The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-28
The Aim of Education.

This is very comprehensive sub
iect; and it needs but little thought to
produce bewilderment as to the aspect
to take of it in short paper. 1t would
REQUIRE much more thought than 1
have been able to give to it to give you
anything approximating a proper dis
cussion of any one of the many phases
that present themselves. All can
hope to do is to set you to little think
ing for yourselves.
The aim or end of education is, in
the first place,
Bread and 6sater, knowledge of
the bread and butter sciences, which
far outnumber all others put together.
Children are sent to school to learn to
read, write and cipher, in order to
know how to "get on the world"
This is the end and aim of those who
send to school. Leave this end out,
and the teachers occupation is gone.
Some there are who do not favor
schools but for the reason only that
they believe that their children can
make living without an education.
When they are brought to think other
wise, they send to school, but not till
then. There is no donbt that with the
large majority, the aim of education is
to learn how to make a living. And in
free country, msjorities rule. And so
from this point of view the question is
answered.
Some of course 60 further than this,
and wish their children to learn enough
to acquire wealth and comfort. Ask
the father why he sends his SOD to the
High School or College. His answer
in most cases, is, I want my son to
have an easier time in the world than
7 have had. I want him to have bread
and butter, and to spare, plenty of it,
at less manual toll than have had to
expend in their acquisition. Why are
the daughters sent to expensive Semi
paries, and taught music and other
fine arts? Do sou say refinement, cul-
ture? I doubt it. Is it not that they
may have an occupation in the emer-
gencies that may arise, by which to
make living, or at least to rise above
the ordinary drudgery of life?
What are Business Colleges for, and
Medical Schools, and Law Schools,
Schools of Engineering, &C., &C., if not
to prepare men and women to earn
their bread and butter, or the bread
minus the butter?
So if we reason from the idea in The
mind of those who go or send to school.
we must ssy that the aim Of Educa-
ton is living, or money.
Then if we argue from the use to
which education is put by those who
Aave acquired it, we must reach the
same conclusion. Every power that it
has given is put forth in this eager, un-
ending struggle for living, or for
wealth or earthly power for its own
sake. This fact needs neither argu-
nent nor illustration. True, only a
few get their bread, still fewer get the
butter-a very small fraction get rich
or powerful. Yet all or nearly all are
using the powers of education for the
same end. The strife is for the same
result.
Surely there is something better and
higher for us as teachers, and for those
who send and are sent to school.
But let US try the subject in another
way. What is the aim of education
with the teGcheTe The answer is still
the same, living, bread and butter
hardly ever to get rich. Is not this
why we are teachers? How many Of
us-especially those who teach the un-
trained and untaught-would endure
monotonous weariness and painful
dreariness of six hours day, thirty
hours week-with giddy girls and
unwashed boys-if not compelled to do
so in order to make living? The
young lady teachers here-how many
Of them would gladly, on advantageous
proposals, rush into untried and risky
matrimony, in order to get rid Of the
drudgery of teaching other peoples
children? Am right or wrong? Am
I mocking your own conscious convic-
tions and motives? Maybe, am. In
deed trust ana.
But may we not view the subject in
a yet different light?
The aim of education and the aim of
life are identical. To live we must
make our living, and that we may
have to do by teaching. No necessary
conflict. But as the life is more than
meat, 80 the true aim of education is
far above task or drudgery for ''get-