The evening times., 1899-12-02

write .legible-hanA, %or-lseep books with
accuracy and skill. Hence some Of the
youths whose education stops at the gram
mar school distance their comrades who
have had four years more OF ostensible
training for the battle of life.
There is no denying the fact that the
public schools ought, Arst of all. to train
boys and girls SO that they can make iiv-
ing. Some sentimental people tell these
children that they should aspire to be, not
to do; to know, not to sell their knowl-
edge: to become ideal characters. rather
than to amass money. That is all very
good advice, and should be followed. The
poor man who has clean, honest life
behind him is great deal better than the
rich rascal; and the struggling artist. with
his brain full Of beautiful visions and his
coat as shiny as a new tin pan. is, after
ALL happier than the rich man whose
money only gives him the gout. But for
all that. the artists are few, and the work
ers must be many and the average man
will be happier in earning his living and
taking care Of the woman whom he loves
than in loafing about with his head
crammed with Greek and Latin which he
cannot put to any practical use. There is
not much danger that a practical method
of education will stifie the aspirations OF
any geniuses, or make this world less
beautiful; it. is more likely to have the
opposite effect.
II, then. youngster Of fourteen dis
plays an absolute inability to get the first
four rules of arithmetic through his head.
should he be obliged to drag himself. some
how or other, through Euclid and algebra?
II he has genius for absorbing litera-
ture and writing compositions which dis
play budding literary talent, why should
he not, in the year or two which he may be
able to give to study, have all possible
opportunities to develop his talent? II he
cares nothing whatever for poetry and fic-
tion, but has a talent for physics. why
should he not be allowed to leave literature
out Of his high school course and devote
himself to mechanics, SO as to become
specialist if he can? In short, why should
he not say with Paul, This one thing
do?"
That is the same old question which
comes up in connection with the college
elective. But the problem might be solved
in some cases, by allowing student to
take up various subjects IN whatever order
he chose. while requiring him to go through
the full course before taking his certificate.
For example, he might be allowed to study
Greek, physical science. and mathematics
at the same time during his whole four
years course II he chose; this would leave
him ready for the regular college examina-
tion should he decide to go to college.
If he displayed no ability in certain direc-
tions he might be allowed to leave out the
languages or mathematics for at least two
years. making a speciality Of the things in
which he was interested, and allow his
school course to terminate at the end Of
that time, taking only a certificate in the
studies pdrsued. He could then, IL he
chose. enter a technical schol, or go into
business; or, II he felt the need Of study
ing the things not yet taken up, he could
spend the other two years in being drilled
in these for the sake of general culture.
But in any case he would waste no time
under this arrangement; and that is some
thing. to a youth whose time is his entire
capital.