Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1890-08-01
THE SCHOOLS OF PARIS.
spe cial to the Graphic.
Cry OF PARIS, FRANCE.

In education the French may
be regarded as nation of special
lists, and it is rarely we find even
among the most cultured, we'll
rounded education, such as is inn
parted to the graduates of our
best schools in the United States.
Many of the greatest thinkers in
France are unschooled in many
things. This division of mental
labor in times past has produced
great results. AT home, our
American student in one short
life, tries by process of mental
absorption to take in all there is
to be known in science, literature
and art, while here one man de-
votes his entire life to applied
mathematics and he rears the
Eiffel tower, another studies mi
crobes and he cures by drophobia,
another studies and collects all the
so-called fallacies of the bible and
he is made the guiding star for
the entire infidel world, while an
other studies battle fields and
breast-works from his early boy
hood, and he comes near conquer
ing the whole of Europe. And 80
it is here to-day, this singleness
of purpose and concentration of
effort is been in every department
of physical and mental labor. In
the art schools the small boy and
girl are seen working from models
left by the great masters. Thus
the rest of their education is often
neglected, but they will have COM
pleted their art studies at that age
when our students enter the same
school. Hence they have this ad-
vantage in years, and as a nation
France far excels us in art. The
artisan learns his trade when a
boy and depends upon it alone for
living when he becomes man.
AS such it is we'll, but when learn
ed to the exclusion of almost every
thing else it creates cast or call
ing in society from which there is
scarcely ever a dellverance. How
different it is with the output of
our schools, where the general
knowledge of the boy is such, that
in case his own calling fails him,
in a few days lie will learn anoth-
er, and in which calling he will
seem equally at home. But it Is
not so on this side of the Atlantic.
A teacher does not drop his call
ing and become>a lawyer, doctor,
temperance talker or traveller,
but he just teaches until he goes
to the tomb. The farmer, tailor and
tanner need never hope to become
presidents here for their lot in
life is to farm, saw and tan until
they likewise go to the grave. And
SO it is for life. the baker must
bake, the weaver must weave and
the spinner must spin for In all
the wide world this is all
there is for them. And with the
girls the system of education is
much the same; but it is more
manual than 1aental, and In which
they also become specialists, and
as q result the women of France
create and govern the fashions Of
the world. They don't write books,
nor never expect to vote, talk in
public, 'lor make a living as doc
tor, for their lot in life is to sew
and to mend, to churn the butter
and M axe the cheese. This with
working in the field and at the
wine press forms her calling for
life and marks the cast TO which
she belongs in her country home.
Thus their lot is to live by the
work of their hands leaving the
WORK OF men fo: men.
RAMBLER.