The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-16

Eng glands great schools appear TO Ike awak-
ening slowly TO the necessity Of furnish
ing their students with practical training,
but they have made little Roadway as yet
and British educational authorities say il
will take years for the schools Of their
country TO catch up In the race.
There Is an important element in Great
Britain, and smaller one. relatively. in
this country which objects to q he -prac, ical-
ization" OF the colleges and universities;
but the movement. born Of necessity. has
got too good start to be retarded
materially.
Undoubtedly, in my view. the present
tendency IL right In the main. II does
not lessen the facilities offered to stu
dents who wish TO acquire the classical
education; II simply gives the student who
from necessity or inclination requires train
ing tina, will help him to make his way In
practical life an opportunity to get II in
the years OF his schooling, instead Of waiting
until his gradual ion day has been passed.
There i. one serious defect In the edlica-
ton Of large proport ion OF those who make
up the rising generation, whether they are
intended for college or not. This defect
il so radical and 50 easily overcome. IL meas
ures to that end are taken early enough,
that its existence is both surprising and
humiliating
refer to the VIGOROUSLY lax training So
many receve in the elementary branches
the three RS | have explained my
views on this subject before, and Judging
from the many commendatory letters that
have received from all parts Of he United
States. there is very general agreement
wit h my cont ention that a large proportion
Of our element ary schools are inadequate.
Graduates OF the public schools are turned
out into the world Incapable of performing
The simple art hmei" computations needed
in the ordinary transactions OF business
life They do not know how 10 express
themselves clearly aud directly IN their
mot her tongue. cifhc, by word OF mouth or
in writing
Most preparatory schools give more
attention 20 Latin and Greek, admit edly
studied chiefly for their disciplinary value
than they do 10 English. which Is the living
tongue. the medium Of practically all COM
munica'ion betw man and man in this
country.
Every employer Of clerks will verify
wha, say on This point The majority
OF the applicants for situations in the banks,
he offices Of the big transportation COM
panies, the mercantile houses and other
business concerns. are unable 20 write
proper letters Of application.
Their handwriting is bad often they
canno, spell The old thoroughness of
elementary training, the hard digging at
the work of LAYING the foundation Of edu-
cation, in the mastery Of English and arth-
me,ic and the acquisition Of a clear, legible
handwriting, has been abandoned in too
many schools.
There are except ions. for which the coun-
try should be thankful, and surprisingly
large number OF these exceptions are found
among the elementary schools conducted
| under the auspices Of the Catholic Church.
In them the former thorough teaching OF
| the "three RS seems to have persisted,
| and while no one can be more sensible
| of the great work that the public schools
are doing than myself. | must commend
| the elementary me, hods Of the Catholic
! schools to the public school authorities IN
many cities.
| II was his mastery Of the English Ian
suage and his thorough mental trainlne
! that enabled Horace Greeley, innocent o'
| schools. 10 come 10 New York when younl
man and rise from the compassion 's case
ia one Of the most commanding positions
in the difficult and important profession Of
| journalism; to become factor In the history
of the greatest nation on the earth
The career Of the elder Bennett was much
like Greeley's Each founded a great news
paper which is known wherever the Eng
| Nsh language il read and spoken.
II was his patient mastery OF the Gle
mcnts Of education achieved for the mos
part at night, in IN" college OF the narinI
| nine knot, that enabled Abraham I1ncoin
though handicapped almost indescribabi!
10 win the highest place In the gift OF TN
nation n the time when the nation needed
lust such a man a. i's head.
| These. by the way. became men OF trul'
liberal education. despite their lack q
college training. and they are only three
Of MANY who lacking the opportunity Il
train themselves in college, yet found tim
amid the stress Of actual life and achieve
| mon, 20 broaoen and liberalize themselve
NV general reading and the study of thos
tonnes with which their more fortunate
fellows we're able TO acquaint the'nselre
in college.
There, are many living men, who, thoug
lacking college advantages, have foun'
true liberal education in the universii
OF the world james J Hill, for instance
thouph never a student in schoo q
higher grade than the academy in li'tl
Canadian village and obliged To make hi
own way from the age Of ie,is more famil
lar with the classics in the original tina
most college graduates and his critica
knowledge of art IL superior 10 that a
most professional art critics.
OF a different type Is Russell Sage, who
| though highly educated man. despite hi
di.advaptag, as to schooling, has pre-
fcrred to study along special rather tha
general lines all his life Mr. Sage say
he need Of education when working for
very small wage a. the hoy in his brother
grocery store at Troy,
He paid school teacher part of h'
weekly pittance to teach him the three
Rs at night after both had done the day
work by which they earned their living
And while Mr.. Sage possibly could neve
have passed an examination that wouI
have admitted him to college. he grounde
himself we'll in the elements and aferwar,
made good Use Of the foundation in buildn
up a s,,perstruc,ure OF thorough knowlcdg
of the subjects which Interested him.
They included trade, finance and polite.