New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-09
TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
upon Ireland

Two kinds of complaint about technical schools
have recently been heard in Europe and Amer.
lea. One is that there are not enough or such
Institutions at least in England. Sir Norman
Lockyer after declaring that trade no longer
follows the flag, but follows brains, demands
from the British government ampler provision
for the class of education on which. In his Opin-
ion, national prosperity mainly depends. The
second form Of criticism relates to the charac-
ter of the instruction already being impaired.
OF the latter variety of faultinding the latest
bit comes from Dr. Louis Duncan, who is pro-
fessor of electrical engineering in the Massachu-
sets Institute of Technology. His views may
be found in "The Engineering Magazine" for
November.
In addition to the rather vague and general
charge that some of the American schools go
too far in gorging the student with mere In
formation the Boston professor specifics two
usages which offer a chance for reform. he
touches lightly on the possibility that too mucn
attention is given to manual training, aud PROB
ably has no strong convictions on that point
At any rate, his utterances relative to this
feature of technical education will hardly COM
mand the sympathy which will be accorded
to his second suggestion. DR.. Duncan Is con-
WINGED that mathematics are taught that
mot one man in a thousand applies differential
equations and calculus to practical problems.
'but works them out with the multiplication
table and slide ruler
Though it is not possible to prove the justice
of such an allegation in America by citing con-
ditions existing elsewhere II is noteworthy that
the same Indictment has recently been brought
against English institutions. Professor Charles
Vernon Boys, in an address before the British
Association for the Advancement OF Science this
year, insisted that mathematics were not pre-
scented in adequate way. He urged the aboli-
ton Of Euclid altogether, or else a translation
into English; "such English" he added, "aS
ANY parent would use in explaining the ideas
to his SON." The students acquaintance with
these ideas, too he believed. should first be ac-
uuired from concrete experiments and measure
ments with instruments. Professor Boys had
another grievance the retention of the classics
in technical schools, but his principal point of
attack was the present method of conducting
instruction in mathematics. Almost simulta-
neously with the delivery Of this address con-
tributed article appeared in Engineering, eI-
pressing the same sentiments. A p. Trotter,
himself an engineer, demanded that ''such lum-
Der as Euclid" be thrown overheard. He insist
ed that men in his profession used logarithm
as they would a tool, but they did not need TO
make a logarithm any more than they would
make a pair Of dividers or a surveyors transit.
/ w ny, ne dSheus bluuSAt LuSAhOiy 10
burdened with an explanation of the theory on
which logarithms are constructed?
Americans, of course are concerned but little
with the defects of foreign educational systems,
but should feel lively interest in those which
may exist at home. There is always danger
Of getting into rut 1t cannot do any harm
to have such questions raised as Or. Duncan
raises Whether he is right or wrong, this much
is true: those who run the factories and rail-
ways and those who conduct the schools are de-
pendent upon each other and need to keep in
close touch. The prosperity and success of the
former are due largely to the recruits which
they obtain, year after year, from the technical
institutes. On the other hand, the deeper the
insight which instructors obtain into the quail
ties and qualifications which yield the best re-
suits in practical industry. the better will be the
equipment which they give to their pupils.
England and Germany have recently sent sew
eral commissions to the United States to try to
ascertain the secrets of American supremacy,
and these visitors went to representative manu-
featuring establishments for their informa ton.
Might not college professors IN this country do
the same with proft7