The record-union., 1896-09-20
WHAT THE Y. M. C. A. DOES
Work and Plans Of the EduCationa
Department.
Reaching Out Into the Realms of
Practical Education for
Members.

While the primary object Of the
Young Mems Christian Association is to
promote the spiritual development of
those brought under it's influence, the
| work OF this organization comprehends
also the physical culture of young men
ana their intellectual improvement. 1t
is thought that the general public
| scarcely appreciates the magnitude of
the work done by the Young Mems
Christian Association in an educational
way.
During the year ending July 1, 1896.
| there We're 925 North American associa-
J tons in existence, exclusive of college
and Indian branches, of which $40 were
provided with reading-rooms
Special educational reports indicate
that 1887 periodicals were taken at an
| expense of $21, $50. OF these 2,031 are
| technical and devoted to the various
trades and industries. There are 670
Young Mems Christian Association Ii
braries, containing 479,563 volumes
The number of literary societies con-
Quoted is 1SS while 5,929 lectures were
given during the year. Evening classes
employ 1,03O teachers. OF the 25,SS6
men in these classes 16 per cent are
office men, 10 per cent. are classified as
students, 20 per cent as clerks, 30 per
cent. as mechanics, and IL per cent. as
general tradesmen.
There is a growing appreciation of the
Importance of wise supervision in all the
departments of educational work A
feature that has grown in popularity
during the past few years is that of
practical Talks from men well ac-
quainted with the respective subjects
of which they treat. The talks deal
principally with the science and busi-
ness topics Of the day, and are given by
up-to-date men.
Year before last six associations had
| laboratory work in physics, chemistry
and electricity, while last year twelve
associations conducted approved
courses along the same lines and at
| comparatively small expense, while
| twenty-five report work in electricity
with more or less of the laboratory feat
ure in the illustrative experiments.
Cornmendable progress is being con-
| tinually made in the application of
principles in the completion by the stu
dents Of finished projects, such as cleo
trio bells, motors, guns, fans, cars, in
| ductive coils, ETC., also volts and ampere
meters and other instruments of meas
| wing, NoAi ChtS VI ciCtlll
| In many of the associations plans are
being matured for more extended effort
| in the sciences, mathematics. drawing,
physics, chemistry and their subdivisions
and applications, all of which lie at the
| foundation of most Of the trades and
| industries.
| Day department work has been in
progress in New York City and has re-
| cantfv h6pn inc aI in,
A gradual, but none the less marked,
change in the conceptions regarding the
real aim of practical education has been
taking place during the past ten years
The old idea that made it mean the
mere gathering of facts, the massing Of
knowledge, has been set aside as made
quate, and the most successful intelli-
gent Christian business men feel that
| education means discipline, growth, in
tellectual and moral power. It's aim is
threefold: First, character; second,
culture; third, conquest. Thoughts,
plans and efforts in this part of associ-
| alton work may most wisely aim to de-
velop in young men strong Christian
| character, the love of the beautiful in
| literature, nature, art and conduct and
conquest, or the ability "to bring things
to pass in the accomplishment of re-
suits.
| Unless the work does make the young
| men in the classes morally better,
| purer in thought kinder in conduct,
more regardful of the rights of other
| people, more able to think and act for
| themselves, better fitted for their daily
| occupations and for lines of increased
| Christian usefulness, 1T is unworthy the
| name of the educational department of
the Young Mems Christian Association.