The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-05


The relation of the university to the
State of California President Jordan defines
in these words: 1.-THE golden age of Cali
fornia begins when its gold is used for pur-
poses like this. From such deeds must
rise the new California of the coming CEN
fury, no longer the California of the gold
seeker and the adventurer, but the abode
of high-minded men and women, trained
in the wisdom of the ages, and imbued
with the love of nature the love of men,
the love of God. Bright will be the future
of our State if, in the usefulness of the uni
verslty, every hope and prayer of the
founders shall be realized"
The dominating characteristic of Stan
ford University. which distinguishes 1t
from the old-school type, consists, accord
ing to DR.. Jordan, in this: "Our univer-
slty, more than any other in the world,
has recognized the need of the individual
student as the reason for its existence. 1t
has held that if we are to make men and
women out of boys and girls it will be as
individuals, not as classes. All education
must be individual-ftted to individual
needs. A misfit education is no education
at all. To fit man to schemes of education
has been the mistake of the past. 10 MT
education to man is the work OF the future
The best field of corn is that in which the
individual stalks are most strong and most
fruitful. Class legislation has always
proved pernicious, whether in State or
university. The strongest nation IS that
in which the individual man is most help
fdl and most independent. The best
school is chat which exists for the indi-
vidual student.
"0ur university is not an aggregation OF
colleges, departments, or classes. 1t IS
built of young men and young women.
The student is its unit. Its basal idea is
that each student should devote his time
and strength to what is best for him; that
no force of tradition, no rule OF restraint,
no bait of q degree shoulp swerve any one
from his own intellectual path. As Pro-
lessor Anderson has said: The way to
educate man is to get him at work; the
way to get him to work is to interest him;
the way to interest him is to vitalize his
task by relating it to some form of reality.
No man was ever well trained whose own
soul was not wrought into the process. No
student was ever brought to any worthy
work except by his own consent"
| President Jordan is a close observer of
the educational factors of the State. His
interesting comment and straightforward
criticism upon the system show that he
not only appreciates the good qualities in
vogue, but that he also has a comprehen-
sive view of the many deep-seated evils
which are hampering the educational
| growth of California.
81 will speak first,' said he, "of the ad-
vantageous side of the subject. a. good
feature is the general interest among the
people in educational matters. The united
influence of the two universities reaches
into every hamlet and awakens widespread
interest in higher education. The further
fact that the people of California travel
great deal makes them susceptible to this
influence much moro than in communities
where the majority of the population
never leave the country. As compared
with most States, the people of California
are wideawake. The general county school
is of higher grade, and higher salaries are
paid than in most communities of the
country"
THE less favorable side of the subject"
continued the learned critic. presents sew
eral vulnerable spots. The people of Cali
q
definitely formed public opinion. as in the
East, and the lack of general public opinion
shows in corrupt municipal government.
The schools in almost every part suffer
from this. There are few city boards in
which the members stop to consider what
is best for the welfare of the interests in
their charge. In the employment of
teachers they often go into all sorts of per-
/ sonaI deaIs-miscalled politics-for the
sake of benefting themselves, or comforting
favor on some dependent, or to help some
political heeler.
"In every city in California the public
schools suffer more or less from these evil
influences. The schools can never be what
they ought to be or produce what the
money spent on them ought to produce
until the spells system is thoroughly
eliminated. Those who regard positions
in the schools as personal or political spoils
should never be trusted with the manage
ment of these affairs. / am glad to see
that Superintendent Search of Los An
geles is making such a splendid fight
against the spoils system in that city.
Whether he wins or loses, the lesson given
to Los Angeles by his struggle against the
politicians to control the schools ought not
to be lost on the people. The best and
most important reform in school customs
is the selection of superintendent who are
educational experts, and who should be
vested absolutely with sole authority on
all questions of appointment or removal of
teachers. Where boards of business men
appoint or remove teachers, corruption is
sure to creep in; and the appointment of
an inferior teacher under whatever guise
is corruption"
Incidentally, DR.. Jordan said he was
glad of the opportunity to make this
statement in regard to the State schools
through the columns of THE CALL.
At present DR.. Jordan is engaged upon
the first volume of serial contribution to
biological study, to be published from
time to time under the auspices of the
Hopkins Seaside Laboratory. Drs. Gilbert
and Jenkins are the editors. Three more
volumes are to be published during the
year. The first is by DR.. Jordan on the
Fishes Of Sinaloa," the result of his mid
winter researches last year in Mexico.
In conclusion the great scientist paid
brief tribute to the late Alban N. Towne.
81 was sorry to learn Of his death. | knew