New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-23
DOCTRINE OF WORTH WHILE
CHARLES GILBERT. OF NEWARK. AID
DRESSES THE PUBLIC EDUCA-
TON ASSOCIATION.

THROUGH MIsDIRECTED ENERGY DEFINED


THROUGH MIsDIREcTED ENERGY DEFINED.
Charles Gilbert. Superintendent Of Public Schools In
Newark. n. j.. spoke yesterday before the Public
Education Association The Doctrine OF the
Worth While
The speaker. after being introduced by Mrs Ed
ward r. Hewett. said he had selected that subject
because 1t covers nearly everything in life. He al
luded to the great loss that comes 10 humanity
through misdtrected energy especially In education
for while civilization at the rate of inch
IN century we wish 1t 10 go mile minute and IL
is not the lazy people who retard progress but the
busybodles who seek the impossible
There is new education" he said. because
there Is new civilization with new ideals and
thoughts and this education is both the product and
the cause Of the change. General education at the
pubic expense Is comparatively new. although prn-
cples remain the same. The real antagonism at
present is between the freedom in the new and the
Journalism in the old
las there Is no uniformity In our school methods.
one can do little but generalize To be there
spots here and there where the right teaching goes
on. but these are GASES in the desert"
The speaker very cleverly proved that knowledge
is not power for power of itself ~ not necessary for
good and this attribute Is the ultimate aim of all
living. True economy" he said. goes back to nat
ure whether in art. literature education. The
great masters VIII live forever because of their
art but because they portrayed the real Although
to learn ali he sr,s 80 noes WI" n h VIE ior poet
the great thought back Of 1t.
The end OF education is the development OF COM
plete living 1t is real and only as We make the
child understand this will he regard life a worth
living The first constituent of wisdom Is high
ideals. the second is strength OF will for the at
for the good. true. and beautiful; the fourth is
judgment. by which discern that the funda-
mental principle of life Is life
Mr.. Gilbert condemned the trash OF our school
literature, making the bold declaration that many
children would be better off II never taught to
read.
This caused an audible ripple OF surprise. and
Mrs. Van Rensselaer, asked II this literally
true for IL so 1t seemed TO knock out the founda-
adhered to this point. that 1t is better to know
nothing OF an art than 10 know only the worst
The first object of education Is to stimulate
thought In the child and let him speak his thought.
and the formalty will take care OF itself. Arith-
metic he said, is thought to be knowledge OF
numbers. while in reality 1t opens the door OF the
universe TO form and dimension. In the old form
ton: in the new form the child is FIRST and the
keynote OF ALL progress in child study Is to in
dividuaize and touch the real life of each that
books will be a treasure house to him instead OF
a task. and life worth while.
In conclusion the speaker thought II was posi-
bic to teach from the first class in the kindergarten
to the last class in the university that the true
object OF all education Is for right living and that
freedom guided by love is the only discipline need
ed in any school in any place.
This he insisted should be especially practsed
in the schools for the poor where they are gen.
orally fed bones and husks. but are, after all:
more amenable to kindness than the more favored
ones. and II Is worth while to try II: FOR only
in this way can civilization be advanced.