Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-12-18
PLEADS FOR UNITY OF EFFORT.



Prof VIM. NJ. Stewart of the Utah
University lectured at the Laboratory
building last nieht ON Our Public
Schools and the Recent School Elec-
tion in salt Lake. The professor spoke
to an Interested though not large audi
ence. Education. he said. was the bull
warls of American institutions. The
public schools were the great medium
for impartlng intelligence and of ere
ating and developing social condi-
ton among the people.
Regarding Utah schools the professor
said the people had Just cause to be
proud of them. In this city the aver
age attendance Of the school popula-
ton was more than 30 per cent; in the
State at large the average was Slh.
II was not true that Utah was without
a public school system before 1890 one
Of the first acts OF the Pioneers was to
lay the foundation OF an educational
system that would be the pride and
glory of future generations. The
founding Of the University Of Deseret
occurred carly in 1850 The institu-
tion has had "A very hard struggle.
Sometimes 1t seemed to be a question
OF life and death. During the long
seige Of a Church war 1t suffered from
the opposition Of the extreme religion
lists who said that II was antagonistio
to religion and from another class-ex-
IRENE radicals who said that it was too
friendly to religion. But it had wealth
cred the storm nevertheless and had
done much to libcrnliZe the people of
Utah. There should not be too much
criticism against the early school sys-
tenn OF Utah. For long time the peo-
pie were In AFFECT poverty: for a long
tla.T 4
for existence. IL there was any neglect
of education It was made necessary in
obedience to that law of nature-self-
preservation.
Concerning the recent school cleo
tion the speaker said: II was very
familiar with the bitterness existing
in the State and Territory and when
the election demonstrated the fact
that the embers were still smoul-
derlng and n little tanning meant they
would burst into flames again, / felt
alarmed. The good sense OF the people
is going to determine whether we shall
have the strife again. Only by n con-
sentative policy, by being liberal on
both sides, can we stop the danger that
would come to the schools If the strife
should come again. There is occasion
for alarm. The majority of the peo-
pie favor the free public schools, and
the schools have come to stay, but
depends on the wisdom of the people.
fight against the thoroughly establish
IL would be the heighth OF folly for us to
ment of our schools. We can retard
their growth or accelerate It, believe
the common schools are safe, but their
advancement depends on wisdom,
Whatever the tendency, educators
should not take n hand in the fight:
mean teachers should not act as ward
heelers nor assist to stir up the strife.
III educators cannot be broad-mlned,
what can we expect of the masses?
They should use their influence to keep
from stirring up the bitterness Every
Intelligent man and woman should
work for the success of the schools
The system, University, high schools,
grades, kindergarten and all can be
made to triumph along conservative
and economical lines"
The speaker then turned his atten-
tion to the newspapers and proceeded
to criticize them very severely They
could not, he said, be depended upon
for truthful utterance. They We're ami
mated by political or financial motives
IN what they SAID. No credence should
be given to their reports. They were
after sensations and constructed them
upon the slightest rumor. This course
was pursued because 1t meant money
to either the publisher or the man who
controlled the papers policy. During
the campaign of the recent school
election Interior motives were appar-
ent. An effort was made to show op-
position to the High school when in
reality no opposition existed. But 1t
served as a means to an end--it was a
deception and answered its purpose.
As a conclusion to his lecture Prof.
Stewart took the position that the ed
ucation of today was not sufficiently
practical. Industrial training should
characertize school work. beginning at
the kindergarten. But IL would cost
money to do that and II was a question
as to whether the people could afford
1t. Nevertheless an effort should be
made In that direction IL there had to
be revision and shortening of High
school and grade courses.