The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-12-07
AMERICAN CHILDREN
WHEREIN THEIR EDUCATIONAL TRAIN
ING IS DEFECTIVE.

WHEREIN THEIR EDUCATIONAL TRAM
ING IS DEFECTIVE.
The Subtle Distinction Between ''InstTuc-
ton" and Education Made by the Ciev-
err and Farsee;ng Freneh-The Need o.
American Youth
A subtle distinction between 'irstruc-
ton and education" is admirably |
drawn by that people most highly en-
lowed with a strong analytical faculty. |
the French, with the habit Of keen scru-
tiny, thorough investigation and just de-
duction usual with them. The difference
existing between acquired knowledge on
the one hand and incuicated virtues on
the other has been embodied in these
separate appellations, which carry with
them two distinct meanings. Both may
be largely possessed apart from the 9TH
er.
But when both are combined in one
individuality the highest degree OF ex-
ceIlence has been obtained or which the
human race is capable.
With US in America it is fair TO state
that instruction from books, in school and
college. where the aim must Of necessity
be only the development of the mind and
intellect, in conjunction with religious
teachings from the pulpit and at the
fireside, sums up the education generally
given to the youth Of the country, even
among the prosperous and the wealthy.
But between these two lines of educa-
ton. both admirable and necessary,
stands a more subtle and intang hsssf6r1n
of mental and moral training which
embraces the development of the finer
chords of both the intellect and the
sentiments having for effect not only
10 instiIl desire for knowledge and
virtue and a reproyal of vice, but TO ed
rcate as to the desirability of that su-
Derior excellence which enables the pos
SCISSOR to strive for the ideal graces and
beauties. which, when understood and
practiced. produce a perfect civil
ton. s,- sac,ira = --i-a-
rHment of,eion alone cannot give this
lanGInIt is shown by the fact that the ex-
N treroe and beautiful polish to character
and the broad aesthetics it evolves have
been possessed by men and women who
have acknowledged no attachment to re-
Iipious creeds and again by members OF
Christianity and paganism alike, while
the bookworm and the savant, whose
mind is the crowded receptacle of a mar
Vicious agglomeration of knowledge, may
be absolutely lacking in this particular
phase of culture.
It is this education, which does not ap-
ply exclusively to the intellectually nor
to the moral sense, but envelops the
whole being through a cultivation OF the
receptiye faculties and finer instincts,
which is denominated education" by
the French, and which should be applied
with greater care in America to the
training of youth, for as a factor in en-
} lightenment and progress its value is
enormous. With the many splendid
: qualifications given by nature to the
American citizen, and which the polit-
ical institutions under which he lives
has fostered, his sturdy self dependence,
spirit of inquiry, his energy and natural
intelligence, if aided by strong de-
yelopment in this direction, would pro-
duce remarkable results both in the In
dividual and for the masses.
For it is evident that from cultlva-
ton of this phase of the human mind
springs the conception and execution 81
all that pertains To the arts, fine and In
dustrial, they being the tangible ex'
/ pressions of the aspirations and genius
of those from whom they have emanated
, Unless the trend of people be toward
l ! an ideal existence, stretching beyond the
absorption of effort merely to supply
the wants of mans physical life, neither
poet. sculptor nor painter nor the arts
> tic and accomplished artisan Will emerge
TO adorn and testify to their civilization
and their superiority. Indeed expan
( sion in this direction proves the condl
: tion of national life with a sure anc
i true precision.
The time has come when an education
L tending toward similar results shoult
I occupy public thought in this country
, heretofore too exclusively engrossed IL
solving the problem of national exist
n ence. 1t is Just to say, however, tina
: there has been an advance, noticeable IL
# large centers, which has been brough
e about by friction and competition ant
the contact with our nationalities. vary
:. ing opinions and antagonistlc creeds
!; But the general improvement has no
been in accord with the capabilities Il
~ that direction of the American people
nor proportionate with the increased
" wealth. for outside of our large cities, II
: the interior portions of the country, hf
k is still unjustifably primitive, am
2, those living on plain and frontier, II
g mountain and forest, are uncultured be
e yond what their isolation would justify
Again it is noticeable that the educa
3 ton of the children of those classes pos
!; sessed of ample means is in these Unit
ed States generally superficial Tn
II American early youth among the edu
), Gated classes, which are those exertln
h the most influence on the aestinies of
Il people, is not subjected to that sobe
l. discipline deemed necessary by the olde
Is nations of Europe as being protectlo
to them. against their own irrepletiv
10 impulses, through mental habits thus er
- forced, and as constituting a desirabl
tutelage in preparation for the later 81
h we're struggles of life. The overindu
~ gence generally accorded the America
child and youth is the cause of genera
p disregard Of authority and careless att
IL tude toward obligations, a distinctly
l. feature of the American youth. On tn
2, 81 in r1tbOritv the effOI