The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-21

Inc u tiCa observer declares tHdt
there is altogether too much fad in
modern educational methods, and that
the idea seems to have taken root that
some picturesque method of teaching
must be employed or the results OBJ
tanned are valueless. There is much
truth in this, and the observation APP
plies not only 10 educational work. but
to other things. There is too much
hunting after picturesque methods of
amateur work outside the schoolroOm.
and too little care for the worker who
is not an amateur.
There are some ways in which old
fashioned methods were better than
new fashioned ones. In colonial times
there was plenty of hard work done,
but with it was mixed considerable
natural, homely pleasure. The Eusk-
ing-bee, the quilting, the reaping party,
were co-operatfve institutions of the
simplest and most satisfactory kind.
There was nothing cut and dried, or ar
tificial. about them; they were pic
turesque in themselves, and they were
good for the interests of labor, since
in this way the worker accomplished
more than he could by any other
means. But there was no attempt to
tighten work for the mere sake of max
ing it pleasant, and unless one could
show the farmer or the artisan that the
new methods were demonstrably better
than the old, he did not put much
faith in scientific schemes. 1t was a
truism of the old colonial community
that a man who was good for anything
must be interested in his work more
than in his pay.
The trouble with great deal of what
is called progress in these days is that
the method attracts more attention
than the thing to be done. The clubs,
the philanthropic associations. the edu-
caticnal fads, the socialistic schemes of
the day are too often so tied up in red
tape that nothing comes of than. AS
in the beautiful surgical operation"
of which the operator boosted and the
patient died. the method and the
science seem to be of more account
than the thing to be done.
1t rs time for the people of this coun-
try to understand the utilities as well
as the usefulness of organized effort.
When an organization directly tends 10
the accomplishment of some end. which
without it cannot be accomplished, it
is good thing; but TO do this it must
be as simple and as flexible as pos
sible. The history of caste-ridden
countries shows that when organization
becomes more important than its OBJ
ject. the influence upon human life is
baleful.
Two thirds of the clubs and societies
of the day are more or less hampered
by this very thing. In the first place.
when the organization becomes the i'm
portant thing TO its members. mum
bers are desirable, and thus recruits
are raked in who are not thoroughly in
sympathy with the spirit of the society.
There is no question that literary so
ciety is a good thing if conducted in the
right way. When a dozen intelligent
and earnest people gather once a week,
or once a fortnight. for the study of
something in which all are interested,
the interchange of thoughts and views,
and the play of one character upon an
other. bring out shades of meaning,
and unperceived truths, and prevent
biased and prejudiced views. But if
the society is composed partly of per-
sons who wish to belong To ii for the
sake OF the credit if may reflect upon
them, the other people, who are really
interested, might better stay at home
and read by themselves for all the good
they will get