The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-07-18

Country.
RsVtsO Of Reviews,
There is no better field in the United
States to-day for young men, ambitious
to do themselves and their country q
service, than the educational, There ia
no department of our national life
where promotion is surer and speedier
or the reward, such us it ii, more certain
than in that of education, whether in
lower or higher schools or in public or
private institutions. Tho possible Pc
~cuniaIy rewards are, it is true, not so
great as in law, medicine OF business
though even in this respect education is
not 10 unfaVorabie as it was in times
gone by, There is a general upward
tendency to salaries in all grades OF ed.
ucatiopal work, which gives evidence
that the community is beginning to rec.
ognize the Importance OF education and
the necessity OF offering adequate pc
cuniary remuneration ii it wishes to
retain Tor this work the best talent.
1t must be confessed, however, that
the real attractions in an educational
career must be sought in other circum'
stances than the possibility Of earning
a great income. The first OF these is
| social position. 1t may seem ut first
blush a little comiCal to speak OF the
social position OF the teacher. The
pedagogue has been known 10 long in
literature and history as rather tho butt
of the community that one finds it diff
cult TO connect the idea OF social dignity
with him or his calling. But it is none
the less true that the teacher has a
position in the community to-dayO in
this country which he has never before
had in the history OF tho world, and
this POSITIONS increasingly dignity aud
honor with every passing year. So
plain is this that Mr., Bryce was struck
by it il his studies OF American life. In
his american Commonwealth" be
says: "The professors seem to be al
ways among the social aristocracy oil
the city in which they live, though
usually unable, from the smallness OF
their income, TO enjoy social life Us the
corresponding class does in Scotland,
or ever in England. Tho position oil
president is often ono Of honor and in
f%luence. No university dignitaries in
Great Britain are so vol known to tho
public or have their opinions quoted
with 40 much respect as the heads oil
seven or eight leading universities OF
tho United States."
This is noue too strong. The posi-
ton Of president Of Harvard college is
no less honored than that Of governor
OF Massachusetts, and there is NJ otiici-
al position in the city Of New York, OF
Philadelphia, or Baltimore, that com
pares in dignity and honor with that oil
president of Columbia college, or oil
provost OF the university of Pennsyl'
vania, or OF president OF Johns Hopkins
university, respectively. II We had Q
national university ut Washington ita
head would certainly rank in public
Estimation on q par with tho Chiei
Justice of the supreme court. Even IN
our smaller towns tho superintendent
OF public schools, If he is worthy of his
position, occupies easily the most promi'
nent station in the community.
The general public is beginning tc
take IN interest in education, such ash
has never taken before. A significant
sign Of the times is the amount OF space
which our daily newspapers and maya
zines are giving to educational news
something absolutely unknown even
few years ago. Every new theory in
education, almost every new device in
schoolroom practice can now secure
public attention and recognition. The
condition OF our village schools, the re
quirements in English for admission tc
colleges, tho stnte OF our city school sys'
tens now get full treatment in the col
umns OF our leading periodicals. ANY
man or woman who nus something Il
cay on educational theory or something
to do in educational work nov
has a magnificent opportunity
Finally and chiefly, there
is IN absolutely unparalleled
opportunity to do high and worthy
work in our educational system. AnC
1t ia this fact which should especially
appeal to the generous soul Of the lib
erally educated youth. Where the op
portunity for service is thither gu
youth should throng, Here are posi-
bilities OF rendering the nation and thu
race services which may fairly be pu'
by the aide OF the best that men have
ever rendered in any field. The organ
ization OF national education on {
broad basis suited to Il wants and
conditions is u tnsk SO gigantic, 30 fur
reaching in all It's effects, not only upoi
us, but also upon the entire world, that
any one OF US may well be content II ht
has helped only in a small part OF thu
field toward the progress OF tho grea