New-York tribune., 1905-01-21

Educational Problem OF Democracy; BY
Thomas Davidson Edited with an Introductory
chapter. by Charles IL BakewelL limo. pp. X.
247. CHM Co.
Among the many pressing problems OF democ-
racy under present day conditions. nowhere
more insistent Of solution than IN America, that
Of the education OF the laboring classes is one
OF the most important To the late Thomas
Davidson it seemed the crux Of the entire So
Geological and industrial situation. Where one
mans vote is as good as another's It is essen
tial not only that the wage Garner should know
what he wants but that he should want the
right thing and not be mised by the specious
sophistries OF political demagogues on the one
hand nor by the economical pretences and ex
cuses Of employing capital on the other. The
outlook accordingly appeared TO him more
hopeful than It does TO many other writer's
sociological topics. If there IS one matter upon
which there may be said to be a general con-
of opinion in this country it is that every
one should have all the education he wants;
and there is little doubt that the supply to-day
approximately equals the demand. and will be
increased TO meet the requirements OF the fut-
ure. Two obstacles seemed to Mr.. Davidson to
stand in the way of the wage Garner in secur-
ing proper mental training. One is that the
education furnished by our high schools and
colleges is such that the wage Garner not only
does not want 1t. but would find 1t did him little
good If he got it. The other obstacle is the ne
cessity that confronts him OF engaging IN gain
ful occupation long before he has reached the
age when he is capable Of availing himself Of
the educational opportunities now offered. 1t
was to overcome these two obstacles that Mr..
Davidson planned and took the first steps tow
ard the institution of what he called 1.-The
Breadwinner's College" the story Of which is
told in the volume that left unfinished by the
1lTb0 nj haa
been completed by his friend Professor Bake
well.
The story of the inception Of the enterprise on
practical. if tentative working basis is inter-
esting. In a course Of four lectures delivered
by Mr.. Davidson in 1898, under the auspices Of
the Peoples Institute. in the hall of the Educa-
tionaI Alliance Of New-York City, he spoke on
the subject Of ''The Educational Problems
Which the Nineteenth Century Hands Over TO
the Twentieth" In this address he outlined his
ideas Of a breadwinner's college, cultural insti
tuition adapted to the needs Of wage earners. At
the close of his remarks young man arose and
objected that IT was all very we'll to talk about
profiting by the culture of the ages, but as for
most Of those present they were ground in the
dust and had no opportunity. Mr. Davidson re-
piled that it not So that they had all the
opportunity they deserved. and that If they
really wanted these things they could get them.
For instance he said. 'if you viii form a class
and fall TO work in dead earnest I will come
down and meet you once week and teach you"
His former objector's exclamation, ''Now you're
talkingr' was followed by a burst of applause.
The class formed, and Mr.. Davidson better
than his word, devoted two evenings week to
II and to another class that was soon organized
for the study Of philosophy
The next year opened with eight classes, and
tive operation the teachers Of some Of the classes
being students in others. A club was started.
for which rooms were hired. the members taking
an interested part in the direction OF the move
nnent and in related neighborhood work. The
death of Mr.. Davidson the following summer
while great blow to his East Side friends, did
not interrupt their efforts TO continue the work
he had begun with them. The Thomas Davidson
schools now include an elementary course and
an academic or high school course, as well as the
culture classes which Mr.. Davidson hoped might
serve as the nucleus for the Breadwinners Col
lege.
The volume. small and fragmentary as It is Of
necessity and recording the history of an aspira-
ton but imperfectIy realized, is yet one Of the
most suggestive and practical Of all the current
books on sociology. It introduces nothing SEN
sational dramatic. offers no easy cures for
social Ills but IT does demonstrate that there is
power for right thinking and self Improvement
latent IN the hearts and minds Of those whom
patrOnizing reforHers wont to call 'Iifes
disinherited ones that only needs the proper in
spiration to stimulate II TO a healthy and ever
growing activity. An essay on "Aristotles
Poetics'' by a seamstress from Southern Russia
occupied the attention Of one Of the classes for
several evenings. Another on Religion" by a
clerk in a hat factory. was full of earnestness
and showed that the author had grasped the
heart Of the matter" II am inclined TO believe"
writes Mr.. Davidson. that the writing of that
essay. involving. as 1t did, considerable reading
marked epoch IN his life Let ii be remem-
bered that the students who discussed these
subjects with an often acute intelligence came
largely from the sweatshops, newsstands and
factories of the lower East Side. In the words
of Professor Blackwell:
The spirit of friendly cooperation became con-
( taglous; he IMr. DavdsOnl made the young men
in doing appealed continually to what was most
heroic and ideal in their aspirations. This spirit
has prevailed IN all the work that has been done
and IN the case OF many members OF the society
the result has been nothing less than a complete
transformation Of character. And, unfinished
the story IS, the work that has been actually
accomplished speaks volumes, only for the
force OF Mr.. Davidson's personality, and, IL must
in fairness be added for the character Of these
wage themselves. but also fer the vitality
OF the ideal that has guided them and him in all
that has been