The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-06-11
SENSIBLE UTTERANCES.

For years The COMMONWEALTH has
been OF the opinion that the modern
methods of education are In msny re
spects too hot-house like In their ter :
denotes. We have said, and we repeat
that in some respects with the latter
day system the work Of acquiring ali
education is too easy. We have all
the<while contended that Webster
blue Back" is the best spelling book
ever published and We have been il
clined to hold on to the old time ideas
for the best results of real, downright;
hard study.
Mr.. J. H. Southgate, president OF
the board OF trustees OF Trinity Col
lepe. made some observations in his
annual report last Monday which are
worth careful study.
We quote from his report the fol
lowing striking paragraphs which force
fully point us back to old time meth
DDS:
"Tkere is no doubt that progress
has been made in primary and second
airy education but 1t frequently hap
pens that progress and improvement
fail to conserve all the good that, be-
| longea to former systems and methods.
It cannot be denied that the methods
and aims of the old log school house
and the text books used in them, IN
spite of glaring deficiencies, produced
results of he highest worth in the ed
| ucation OF youth. The--student enter
Ing college today lacks the power OF
close and persistent application to
task which was one OF the chief results
aimed at by the old-time schoc
teacher.
cit may be impossible to point out
fully the causes of this lack but
radical change has come into the mod
ern methods and doctrines of education
which doubtless has some important
bearing on this evident loss. For.
merIy education was regarded as a Sc
rious and difficult task. The idea oil
| work was kept prominently before the
mind OF the youth and they we're en-
couraged to undertake difficult tasks
] To succeed at an agreeable task was
aever thought to be as commendabIt
AZ to overcome hard one. The mod
srn idea is opposed to this view. 1t ii
cow claimed that study can and should
be made a pleasant occupation. thus
creating loye for knowledge and thu
pursuit of it. So the idea OF work hal
given way to play, and the taste in
stead of the welfare Of youth Is con
suited in deciding the subjects the,
should study. Such radical chang
must affect the character of students
The effort to make easy all text books
necitations, and study fails to produc
that toughness of mental characte
which gave the college student Q
twenty years ago disposition to per
.ist and overcome difficulties. Parent
, become easy prey to the discomfort G
, son who wishes to change course
study for no better reason than that a
, easier course may be found. Tn
remedy for this EVIL is with the pr
mary and secondary schools, for 1T
learly impossible to overcome in co
: lege the habits formed in earlier trail
ing.
"Another loss is worthy ambitio
. to succeed. Education is being col
: lined to the development and trainin
II the memory, reason, and imagin
ion, leaving out. the quickening
hose noble impulses that fix the ain
!. ind furnish the energy OF conduc
g Che frequent exhortations OF the o
II eacher, the proverbs of Webster
spelling Book, and the moral lessor
contained i'm other text books appeal'
=
y . the young mind and heart, Al
t brough them were awakened impuls
q hat ccyeted large success. The NOR
\. lahbinese of today is evidenced in Il
>, arge number OF college students wl
, IRE satisfied to work at a passing pol
VI ,nd who regard 1t as hardship to
Ii :alled on to do any unnecessary stud
i. No amount Of information can oyt
Is ,ome this loss OF we'll ordered al
ii healthy ambition, and until it IS aga
10 made a prominent aim In sll eal
i. training, education must show Il
ls profitable results than are justly
pected Of It."
FARMERS AND THEIR SONS
IS This issue OF The CoMMoNwEAL