The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1899-04-12
THE EDUCATION PROBLEM


have made wonderful advances
during these past years. In the
common documentary education
of the land, as we'll as in that
which is technical and profession
al we have made vast progress.
In the Improvement of school
houses, in the training of teach
ers, in the perfecting of studies,
and in the equipment and endow-
ment of institutions, we have ex-
ceeded the most sanguine hopes
of few years ago. But despite
this advance, perhaps because of
it, the problems presented by
education are very far from final
solution.
One is presented by it's effects
on the students themselves. With
the perfection of schemes of study
have increased the demands on
those undertaking TO master
them. This is true from the
fIittle red school house" to the
great university. The studies
have increased in number, and
their exactions have become more
and more severe. In the common
school, in the academy, in the
college, 1t is the same. Loads of
books are carried to and fro, and
many an evening is spent In prep
aration for the class room Of the
following day. Perhaps this is
more so in the so-called graded
schools of the land than else
where. Are we examining our
children rather than educating
them? Are we raising up gen.
GRAFTON of specialized anamic
boys and girls whose assortment
of curious lore will not compen-
safe for tangled nerves and un-
dermined health? So some think,
and so others fear. In the Ladies
Home journal, of recent date,
Mrs. Lew Wallace framed an in
dictment of this kind, and lashes
the system that seems to make it
so true. Perhaps we are on the
eve of relief at this point. They
tell that an instrument, the ergo
graph they call it, has been in
vented by which the capacity of
a student to endure can be test
ed. By it we can know how
heavy load he can carry before
he breaks down. It may be that
this will aid us in this direction
Something at any rate is needed
to help to solution of the educa-
tional problem at this point.
| At another point, a different
phase of the question presents
itself. Are we in danger Of edu-
eating our boys and girls away
from the useful industrial occupa-
tions, which, after all, the bulk
of our population must follow to
gain livelihood? Has there
crept in, or is there creeping into
the public consciousness, the idea
that manual LABOR does not COM
port well with the dignity of an
education? Is there not a hesita-
tion to make grimy with a me-
chanic's toll hands that have
known no harder task than the
handling of a crayon or turning
the leaves of Virgil or Horace?
Go search the workshops and see.
Advertise for a clerk and a ma
chinist, and count your responses
and scan your applicants FOR the
one position and the other. Listen
to a company of farmers and
gather from their conversation
how many of their college, bred
sons want to care for the home
steads when the present owners
must lay down their task. We
are condemnlng nothing. We
are blaming no one, but are SIM
ply suggesting afresh a phase of
the educational problem that has
not yet received full solution.
Just one other point. Is our
present system giving us what
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