The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-08-03

1
though that which plainly appears mos
important is IN many places mpcl
neglected. What | refer to il the eff
> ficiency Of primary schools-our edu
cational cradles. The strong tendenc,
heretofore has been to establish col
: leges. not taking into consideration tina
the worth Of these is weakened i'm pro
portion as the preparedness. which
= have in their hands the making oI
Z them. are neglected. BE it fan
- from my purpose to under
= value or deprecate colleges. which
: are Of prime importance for bushes
as well a. prOfe ssiOnal men, and the
e absurd old idea that collegiate educa
ton is intended only for professional
' men. has. trust long since exploded.
for i'm no line Of life does collegiate in.
structi0n come amiss. and by il com
mercialists and agriculturists would be
no less benefited than the doctor or
, lawyer. but with due respect, Of course.
. TO their various occupations For iu-
stance, what is more profitable for a
! farmer TO know than the compost
ton Of his soil. so as 10 be able To de-
fine what chemical element is lacking
in this spot and what i'm that. Though
the accuracy alone gained by this train
ing. regardless Of profession. is invalu-
able. and were more possessed Of it. we
would not be annoyed by SO many
second rate business men.
Ia what land in which it has been
tried has It not succeeded But am
afraid the narrOwness Of such an old
fOgy doctrine has led me aside from the
subject at hand.
To return. were more attention. In
the present condition Of things, given
10 schools instead Of colleges. the benefit
TO our country would be- great. and the
/ latter. themselves. would be in "A far
/ healthier condition. The idea is this
by paying more heed TO our schools We
will have good and useful citizens. as
we'll as able professional men. whereas.
under the present system. yearly are
we met with a set OF graduates who
have just enough of learning TO spoil
them and lot sufficient 10 make them
success in anything they undertake.
For not only are they a drawback to
any line they may puIsuo-beiit the
olOgy, law or medicine-but they are
also a hindrancc 20 the noble calling Of
business.
The difficulty is. that the ma iority Of
youths. painting in their imagination
the honor they might acquire az having
been to college. and the air of superb
oTity they could assume over their
former chums. are anxious g. start OIL /
Bat. IN addition 10 this. the thought Of
being free from all home restraint lends /
n1rrfa o. chan. .. 4
quence. they go away only half pre-. I
pared. and not succeeding as expected /
become discouraged and fall into bad .
habits. and what place is easier 10 form F.
these habits. " Inch often stick through F.
life and give so much pain. than c1l /
lege. where cOncealmcnt Is So easy. /
and where the watchul eve OIL
a fond mother is not present .
20 restrain. Thus college. which m
indeed should be- Otherwise. is made the .
cause Of the rum of many. Yet what
other result can he expected when pa
rents viii insist on sending their sons
OF young. inexperienced aud badly
prepared. l. II not natural that failure
SO early ln life should embitter the dis
position. produce discomfort. and final
ly lead into varieties Of dissipation.
This. though, as many may be- disposed
TO think. Is not thing Of theory. but
practical illustrations can bee found
or all sides. and. upon oXamua
ton of numerous cases. the above facts
VIII be verified. Regarded. also. from
a financial standpoint. DO Is "a CRYING
SIN that many of our c0uutrymen. com
PEELED by necessity TO labor from
early morn tlll deWy eve. should have {
their hard-earned savings .quanIered
BY young and th0ughtlCss boys But. {
when a cure is 80 easy 90 be- bad. why d
not use IL; Were your son kept q
while longer 40 school not only would J
he be- more matured and ready and I
iOle 90 cope with the various tompta- a
nous that a-sail him with stronger /
Judgment. bat he would also gain that {
which. 300 beginning the s.
battle OF life. whether in q pro
es,ion or IN business De-. above ADO q
hngs. most necdful 90 success. D
md which. owing Go the different y
Methods of instruction. often fails 90
'e attained 40 college. unless the stu s
lent be- well trained and prepared be- %
ore. For there it Is expected that thr Do
Elementary portions have been learned @
u advance. and so 1t should BIZ. for no 4
ollege should be- made the preparatory q
% any university and great deal has b
% be taken for granted from the very N
ature OF the institution. which is o.
rect the superstruclure. but not ID las "
he foundation This. VI itself. j
Oweyer shows tine impO. "
ance of thorough training beforehand. "a
Where there is innate considerable
bility. talent. and industry these OBJ "a
tacles may. without doubt. be- over &C
ONE. but we are dealing with the VI
yerage and not the exceptional man. la
S the surest method of testing the
alue of any institution. The superior
" OF those that have the advantage of hi
'ell strained scholars, is as distinct 81
rom that OF others 10 light from dark b,
ess, and Is, alone "a sufficient proof Of Oh
he argument for the evil is not con ia
ned TO the student. but his alma m
iater suffers most seriously. as i'm "a
short time where such "a m
.ass OF students is In Attendance. the VI
andard ls as certain % be- lowered as li
lght 10 follow day. Now. too nigh 1874
andard. requiring am amount of
aiming that week.-mrs. instead OF Ca
rensthening the mental faculties. le
vac uaIrOws instead a. broadening. Il
'at lessons aud does not increase the en-
of man. which is the true oh. hi
CT Of study. j, by far worse than one me
10 low. Such, though. is not the re- Sal
No Of having we'll prepared students
ut as only one Of our various uuivrr- in
ties has ever been so q cused. further BIO
this discussion is needless. For an
lother proof. however. exam an
e the lists of eraiuate- ov
any university and see how many of
en- are college men. So bv extend us
< the carly education little longer wi
any of our youth VIII be- saved from an
@ disheartenings that attend Tissue "a
ss. and winch are go calculated La Dol
rcck thcir first aspirations. and they tai
ho might otherwise by discourage. ul
'nt have sunk into .lolh and idlenes, va
an aimless aud disprred crowd pm
Duld he sIvtd 90 hand 90 rosierifv tho