The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-29
WHICH IS NEEDED MOST !?
MEMBERS OF TEACHERS AsSSOCIA-
TION LISTEN TO MASTERLY
ADDRESS
FUNCTION OF EDUCATION
Mastery of Nature and Commercial
Activity LIS Not the Only
Thing Needed by
Man

The convention of the Minnesota Edu-
cational association ended last night
with the lecture OF Samuel Weir, of the
University of New York, on the subject.
Realism, Humanism, or Education for
Society? Some Reflections on the Func-
ton of Education"
The lecture was full Of sound logical
reasoning and practical common sense.
1t was long, but it served to hold the at
tention of all listeners to the end of the
programme. Prof. Weir stated in the
beginning that he had no idea that what
he had to say would be forestalled, but
that it had been, and by the Masonic
quartette, which rendered a selection I'M
mediately before he was called to the
platform. The song was to the effect
that certain woman once upon time
studied Delsarte, but now she baked
bread scrubbed in a Washtub, an dthe
like, and her husband wasn't sorry either
that she had studied delsarte. Prof.
Weir said in part: -, ~
From time OF the Greek sophiSts d.
vergent views have been held regarding
the function, the scope and the method
of education. Since the time of Bacon
and Comenius these questions have been
the occasion of much reflection and dis
cussion With the extension of scientific
knowledge and philosophical reflection
and with increasing completely of social
organization and industrial activity the
problems OF education have become con-
tiuually more complicated and difficult
cit has been said the end of education
will be determined for each individual
by his conception of man With this
statement we agree, for unquestionably
some ideal of man is prerequisite to any
rational determination of the end or
method of education. The end of edu-
cation must be determined by a broad
and comprehensive philosophy, and not
by the exaItation of some one element
of human character, or interest to the
exclusion of all other elements.
For the humanist the refined human
spirit alone has worth, and society is
significant only as it contributes to the
refinement of mind or manners or to
that higher form of satisfaction, which
only the artistically trained individual
knows how to enjoy. Nature likewise is
a subject of only secondary interest
Poetic feelings, refined sentiments, IA
miliarity with literature and art and
the power of artistic expression. are the
characteristics of the humanistic per-
sonelity which has worth in itself.
Prof Weir then stated that the me-
diaeyaI theoIogians who urged that the
proper sphere of the human soul is
heaven, that the earth is corrupt and
education should be conducted through
the medium of the church, ETC.. had long
since been passed.
Upon the heels of the theologians came
the realists, who believe in the study OF
nature and that knowledge of nature is
power. After describing the realist, Prof.
Weir said:
But this economic interest is too often
a tyrant which Stays thousands of the in
nocent and the good and grinds many
others under the power OF perjury and
hunger. Moreover, man shall not live by
bread alone The problem of education,
like all other problems IN which PERSONAL
ity is involved, refuses to be solved on
the basis of economic interest.
Next in turn came the moralist who
declares that man is moral being, and
as such, he is the end of his own educa-
ton. Here, however, the old question
reappearS. What conception of man is
that which assigns him worth in himself?
What constitutes the essence of morality !?
Do moral laws and moral striving have
their end in pleasure, in the well being
of society; the refined spirit, some state
in the heavenly world, or in a disinter-
ested scientific mind that seeks to know
the laws and the forces of nature? We
shall not make much progress until we
determine the ethical ideal which explains
not only mans inner life, but also mans
relation to the universe, including both
society and nature. If the ethical con-
cept of man does fix for us the aim of
education. the ethical goal must be some
thing other than pleasure, and man must
be something other than a member of a
social organism of the possesser of fine
sentiments and the power of artistic ex-
preston. and man must have other aims
besides the subjugation of nature as the
field for his intellectual activities or the
source of his physical comforts.
Prof Weir then went itno a long dis