Mexico weekly ledger., 1894-06-14
Spseric Education.
From the Sedaiia Gazet'

From the Seuaila Hizeite.
The greatest educational demand of
our times is for Il system which not
only develops the intellect, the spirit,
the ambition of pupils, but which Will
at the same time provide a practical,
everyday useful line of information
by which mel and women are better
prepared for their respective spheres
in life.
This is 4 great democracy, and un-
der Democratic principles we attempt
to educate every boy and girl just
alike. This may not be so bad an idea
in itself; but the assumption is that
every boy may attain unto the highest
stations in life, and hence he is pre-
pared as far as possible TO fill the
| highest stations. The fact is lost TO
view that the humble stations, too,
must be filled, and ne preparation is
made for these humble places. There
in lies the secret of great wrong done
to future generations.
Thousands ofyoung men and women
are being graduated at the schools at
this season, and must now face the
world for themselves. The humble
toiier's daughter may be v~aledictorian.
She, by her hard wolk, has won the
laurels of her class, and she hears her
praises sounded by many. How dou-
bly, irksome, then, is the humble home
a. x-Es1l H.. ,,,xa .@E,n, aNI IN,-
little useful are many of the arts she
has mastered. Had she been taught
during her school days hat these ac-
complishments were largely for her
personal qualification and future en-
tertainment, and that they might not
in fact change greatly the sphere of
her action in life she would prove a
happier woman than will be the case.
The education which we give our
girls teaches them nothing of wife
hood, motherhood, cookery or house
keeping. Our graduating young ladies
are in the main ignorant of every ma
terial problem that must confront
them in life. They would be mortified
at the thought of Il scrub-brush, a
basin of water and a cup of sand. They
would hold in contempt q suggestion
ofhow to tighten laundry work. Stitch
ing a plain seam would be beyond
most of them, and between hunger
and bread-baking they would wisely
choose the former, as the latter altern-
as-o ,..,,,Ir I-rxIfTN.r r,rxl =, H.,
pepsia.
And yet scrubbing is net dishonora-
BILE and is Il necessity. Nice laundry
is q great comfort and should be a
pride. Cookery and housekeeping are
arts without which no woman is fully
equipped to enter life, whatever her
station may be.
We must learn that the education
we bestow should qualify the recipi-
emf for humble rs well as distinguish
ed duties. In fact, it is by humble
deeds hat the road to grand character
is travelled, and faithfulness and quail
f~ication in the many humble offices of
life are far more important than in the
few great ones.
Parents are largely at fault in this.
Every child is being educated to fill
some great station in life. His head is
being filed with ambitious dreams.
the fulfiliment of which as a rule will
prove impossible. Thus this life will
be made a dreary failure, because ever
present will be the thought that out
of the sphere for which he feels him.
self equipped it is needless for him to
make IN effort.
The Gazette believes in inspiring
youth aud encouraging them; but tenn
per the inspiration with practical OBJ
~ject-lessons of usefulness. Teach the
child to do what its hand finds to do,
to do it with cheerfulness and glad
ness, using spare time for fitting itself
for the next ask which may present
itself. Thus will the young mind keep
I'm touch with its conditions while it is
being prepared for newer and higher
missions.