Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-06-11

/ AdcsdI anu ldueldlc IL IcduliNs y
say nothing Of higher mathematics ant
sciences. Great stress is laid upoI
certain branches of advanced stud,
as a means of mental training, tn,
value of which survives long aftel
the text is forgotten. Doubtless som,
benefit is thus realized, but how mucf
can never be determined. 1t is oper
to question whether, alone, it justi
fies the time and labor expended a,
compared with other subjects o.
more practical nature that might b.
taken up either in college or outside
1t is claimed that statistics show the
college bred men to be in the lead to.
day and that this is conclusive of itself.
1t is true that larger per cent of col
lege graduates gain what is commonly
regarded as success than do non-grad-
yates. This is to be naturally expected.
Were it otherwise, there would be no
room for discussion. II, with four
years training, at heavy expense,
there were no results to show for it,
the lay of the college would be short
lived.
The natural abilities of the class OF
young men who enter our colleges are
far superior to the average OF those
who DO not. They are, as class, the
choice pickings who give bright
promise and whose innate capacities
are such as to encourage the special
deyelopm ent that is accorded them.
That they should eventually rise TO
higher station than the average is the
natural result to look for; grieyous
would be the disappointment If they
lid not. Yet it is true that very many
men have succeeded, are now succeed
ng, and viii continue to succeed who
never received the benefit of college
Vastly more depends on the
nan himself than on his educational
opportunities. These help where there
5 something substantial to build on.
M they will never serve as a substi-
ute for what can only be born in the
Individual,
There has lately come to our notice a
amphlet entitled, The Utility OF an !
.eademic or Classical Education for
Dung Men Who Have TO Earn Their
wn Living and Who Expect to Pur-
le Commercial Life. It is the re-
lit Of an investigation conducted by
1 Crane OF Chicago, who address
! a large number of letters to the
aads Of great business enterprises in
ie United States, making series Of
quiries as to how many college men
ere in their employ; how they re-
lrded them as compared with others
neither they considered college train
9 worth what it cost in time and
oney as a preparation for their line
business; and several other ques- {
ms akin. The answers covered a
de range, and all sorts of views.
en- the most radical, We're expressed.
e regret that We cannot more than ,
iehy refer TO them. On the average. !
appears that the number OF college
N employed in these lines Is rela. !
ely small, most of the employees be- /
2 men who began in humble stations !
d worked up, as time went on.
ere is perhaps an even division of
inion as to the relative merits of b
.lege men. The sentiment univer- a
ly expressed is that, college on no 9
lege, it is ability that goes rewarded.
a whole, the advocate OF college "
lining doesn't get much satisfaction s.
m Mr.. Cranes book. Z
But this is not at all conclusive. Z
e scope OF this inquiry was limited. d
young men do not intend to make Il
wing in commercial pursuits. There tf
also a higher object in education :,
n merely to acquire wealth. We !,
of the opinion that the value ofeol- c
e training is at present greatly al
r-rated, but that it has so fullyl
nonstrated its worth as to cause n
parent. having a son Of fair prom rC
to consider it as a means of pro- W
ing his chances of success, as well e'
his ultimate happiness. In future Ia
Giles we shall try to point out why ST
is true, and to give some sugges- ST
IS that may be OF help in choosing q,
best kind of higher training. ~ ~