The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1905-02-02

and the great distance from them t.
our fond hopes for IA happier and
grander plane of living.
| will agree that we have set up a
comparatively high plane on which tc
compare the merits of orr investment
but it is an ideal Of which we must
never lose sight if we would have edu
cation yield the fruits that it should.
However | shall not attempt in this
pager TO carry the argument further on
this line plausible as that is. 1t is my
purpose particularly to appeal to the
man who wants dollar and cent facts,
the man who j. an important factor in
this economic problem and whose
support is needed in the solution of the
problem. A brief contemplation upon
the subject Of our social reforms will
reveal that practically all of them are
in the nature Of cures, and we spend
yearly millions Of dollars in this direc-
ton. We are confronted with the
wrecks Of perverted human activities
and We do the best we can to bandage
the wounded spots. This is certainly
! highly cOmmendable in any people as
far AZ 1t goes. But ought we to con
tinue doing that, being short sighted
enough to miss seeing the fact that the
remedy is applied too late? Our homes
for the feeble minded our reform
schools, our police departments, our
criminal courts, and all other corrective
agencies bear witness to the fact that
we are conducting systematic social
hospital That these institutions exist
in our midst is not so surprising as the
| fact that thousands Of the people of our
state pass thru their doors each year aud
that millions Of dollars are expended in
maintaining them. If half of this
amount Of money were spent in enarg-
ing the scope and efficiency of the
secondary educational institutions some
! thing could be done to prevent this vast
army from becoming burden to the
state and it would save many an in
dividual for II useful and productive
life. We pride ourselves on the fact
| that we are wise and prudent nation;
it has remained, however, for the
oriental mind to set the world pace in
foresight which is unparalleled in histo-
~ ana which will be given credit for
1 this new key note in the achievements
Of this century. The development of
affairs in the Far East has shown that
/ tine basis of success lies in the working
ont of the principle that prevention is
more economical than cure For instance
/ the suggestion for the prevention of
/ disease in the Japanese camp came
/ from the observation of statistics that
4 for every man killed in actual battle
/ five died because Of diseases contracted.
or contaminated food or drink Such
strides have they made along this line
that the nations OF the world are al
ready taking notes preparatory 10 max
/ ing radical changes in the army and
navy. Their enormous hospital corps
has for it, main work the preservation
of health aud the prevention i disease
rather than the cure Of disease. 1t Is
one of the most marvellous exposi,ions
Of the theory Of foresight that we have
vet seen. An expenditure recommends
tiun Of such enormous proportions to be
expended in the directions indicated
would have been ridlculed by army ex-
perts the world over bu. short time
ago
Now, my contention is that secondary
education of the form such as conceive
it, will prevent much that il evil and
undesirable IN our social and com
mercal life today and the sum total re
turns will make it the cheaper plan.
That this will necessitate remodeling
our term education as ii is commonly
accepted, goes without saying. BY edu-
cation Is commonly understood knowl
edge of certain tactS in certain fields OF
endeayur II that were all to include in
the term, then we might wisely and
economically be content with diction-
aries and encyclopedias as teachers, at
least rs far ~ the reading school popu.
lation Is concerned Education Is the
sum total Of II mans activities, both
physical and spiritual To say the edu-
eating OF child takes place from 8
O'Clock until / in the school room is to
leave cont the most vital chapter in his
education the free and spontaneous
activities during the hours out Of school.
Any scheme Of education, then, that is
10 he at All complete must reach out in.
to this realm. The activities in school
should lay "a sound psychological fouuda-
iion for intellectual growth, but another
chapter rs important "a this, il to cult
waite IN him an appreciation of and in.
cllnatiun toward wholesome forms of
recreation and pleasure, 50 that his
whole nature may he properly trained
and his every wholesome desire intelli.
gently satisfied The desire for pleasure
IS as natural ~ the desire for knowledge
and each has place in Il plan of educa
ton Then there il to be added to all
this the most powerful argument in
favor of this investment for our young
men aud women Sci into play noble