Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1893-10-31
AMERICAN CHILDREN.
WHEREIN THEIR EDUCATIONAL TRAIN
ING IS DEFECTIVE.

NN1 70 LLFEC ilNEs
The Subtle Distinction Between "Instruo-
tion'' and Education" Made by the clev-
or and Tarseclng French The Need Of
American Youth.
A subtle distinction between 'fnstruc-
ton and education" Is admirably
drawn by that people most highly en-.
dowed 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 nc hand and inculcated virtues on
the other has been embodied in these
separate appellatioDs, which carry with
them two distinct meanings. Both may
DO largely possessed apart from the 9th
er.
But when both are combined IN ono
individuality the highest degree Of ex-
cellence has been obtained Of which the
human race is capable.
With as in America it Is fair to state
that instruction from books, ia school and
college, where the aim must Of necessity
DO 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 n more subtle and intangible form
Of mental aud moral training which
embraces the development of the finer
chords Of both the intellect and the
sentiments having for effect not only
10 instill a desire for knowledge and
virtue and q 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-
treme 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 a mar
velous Rgglomeration Of knowledge, may
be absolutely lacking in this particular
phase of culture.
Il T., kl,fg aIt,oak for yrvhfoh Aaoo not ~
ply exclusively to the intellectually nor
10 the moral sense, but envelops the
whole being through a 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 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 u 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 a 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 a people be toward
an ideal existence, stretching beyond the
absorption of effort merely to supply
tho 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 condi-
ton Of national life with a 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 il
solving the problem of national exist
ence, 1t is just to say, however, tina
there has been an advance, noticeable il
large centers, which has been brough
about by friction and competition anC
the contact with our narionalities, vary
ing opinions and antagonistic creeds
But the general Improvement has no
been in accord with the capabilities /
that direction of the American people
nor proportionate with the increases
wealth, for outside Of our large cities, i
the interior portions Of the country, liz
is still u~njustihably primitive, an
those living on plain and frontier, /
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 POI
sessed Of ample means is in these Uni
3 cd States generally superficial. TIL
7 American early youth among the edI
Gated classes, which are those eXertin
the most influence ON the destinies Of
s people, IL not subjected to that sOb'
] discipline deemed necessary by the old'
nations of Europe as being a %protectic
P TO them. against their own irrepleti'
Q impulses, through mental habits thus el
. forced. and as constituting a desirab
e tutelage in preparation for the later s
8 we're struggles Of life. The oYerindu
o gence generally accorded the America
child and youth is the cause of a gener
disregard Of authority and careless at
tude toward obligations, a distincti'
D, feature Of the American youth. On Il
d part of those in authority the etfo
d would seem to be to gloss over the u
sound basis Of a scanty learning by Sol
few gaudy accomplishments, equally 6
perhcially possessed. - New Orlea
a Tines Democrat.
J. A Wise Lad.
az aaho. brex, gpt,nuh 10 live In I