The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-11-21
EDUCATION.

The great factor that has made the
10Th century SO wonderful in its up
ward strides in every direction is the
and belief in popular edu-
cation, and whatever advancement
there is yet to come, will come through
the agency of extended mental, moral
and physical training. The question
then, how to gain all the advantages
which it can confer, is of equal i'm
portance not only to the sociologist
but also to everybody.
The object of education has not by
any manner of means been accom-
plished when it leaves the possessor in
possession of a few dry historical,
literary or scientific facts.
It's main object is to broaden and
strengthen the mental faculties. l
think that we may safely compare
mental training with physical exercise.
Speaking generally we do not go
through weeks, perhaps months of
training to do some fancy movements
on the vaulting or horizontal bar; or to
leap distance; the exercises are but
the means to an end which is to gain
physical vigor, symmetry and prevent
disease. SO education is but the means
to somewhat similar end in that we
exercise our mental faculties to
strengthen and improve them. A fac
ulty that is constantly used becomes
stronger and stronger. Suppose, for
instance, we start with arithmetic and
grasp the fundamental principles and
apply the reasoning which they require;
as we advance our reasoning grows
clearer, and gradually we pass into
more advanced mathematical problems.
and the reasoning and thought required
as we advance becomes clearer, and is
accomplished as easy, perhaps easier,
than were the first steps in arithmetic
There has been gradual growth, a
j. growth through constant exercise OF
+ the faculties needed for mathematical
demonstrations. Suppose we were to
5 start right in with geometry, and ever
2 if geometry were not dependent or
| arithmetic, we would not be able tt
5 grasp the subject for not having tht
: preliminary training of the reasoning
l faculties: they could not be impressed
r with the truth of the demonstration.
d 1t would be somewhat similar to try
g ing to read without knowing the alpha
o bet. think there may be limit t.
t physical improvement, but it seems t.
e me that no limit can be reached il
It mental Improvement in the short perio
e of existence allotted to human being
IF AS the mental horizon broadens, neN
l. and ever increasing fields of though
l. become apparent, and as has been trul
g said, 'sthe more we know the more W
S, become impressed with our ignorance
4. The aim of education then is ment;
n development, the symmetrical a
l. around improvement of our minds. n
d. over development of one faculty at til
n expense of the others, but an even an
le constant grown.
" The people of America are practice
le material people, and the general vie
ID of education taken by them is that
Mt should increase mans ability to gain
SO livelihood. But 1 must not draw tt
a. line here, for it is true that knowled
n is power, and because of this maj
,r- seek it in order to exercise it's powt
m Do we ever think that we owe duti
mt to ourselves other than living in col
,s- fort and welding an influence over o
ne fellow men? We were placed in IL
ey world with certain latent capabiliti
'ol and we are bound to improve them
ur the utmost.
on So to my mind this is the picture