New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-02
MODERN EDUCATIONAL NEEDS.
What Metropolitan Conditions Make In.
pera+ively Necessary.

TO the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Your editorial in tle Issue of N1vernb-r o,
entitled Because Look Prosperous recalls tb.
impression made on me by "a recent Wish % Neyr
York. The beautiful subway and IN. ulazniacer.
new Buildings indicate the exact and extensive co.,
troll OF nature which call civilization TIE caIr
confidence Of the more prosperous citizen. evinced
an unquestiOnabe power AM right 20 exercise S.cs
control. There are giants in these days But ~.
control is so thorough thar very many deuizens ,s
the great city never GENE into WALKING conta-.
with the prime and fundamental forces % mature
Let me illustrate; In many handsome homes m
member of the family has any care for the aetna
heating Of the house but man from outside comes
in two three times a day % tend 90 the flrnare
Coal and wood ard the processes of wood choppin-
and coal mining unknown and Uuthought o. II,
many such families. No doubt this sets their mimi
free for other interests. Eut their lives are In trs
Impoverished. that they have conscious Intsres-
in the lives of the who supply their fusr
These men have ceased o. be persons % them -nf
have become mere symbols practically zeros. Their
attitude much the same toward the purveyors az
food and other comforts. and even toward the ser
wants who conduct the work OF the house Ta4
children being brought w the same spirit O.
disregard for those who serve them and In TIE
practical ignorance Of the fundamental ae-ivi
ties Of human society. Thus arises cass vao
scorn toll and the toilers and nave lost all sense o.
obligation toward them.
Many middle class people initiate the manners
and attitude Of mind OF these weather families
They minimize tine brute realities and genuine az
uvities of life and In their stead set I'D as the
whole thing the outward form or manner the mere
show. and thus they make the show unreal Th-v
are content with stained pine and glad 70 call d.
mahogany Flemish oak; they accept the
appearance Of FIRE escape for a real one They
ccrtract marriages for the srltincatiou OF vanity
ana sexual desire, but viii not endure the and
selI-tenial Of rearing families. They live in fats
ouiI oy spectators and snorantly call them Or
TIE sacred name OF BONE" In business the
chiefly learn to do their fellows bu- have TO WIS.,
TO DO them good In acts and things the good form
aCS0rb their praise L. The ueslect 81 the Contsn
and genuine usefulness. of which the style and
the lower classes take Ihe- cue from those s5ovs
them in intelligence ana mower T5ev MAKE 80,
comes from home life ana from victory In DIRE
conflict With nature they COPY the amuserneuts OF
the Idle. To nave nothing 10 do IS their ideal 81
bliss; their ambition Is 70 make fine show. They
dress beyond their means. they adorn the OUTSIDE
sdrHitesikts thd nesIrcI thelr, undercothes, they
want stimulation they get it from gambling the
theatre. novels drink. flirting and the like but nor
rom Wen earned mastery IN a Wholesome fight
All this - far as II exists. breeds unhealthy in
charity toward his brother men. Such Is not he
temper appropriate 10 a republic, II is the temper
II divides society into hostile camps and hydra
Nature study and manual training in the school,
are an attempt 10 avoid these dangers. These
ity and the iov in muscular ACTIVITY and m the
tangible realization OF ideals which tend toward
gsnulleness of character and the right estimation
of values and therefore toward charity among the
various classes OF workers. II these studies had
their perfect work there would Be in society
drudges and idlerS, but all would be useful ser
wants OF the common wealth, Cheerfuly serving each
ing On common sense estimation. these studies
If intelhgently and thoroughly carried out would
largely develop in cur modern city people the old
time virtues. while enabling them % enjoy in
fuller measure than at present the delights %
civilization
But such a system cannot be set going IN day
II costs TOO u1uCn. u requires of train
FOR vastly deeper than mere technical
ability. II eSlDDOSeS a considerable measure ~
that very renewed attitude Of the public which II
seeks 70 propagate II means enterprise
great as the building of the subway and Hudson
River tunnels IL may not be limited 20 The great
cities alone hut must he carried out wherever re1
ConEreEate IN sufficient numbers to exclude direct
contact with the soil. We in this small Cfty ~
2noo are as truly concerned as YOU in the
trOpoliS.
\ beginning has been made. There has been some
laundering and there will have 10 b. a good deal
more before We learn to do II well We mus. trv
and try again with the Embellishments gained from
failure But who shall trv7 Large hearted. large
minded individuals must make the effort. Who viii
furnish the funds BY and by, the taxpayers
Meantime. the enterprise must be undertaken rs
endowment of schools for handwOrk and nature
study is even more important than the building -
public libraries. city people are already supplied
with sufficient quantity Of reading after Their
tons what they nee1 is thirEs. And teachers ara
demanded, well money Careers for coming
Americans arc opening Up along the line os this
ney- sort OF education FIR msu even more than for
lions where they develop tho point o. view [
have indicated and can acquire TIE skin 70 carry
into effect. ARTHUR WINNIE SHAW
Meriden Conn Nov. O. lSO+