Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-17
The wisdom of Universal Education

The Wisdom OF L n1NeTsui
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
prof Mahaffey's defamation against
the wisdom of universal education mas
properly enough set the world or Lohuoh
agog. IT is no new thing, forsooth, 10 oe-
cry the benefits of wide Distribution OIL
learning. but when such man as Proles-
sor Manaffey puts himself on record pup
licly and before the world as recruit
I'm the army of doubters 1t proclaims
very serious state of affairs. General ar
fusion of knowledge. he says Is OF douo'-
full utility. Education, he states, Is con-
duciye of discomfort. This last is the
burden of his arraignment. and, take IT,
is one of the strongest fragments In FAVOR
of the opposition. The end ana ann Oh
life is happiness, rather thah contcnt-
ment-the constant STRIVING lo"diuS
something higher and better the h tN
ceasing effort 10 attain an lueaI' 49,
men contented progress would nave lapsed
into desuetude. The necessity Tor things
not possessed not being realized, there
would be no effort whatsoever IN the "
rection of improvement, no stlni9luSS W
invention. There would exist, ihueeu,
state of absolute lethargy that Woul9
sound the death knell OF ambition anu
relegate man, sooner or later, TO the lever
OF the beast. , o,o,,a
The trend of education is towards eleVa-
ton mentally, morally, ana Pnya .-,,.
To education alone are due the lnnuhieIa-
bic inventions and appliances which nave
rounded the rougher corners OF our H'es
and materially lessened the cares anu
struggles of the daily laborer 1or Dredu;
To education alone is due the BeheId
neral and religious condition OF the peo-
nile of our day. and to no Otner source dl0
attributable the brilliant successes III We
rious fields which men have achleVeu; -
.1.ts In
there be exceptions TO TINS alter Aaot;,
thew hut establish more firmly the general
rule. 49,, -. od,,ca
But what do we undertand by euuca
tion9 A COMPREHENSION of Latin ana
Greek, the classics. poetry, ana the az
struse sciences, or knoWleuge 81 ILL.,
metic. geography history and the other
elementary studies? Do we mean tne
mastery of one or more subjects 10 the
exclusion of others of equal import OF tn me
possession of a general knowledge OF al
matters with the mind unframed III any
one specific direction2
We might. indeed, find firm and concur
siye ground upon which 10 Dase our Coh
domination of any one OF the ABOVE ny
pothetical conditions, but 10 conuehlI' VI
even cast a doubt upon, education as a
whole and in the abstract, Is an act OF
daring, the fallacy of which Is patent not
only to the profound student, out 70 any
one who will give the matter COOL ui'-
biased consideration.
IL Professor Mahaffey is sincere IN
launching his frebrand of doubt upon
the world he displays degree OF igno-
rance relative to the existing social con-
ditions which Is the more deplorable on
account of his educational prominence.
Nor does he give evidence OF the posses
sion of a considerable knowledge of by
gone times. The history OF the world tnr-
nishes adequate and striking contradlc-
lions of the theory which he advances
In the great revolutions which have
shaken the world to it's foundations igno-
rance has been the recruiting officer that
has filled the ranks with troops; lgno-
rance has been the god of infatuatlon
which has split empires and dethroned
kings The personnel of the harlequin
armies of the French Revolution, the
bloody deeds of the Reign of Terror. the
fanaticism of what Carlisle terms sans
oulotsm. stand forth in refutation OF
the wisdom OF general ignorance"
Education softens the heart, suDdues
the violence Of passion, teaches respect
for law and order. and enables men 10
know their rights and 10 stand for them.
Ii elevates and refines and gives thou
sand delights unknown to the Ignorant
Now "a word as to the nature OF the
| education most desirable. would NOT IN,
Weigh against what is termed q ciasslcai
| education. The classics have their uses
| and II Is only proper and right that some
men should make the mastery OF thein
| the goal towards which their educationai
| efforts tend IL is no less necessary that
all the ardor of AMBITION one OF more
| special studies in order to attain petlec-
| ton therein. Let these ripper scholars puIh
| incense at the altar of their superior VIE
| dom. but let them not desplse the Votaiies
| of universal enlightenment
Such men have their part to play IN the
world and the world gratefully ackhoW-
| lodges their usefulness. bur the educauSn
| that is needed for the masses, those VINO
| populate the rural districts as wen as
| those who throng the cities. should pa,
| take of more practical character II =
| the knowledge which convinces beyond q
| doubt that things are as they are witch
| teaches the reason for these condiuohs
and which enables men to Apply tnesc
| simple truths TO the everyday Pursut,S
| and necessities or life. NOW, "hei ,re
| now. when we have passed through nun
| dreds OF years OF slavery, ignorance, anu
servitude and are at the threshold OF an
era of social equality, the cry OF the ,I riuio
| titlde Is for technical instruction. lime
| was when the arts and sciences ioOkeu
| down upon The mere arusan; tlme waS
when Kingdoms and principalities scorned
| the plebeian name OF repupnc Du, We
| cannot now look at life as II mas Deeii,
We must view II from the s'"i'"P''i' -
| present fact. L.oo
| A disseminated people. as claimed py fIo
| fessor Mahaffey? No; emphatlcally no.
| The arts and sciences have prohted
| thousandfold by education lnVenuon mas
| received a stimulating impetus wnlch
| has crowned il with undreamed-o1 sue
| cesses. The masses are better leu
| clothed, and better able 10 distinguish
right from wrong.
| The sceptic will merely have to COM
| mare the social conditions of any two
| countries or any two sections OF the same
| country wherein the one Is educated anu
| the other ignorant to convince him OF the
| truth OF tns allegation.
| distinguished professor OF New folk
college recently published in the Cosmo-
| politan, under his own signature; state
| ments even more radical than those OF
| Professor Mahaffey. The latter merely
| asserts that general education Is an uh-
| mixed good, while the former empnau
! cally proclaims 1t as an error Inc spreau
| of This contagion would work ruin to the
| human race and we should guard against
| IL. There is a pessimistic tone perVaaing
| the utterances OF these gentlemen when
| trenches closely upon the borders or cyni-
| cism. IL IL is mere bid for notoriety
! their plans are well laid. and not likely
| to miscarry but / hold ii TO be our duty
| towards God and our fellow-men 10 per-
| feet our minds in wisdom that we may
| live a life OF hope and usefulness: and
! prepare ourselves for the higher life to
| come. CHARLES H. III. THOMAS,
| Miller Manual Labor School, virginia.
Il