The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-07-04
"WHAT is A COLLEGE"
Address of Austin T. Buxton,
Valedictorian of the Class of
1895 Of the o. A. C.

The world has been described as ga vast
school which is entered when the child
draws his earliest breath, and from which !
he is released only when the lessons are
learned and kindly death dismisses him TO
the playground. 1t is eertainly true that
each day brings new light aud opportuni-
ties, and he who garners every hour some
nsw gem of truth from the great book OF
nature may gather in a lifetime but hand
full to ths myriads shat await only the
touch of genius to disclose their besutiez.
Education is the training of the faculties
that enables US to discover the treasures
that lay hidden along lifs's pathway, and
assimilate the truths they unfold; it is the
means which enables man to more thorough
1y enjoy his surroundings, to turn to advan-
tage the incidents of his journey through
life, and thus more nearly to fulfill his des-
tiny.
Though in popular usage tho two terms
are synonymous, education and instruction
should never be confoundsd. Instruction
is nothing more than the raw material of
education; ths bare, unpublished facts which
may serve as an mportant:auxiliary to edu-
cation; yet it is but subordinate part of
the great scheme for controlling and guild.
ing development.
1t is in the different methods employed in
this educational work for the Development
of the Individual that gives rise to the dis
tinctions between different school systems,
colleges and universities.
What really constitutes a college is sub
| ject that has bsen productive of much dis
eussion. The word college was originally
applied to certain associations of individu-
who were banded together for the purpose
of study and who devoted their time prin-
cipally to the languages, laws and mathe-
matics and metaphysics of the ancients
Gradually these associations crystallized
into the colleges and univ ersities of the first
centuries of the modern era, and impressed
upon them the stamp of their methods and
their viows of education. Thus many of the
colleges of today, which are, in their essen.
tial features, the same as the original type,
|
cation, not rejecting the light Of modern
civilization, but guided still by the stand
ards of the middle ages. Also, since these
associations were usually found in connec.
tien with some monastery or other clerical
center. the idea was developed that the
church was the only rishtful mistress and
directress of higher education. Only within
the last few decades has the spirit of modern
progress been able to push its way through
the guarded avenues of higher education
and establish institutions OF learning on
modern principles, free alike from the STAMP
of the middle ages and the fetters of church
control. Education, if ID means anything
at all, should msan the preparation of the
mind to grapple freely and independently
with the affairs of active life. With tn,
marvellous development in the last half cen
. tury, of The natural sciences, and the grea
. diversity of their application to all tho de-
partments Of life, comes just demand fo
some knowledge of them to be impaired t.
those seeking a preparation for their lif
work, through the medium of college edu
i eation. The value of that system whicl
had been pursued in colleges fer centuries
began at last to bel seriously questioned, ant
. out of this questioning grew the conclusion
that institusions were needed, differing radi
cally in organization, ultimate purpose ant
corricula from those already existing
Under the old regime the distinction be
tween education and instruction is forgotte
and many institutions that should stan
among the frat, are turning out mere book
worms who have been deceived into accept
ing instead of true education, q lot of senss
less, dogmatic, machine like instruction
When we consider the great number c
(. doctors" and "masters" with which tn
country is being flooded, and whose lif
work shows that the ''handls" attached t
their mama is their only evidence Of an sdu
t oational training, is it any wonder tha
It among thinking people there should ofts
!, exist grave doubts as to whether a college &c
). ucation, as commonly understood, is of an
roal benefit to one who intends to engage i
:, any of tho active affairs of life, other than
: few of the professions? May this not b
due, very often, to the fact that colleges ar
= = out of touch with the spirit of the age an
country in which they exist, out Of symp'
thy with the circle in which they attemr
to live. and out of harmony with their entir
environments?
"Modern methods for modern days, is
n maxim which can not fail to be productiv
of good results, and the great developmen
in recent years of technical and scienti6
h schools, is ample proof of their necessity
. especially when holding their own as dis
tinct Institutions of learning, as we'll o
:, when in connection with them. It is rea
lied today more than ever before. tina
Life is real, life is earnest" and he VIII
enters the arena of citizenship in the rust
ing, stirring, practical world of today, fres
from the protection of college walls, mus
:, have learned how to turn to account his ow