The Yale expositor., 1896-01-31
Home Culture.

There has come to our notice re-
Gently, an enterprise which has been
organized for the purpose of educat-
ing, in their own homes, the class of
people who either have not had OPP
portunity in the past, or who do not
now have an opportunity to study in
the public schools. TO this beniticent
organization we are more than pleased
to extend our hearty greeting, and wish
it all the success the undertaking de-
serves. The one thing which this
country needs is u more general edu-
cation for the working people. 1t is
this idea that has led many great
thinkers to advocate home study, par
ticularly where outside instruction is
not convenient. The odd half and
quarter hours, if properly applied,
will give anyone who desires it, a
liberal education. 1t is the man that
devOtes few spare minutes each day
to study, who advances from day Ia
borer to fOreman; who becomes the
master mechanics; the head of the
office.
Few persons seem to be aware, in re-
gard to the subject of education, how
largely a willing student can dispense
with external aid. The opinion, also
common, that to learn anything in
science, art, or any of the higher
| branches, beyond the first rudiments,
| the learner must place himself in the
hands of a gifted professor, and carry
| on his labor in the atmosphere of the
classroom, is u mischievous delusion.
While we would not decry our mag
| niiiceut system of public schools, we
| believe that some system of home
| training is absolutely necessary in
| order that men in all classes and con-
ditions of life may fit themselves for
life's work. Not only is it necessary
for our citizens to understand some-
thing of what is commonly called the
| higher branches of education, but it is
also an essential qualification that they
should have II thorough training IN
business methods, including business
| laws, business arithmetic, shorthand, ,
and bookkeeping. In short, to
achieve success IN life, it is necessary
that men be trained in that which will
prove the most serviceable to them in
their vocations.
| Within the past few years many
prominent educators have endeayored
10 devise means which would supply
this great public need. The remark
able movement known as University
Extension, the formation of CHATEAU
qua circles, the establishment of night
schools for laboring men, are all evil
dences of this desire to bring self
education within the reach of every
citizen. The most recent attempt to
solve the great problem of home edu-
cation is the establishment of the CO.
operative Educational Association at
Ann Arbor, Michigan, the seat of the
great University of Michigan. This
Association having for its purpose the
aid and encouragement of those who
desire to pursue home study, is desir-
GUS of extending its work over the
greater part of the United States, and
in order that it may do so, desires the
hearty cooperation of educators and
studlous people everywhere. Its officers
will be pleased to correspond with any
who may be interested, and to furnish
all information in regard to the work
they propose to carry on. Their an
nouncement appears elsewhere in this
paper, and we ask our readers to in.
vestigate by corresponding with the
| Association.