The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-13


elaborate scheme of education which he
sprung at the annual meeting of the State
Teachers Association at Lansing, Mich,
few days ago. As might have been ex-
pccted from Michigan's self educated
governor, his proposed educational
scheme contains n good deal of practice
and very little of theory. 1t has some
common sense suggestions which are
worthy of consideration.
The governor proposes that all teach
ings in the public schools should have
some practical bearings. Thus, for in
stance, if the subject be the old Roman
Empire the teacher should point out the
cause of the decline and fall Of Rome,
showing how the same influences that un-
dermined the Roman government may
operate to the downfall of governments
today. The governor would also teach
the boys in the public schools to look for
ward to a career in politics, and in order
to prevent them from becoming poll
ticians of the kind so much in disfavor at
present he would teach them that the
duties of citizenship rest equally on every
man. He would show the boys that when
the administration of affairs is left to
bosses and heelerS self government is at
an end He said that one might conclude
from the example of some of our cities
that society was divided into two classes
former being a class too good to have
anything to do with city government or
to occupy Office but who nevertheless use
the politicians for their selfish ends, pay
them for it, but refuse to associate with
them. That is pretty near the case in a
great many American cities.
The governor advocates the teaching
OF Spanish in the public schools and on
this subject he said: "If we teach a mod
ern language, teach Spanish, the com
mercial language of nearly half the peo-
pie of this continent, and with whom we
should have closer trade relations. A
continent is opening up before the young
men of today where Spanish only Is
spoken South and Central America and
Mexico are fields where North American
engineers and skilled workmen will toll
low in the wake of North American ma
chinery and North American manufac-
ture I was much impressed lately while
in Venezuela. 1t occurred to ME that our
trade with that country was certainly
handicapped by our inability to speak
Spanish. The trade of that country is now
principally with France and Germany
and if we are wise it will not remain so. -.
The Spanish language is not so well
known in this country as ii should be.
The governor is right in saying that the
great field for commercial activity lies to
Americans who will carry off the prizes
are those who can speak the Spanish lam
guage.
The University of Michigan is one of
the institutions of which that state is
justly proud The governor advised lib
eral support and thought that it's teach
ing would be more untrammeled and bet
ter for the people than would be the case
If the university were supported and con-
trolled by private corporations ana
wealthy individuals. On the subject Of
college endowments and the influence of
very rich men in shaping the university s
policy the governor said: "Endowments
in exchange for a political economy is IN
American. Nor will we teach our youth
that a trust is q blessing Of Providence
in return for the slice of plunder, as do
some of the universities Of our sister
states. l do not believe that any man
any university because he objects to the
corrupt practice of so-called benefactors
who establish institutions of learning
with money they have wrongfully eX-
torted from the people. / do not believe
that the president of a university should
be asked to resign because as an individ-
ual he does not happen to agree on cer-
tain public questions with the trustees of
the institution. Unless our universities
give us truth, openly and fearlessly, they
are not doing their duty by the people"
President Andrews will of course feel vim
dicated and Patron Rockefeller will
please feel crushed.