Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-11-09
AMERICAN CHILDREN.
WHEREIN THEIR EDUCATIONAL TRAIN
ING IS DEFECTIVE.

A subtle distinction between ''instruc-
ton" and education" is admirably
drawn by that people most highly en-
dowed with Il 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 inculcated 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-
cellence has been obtained of 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 more subtle and intangible form
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
to instill desire for knowledge and
virtue and a reproval Of vice, but to ed
ucate as to the desirability of that SUI
perior excellence which enables the pos
SCISSOR to strive for the ideal graces and
beauties, which, when understood and
practiced, produce a perfect civiliza-
ton.
That religion alone cannot give this
result is shown by the fact that the ex-
IRENE 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-
ligious creeds and again by members of
Christianity and paganism alike, while
the bookworm and the savant, whose
mind is the crowded receptacle of mar
velous agglomeration of knowledge, may
be absolutely lacking in this particular
phase of culture.
1t is this education, which does not ap-
ply exclusively to the intellectually nor
to the moral sense, but envelops the
whole being through cultivation of the
receptive 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 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-
velopment in this direction, would pro-
duce remarkable results both in the in
dividual and for the masses.
For it is evident that from cultiva-
ton of this phase of the human mind
springs the conception and execution of
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
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-
ton of national life with sure and
true precision.
The time has come when an education
tending toward similar results should
occupy public thought in this country,
heretofore too exclusively engrossed IN
solving the problem Of national exist
ence. 1t is just to say, however, that
there has been an advance, noticeable III
large centers, which has been brought
about by friction and competition and
the contact with our nationalities, vary
ing opinions and antagonistic creeds.
But the general improvement has not
been in accord with the capabilities In
that direction of the American people,
nor proportionate with the increased
wealth, for outside Of our large cities, in
the interior portions of the country, life
is still unjustifably primitive, and
those living on plain and frontier, In
mountain and forest, are uncultured be-
yond what their isolation would justify.
Again it is noticeable that the educa-
ton of the children of those classes pos
sessed of ample means is in these Unit
ed States generally superficial. The
American early youth among the edu-
Gated classes, which are those exerting
the most influence on the destinies of
people, is not subjected to that sober
discipline deemed necessary by the older
nations of Europe as being protection
to them, against their own irrepletive
impulses, through mental habits thus en-
forced, and as constituting a desirable
tutelage in preparation for the later Sc
we're struggles Of life. The overindul-
gence generally accorded the American
child and youth is the cause of a general
disregard of authority and careless atti-
tude toward obligations, distinctive
feature of the American youth. On the
part of those in authority the effort
would seem to be to gloss over the I'M
sound basis of scanty learning by some
few gaudy accomplishments, equally SUI
perfcially possessed. New Orleans
Times Democrat