not limited to any class Of Intelligence.
e Is permeafiug all ci-sses- W.ih this
mors complste view of cia-fiisn comes
among the higher Glasses srelier ro-
spect for skillet labor. To these days
when riches Suddenly take to themselves
wings and ay away when there may be
luxary one week and penury the next
it is necessary for every one 10 Be pre-
pared for these emergencies The exi-
gencies in business life cannot always be
foretold with accuracy. The laws that
govern the evoiutions Of commerce are
TO certain extent theame in their ten-
dency and as unerring in their eliec, o.
those that govern the eyoiutions of ma
tire
II has long been q great mistake Of the
rich % educate their children in the ef-
aore.ences Of knowledge and to teach
them to view manul A0oc a. lowering
in its influence. Bll sell presersatioa IS
one Of the fist laws Of nature AMI ihere
are comparatively few people who would
rather starve a death than worS with
their hands. fhe instinct Of nature il
strong with Us ali, ami there Is thas con-
sciousness in every one, at least in near
" every one, that forces bin % labor in
order 10 save his own life The cempii
cations Of social conditions and the con-
sequent competition in all departments
OF industrial and professional lile, TO-
sether with these suiieu disaDpearanccs
Of fortunes, are inpressius upon the
minds Of all, the rich as weli as tae poor,
the necessity OF being forearmed. The
man who is armed isalways ready for an
attack. The man who has a skilled
brain and hand te hil back upon is
ready Tor an emergency.
If society is 90 be compacily built and
endunnt We must an contribute our ia-
b ,r. not only % uiase { So. bur to keep
it so. We have not as much of the dis
in,egratine elements is we need. These
are the criminal classes, ;ne paupefs, the
insane, the bed riddcn, the homeless. The
aged. the iuGrm We have u this wide
domain many that are needy. but that
are not vet the wards oithe public With
the increase Of the population comes an
increase in society burdens The compii-
cation in social conditions must be
evident to every one tnat viii take the
ts5uble 70 penetrate she slight crust which
envelops life in the United States. The
onIy way b put an obstacle In the way
of this alarming increase ia our non-pro-
duc.ng class, or rnou-c0ntuhuiing classes,
is 10 educate eur children io become pro-
ducers and contributors. Tine present
system OF education Is 50 Gar as 90 goes,
but il does not go Ear enough-
Ifali members Of society were produ-
GERS as well as consumers there would be
less necessity for poorhouses. Practical
education might. and undoubtedly would
lessen the tendency TO crime. An Idle
I brain is the devils workshop, is a saying
as true as it is ola. Thomas Clrlilses
ringing sentences may be quoted here.
says the great philosopher: Produce,
produce, produce. II it be bat the most
infinitesimal part Of product, in Gods
name produce it. Work while q Is yet
day, for the night comeih wherein no
man can work" To is the business Of
those who direct education 10 consider
these facts deeply.-Detroit Free Pres.