The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-10
TWO EXCELLENT THESES
Some Tendencies of Education by
Mrs. Glenny.
THE FUTURE EDUCATION
Its Product Will Be Emerson's Ideal of
b American Scholar-Expression
OF Thought the Subject of Miss
Knowles Thesis.

her first commencement day has added
much dignity to Missoula as the Uni.
versity City and the pleasant exercises
of yesterday have formed the theme fol
many discussions to-day. All are agreed
that il is better TO be a good university
town than to have a hole in the ground
for a capitol building cellar. Much
the character of the theses presented
by the ladies who were candidates for
degrees at the first commencement.
These papers were so much better than
anything that was expected that they
surprised the big audience that listened
to them with deep interest. For the
benefit OF those who wish to preserve
the thoughts presented and for those
who were unable to be present, the fol-
lowing brief abstracts OF the two pa
pers are presented. Mrs. Glenny's sub
ject was:
Some Tendencies In Education.
That period of our history which
anne Russell Lowell so felicitously
christened the Fourth OF July" period
the time when we looked at America and
everything American through "A rose
tinted glass-the time when we could
see nothing of evil but only ultimate
good in everything born of our supposed
superiority to the rest of mankind-for-
tunately Is passing.
That vainglorious spirit, the very nat
ural product Of our rapid rise as a ma
ton. which was so characteristic Of the
first half of the century. when we were
adding TO the original l3 states the ex-
tensive areas west of the Father of
Waters, when we We're beginning the
development OF the vast material re-
sources of the country, that spirit the
closing years OF the century find giving
way to a more just pride in our achieve
ments.
We are outgrowing the %exuberant
dissatisfaction of youth and growing
into a critical attitude toward all Of our
institutions. Just now. at least, whatever
dangers may threaten. the danger of
falling into the mood of ~self-complac-
so fatal to progress, IL not immi-
nent. The spirit of critical scrutiny is
.allpervading. As a result new concep-
tons of the scope and missions of politi-
cal. social and intellectual Institutions
are arising to contend with the old for
supremacy and they are expressing
themselves in more or less well defined
tendencies toward abandonment or mod
ification of old arrangements. Especial
ly Is this the condition In the domain Of
education. Faith in the old idea is wan
ing. A disquiet, an unrestsb born of the
discomfort that breeds. IL not always
progress. at least change, is plainly
manifest. In fact. a revolution is al
ready In progress. Until late In the
present century, belief In what has been
the orthodox classical ideal of
education remained mistaken. Its do
was almost absolute. This idea is
that which began to take
shape In Europe about the middle of the
century and which superseded the
views of the 18th century. Its
rise was contemporary with and bore a
close relation to the mighty social and
revolt against the monarchial sys-
tenn which reached the extreme limit of
despotism in the 18th century. It's aim.
as set forth by its great advocates, Is
In brief. his: The complete develop
ment Of all the faculties. But IL seeks
rather a polite culture than a practical
knowledge. To attain its objects. the
study of the languages. literature and
of the classic past Is deemed
The study OF the grammar
Of the Greek and Roman languages af-
fords. IL Is claimed. a mental discipline
Is ~unequaled. The study Of Greek
and Roman history awakens noble SEN
timents n lays a foundation for an
understanding OF the present. Ranking
next in Importance to the classics was
mathematics and a little attention was
paid to philosophy. Though this view
still dominates education. IL is with
declining influence. for i'm the
course OF the present century n tendency
INTO which utilitarianism enters largely
has appeared, and threatens the COM
plete overthrow of the orthodox classical
IDEAL. This tendency. the realistic, is a
result OF new conditions. .
Hence. this tendency grows to act in ac-
cordance with an idea expressed by
James Anthony Froude in an academic
address on education: You cannot
everything. You must choose
among the objects OF knowledge and the
only reasonable guide to choice is util-
Modern languages and
have to some extent displaced
the ancient. The victorious progress of
science has given an impetus to the
study OF physics and chemistry. and
group OF sciences whose principle of
evolution has so profoundly affected
human knowledge, he biological. Po-
economy. sociology and the other
of political science have been
given a place beside the classical
These extensive
changes have already taken place.
Closely connected with the rapid growth
OF the realistic, in fact a development
OF its utilitarian element. Is the ten
dency to base education on the bread
principle. III there Is any
that threatens to prove the
of our American institutions,
IL is the ambition for the accumulation
Of wealth. IL is doing infinite harm in
education. for II has p~ropogated the
serious mistake that a lib
eral education Is a waste Of time for a
man: that education should be
a training for the selected a~vocation.
n truth is hat he who s~pecializes
a broad foundation is placed at
a tremendous disadvantage.
Stin mother tendency has attracted
recently. Evidence Is not
that there is a disposition I'm
quarters TO place the letters OF
politics on the instruction In that
important Departmental human
knowledge. the political sciences. The
tendency Is discernible in efforts that
been made to restrain instructors
in educational institutions from even
the private expression OF opinions or Of
their personal views upon public issues.
II IN CnnQntQ1IasrS In srrAA hh-hnndad