The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-09-18
EDUCATION.


education" implies. Generally SPEAK
ing we have a mere smattering idea
OF the meaning of the word, and because
of our own shallowness we are con
stantly giving shallow use and inter
probation to the term.
We talk of education generally, as
II it meant mere book learning; when
in fact book learning is the primary
part of it. As a rule men who can
not read Latin or Greek are, CONNER
cially speaking, better educated than
those who can. 1t is almost truism
that teachers and preachers are lacking
in common sense business education,
though there are many honorable excep'
tons to the rule.
The negro on the southern plantation,
who knows when to plant and pillow
and pick the cotton, has al education
more useful to him as an individual
and citizen, than all the book learning
he could get would give him.
Education, in its broad, comprehen'
sive sense, means to prepare one for the
duties and labors and responsibilities
of life. And that education is being
sadl, neglected in this day and time and
town.
VS. heard lady say recently that her
cook was the biggest liar she had ever
had the misfortune to meet up with.
And this lady was looking for another
cook. That cook s early training in
truth telling was neglected and because
of it failure will dog her path through
life.
We heard merchant say, just the
other day, that he did not consider that
he had first class clerk in his store.
That they just simply would not do
more than half the work they were
capable of doing. That their idea
seemed to be for their employers to
make the money and give it to them.
And another merchant said that his
clerks seemed more anxious TO get rid OF
his customers than they were to get
rid of his goods. He was talking-the
merchant was-to customer who had
been to his store to buy something and
came away empty handed. Tho pro-
prietor said he had what the customer
wanted, but lost the sale on account OF
the carelessness, indifference or lazy
ness OF the clerk.
These clerks need to learn that their
time and thought and attention belong
to their employers, and that it is
dishonorable not to give the best service
Of which they are capable. They need
a little of that higher education that will
teach them higher sense of duty and
more respect for the rights of others.
The wages an employer pays, as
rule, are regulated by the worth of the
employe and the ability of the employer.
If the employees make a business pay
by making themselves useful, they may
count on better wages for themselves;
FOR no business man, it matters not how
close and churlsh he may be, will let a
good man 90 without first offering him
all he is worth to that business. And
yet nine out of ten employees, from stable
boys up to confidential clerks and secre-
taries, are in sense eye-servants, IN
that they won't half do their work when
the employer is away.
Much of this dereliction OF duty
comes from the lack OF educatlon.
Men and women think to beat their en-
ployers out Of time, is that much gain.
They do not realize, any more than the
boy at school does, that their idleness is
their loss. And like the average boy
at school, the average man wants to
skim and skip and get through with as
little real work as possible, needless OF
the fact that the less he does the less he
is worth, and that soon or late his real
worth fixes his salary.
And hence it is that in every line OF
business the demand is for earnest,
energetic, competent and conscientious
men: educated to know their duties and
to perform them. It is mans own
fault If he works for thirty or forty dol
lars month. 1t is because he does not
make himself worth more.