The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-06
EDUCATION TOO EXPENSIVE.
Its Cost Detriment to Those who Go
Through College.
Washington Post.


IT am convinced" says President Jones'
of Hobart College, that national well
fare is Threatened by the great expense of
education"
Only a man whose devotion to the cause
Of popular education is beyond suspicion
could raise his voice against the cost of
schools without having his motives chal-
lenged. 1t is a wholesome jealousy that
is quick to resent the first appearance of
enmity toward our school system. There
We could so well afford to make a FETCH
1t is better to be extravagant than niggard-
ly in the support of educational enterprises
denying to any eager child the opportunity
to acquire an education. But If, as Presi-
dent Jones aff1rms, the excessive cost is a
positive detriment in the case of those who
go through college it becomes an act of
loyalty to the cause to recognize the fact.
1t would be difficult to make an accurate
estimate of the amount annually expended
for educational purposes. 1t Is exceeded
only by the sum spent for living. The cost
70 the public is an enormous sum, and to
the individual parents nearly as much more.
From the time Ohio was admitted one
consecrated to education. The generous
spirit that suggested this has fostered the
belief that time spent in the schoolhouse
could not be better employed. So we have
gone on adding studies and increasing the
requirements for entrance to the college I'M
I'll as President Jones says, "a man is
tWenty-eight or thirty before he reaches
sef-support and full self-respect." The
rather pays for it, The new school law of
4NGW 1UTk WHICH reQuCeS the NUMBER or
studies formerly required in the district
scnool, still requires of the child reading,
writing, arithmetic, spelling, English gram
mar and composition, geography, drawing
physiology and hygiene, American history,
civil government good behavior and good
industrial or free-hand drawing, vocal mu-
sic, and the effects OF stimulants ana mar
coticS.
Men of good judgment regard the lives of
some or our great statesmen and soldiers
as PROOF or the value of the education of
need TO make their own way was of more
service to them than full twenty years in
school would have been. General Grant said
his best training was before he went 70
West Point, when, not yet twelve years old,
he made all the money that was spent on
him. Washington, Lincoln, Grant and 9TH
ers of like experience doubtless felt their
educational limitations, and could have
made good use of more schooling: but as
between leaving school too early and quit
ting it too late, experience seems to decide
in favor of the former.
President Jones, an observing practical
educator, speaks for an earlier, healthier.
simpler, cheaper and more earnest college
lie, which shall permit an earlier self-sup-
port. He thinks the entrance requirements
should be of such reasonable extent ana
character as to make it possible for boy
of seventeen to enter college, This is the
moro important since by sending men in
stead of boys to college the expense is in
that a college education is made too expen-
sive for the sons of the people. What
President Jones fears is that the reform will
be postponed until the forgotten father
arises in his wrath and smashes things.
Once he begins to question educational ex-
years study of text books he may be-
come destructive.