The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-08-25
A TEACHER ON EDUCATION.
To the Editor of tie Eagle.

To the Editor Of tie Eagle.
A few more days of vacation will enable
the light hearted children OF happy homes
10 finish their summer round of gaieties,
| and the children of the poor TO plan and
work and save for the needed books and
clothes.
7 A few more days and the clang of the
morning school bell will fill the streets
| with an army Of children, as the blast OF
Rhoderick Dhu's mountain horn called
his hidden forces in the Scottish High
lands
shall watch that army with the emo
ton of one who is TO guide little detach-
ment in portion of their march, and
shall ask myself, as have done a thou
sand times, how can l lead those in my
charge 10 the best and noolest achieve
ments?
No war cry ever sounded when some one
did not follow il with vague notions of
what 1t all nient, and while one saw far in
advance the reward of a redeemed coun
try, or wild. domain for liberty, another
SAW only the shoulder straps, Or, at best,
the honor and the pension.
As | watch my little army think | see
these various ideals; as a student l met
them face to face. The one boy or girl en-
tered the school TO battle against sin and
ignorance; 20 study history for the sake OF
being n more enlightened citizen, and in
everything to be better fitted to brighten
the world and enlarge the horizon of man.
Such pupils are a teachers inspiration, a
parents glory, and nations hope. But
by their side in the ranks l see Others who
o1r hat - irr
gain. They see future county or city ex.
aminations, and the teachers shoulder
straps. SO far it is well, but they seek
this only TO convert six hours daily into
hard cash for little time, and then some
thing better comes next. They imagine
teaching easy work, so they desire to
teach; and they value 100 per cent on an
examination Tor which they have ''cramm-
ed" better than all the marvellous insight
into the mysterious things of nature and
natures God. l forget-they are not seek
ing this higher soul development, but "to
be educated" or ito graduate"
Here, in closing, I must lead out my
hobby" for little ride 1t is true
we all ride hobbies" and no one
more than the man who thinks be
has none and so derides his fellows
My hobby is for the practical education
for that which shall fit boy or girl for
usefulness in life. Here l find myself
lost, for the subject widens in every way.
1t is like standing in the center of Rome,
to which all roads are said TO lead.
see one road leading seward and on
that some educational hobby's travel
easily. Some would have pupils learn
astronomy, geography, ETC.,
because they are practical and lead to use
fulness in making good sailors for the
merchant service or navy. This is well.
no doubt, for America needs better class
of young men OH the ocean.
Another road leads off TO the rich fields, |
and on that my hobby is at home, so
would teach botany and agricultural, |
chemistry, and all that makes wider and |
better farmer.
1t is hard to leave this road for the |
of my life on the farm lends a |
halo TO it, and the work assigned to our |
first parents in Eden has just claims to |
our attention.
l must stop, for my poor steed cannot |
traverse all the roads that converge into |
practical education"
'cOlne ltdcl out INTO tue commercial world |
and demand the schools shall be business
colleges. Others end in giant factories
and demand that manual training" shall
De taught. One road that may be only
leads off into the pure ether and
Up towards God. 1t is derided lis unprac-
,ical and its votarles who claim that
and reverance for God should be a
part of the practical education" are call
ID fanatics
/ am not advocating sectsrianism save
n sectarian schools, nor anything that
iced be called a trespass on the province
# the church. but the school that has in
{ nothing TO elevate the soul into closer
with the Maker of heaven and
arth and that does not unfold divine
Ian in every mathematical problem or
hemical action seems to make body of
nan from earthly dust but does not put
nto it the breath of life There ara simple
questions like the pupils health 1 would
peak of later. H. J. 3.
AN OPEN LETTER.