The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-04
WHAT A COLLEGE EDUCATION
DOES.


Journal have been discussing the value
of a college education, the Home
rather taking ground that it is not
desirable and the Journal taking the
ground that it is beneficial The
Home cites the cases of several of the
ablest and strongest leaders who never
rubbed their heads against the col
lege wallis and says:
UNLESS man is made of the proper
kind of stuff there are not enough uni
versities and colleges in the United
States to make anything out of him.
The college that a man attends cuts
no figure now The man must prove
what there is in MIN by his work"
The Monroe Journal. quotes the
above, and says:
This is unquestionably true. 1t is
said that a former president of the
University of North Carolina used to
tell the young men who We're thinking
of going to other schools, that if they
wanted to do anything in law or poll
tics in North Carolina they must have
the prestige that came from having at
tended the University. The college
that a man attended truly cuts no
figure now, provided that he got the
training that comes from systematic
sequent ability to use to the very best
advantage all the ability that nature
gave him, and to see things in their
relations to other facts and things, to
have larger horizon, broader SYM
pathies than he would have possibly
had had he not gone to college Such
a man may be outstMpped in the bat
tie of life by some man of greater
natural ability who did not go to col
iege, but he has made the most of his
own powers. which is more important
to him. And-never overlook this
fact-the man who did not go to col
[lege may have done better. and GER
tainly, would, have done it easier and
with more satisfaction to himself had
he had the opportunity of going"
College education will put no brains
in a mans head. it will not make a
brilliant man out of dull one. it will
not guarantee success to any man, or
work any miracle. But it will help
any man just as it helps a good tool to
be sharpened. College education will
enable man of ordinary ability to
succeed much better than if he had
been denied it's advantage, and will
help men of all grades of natural abl-
ity to do their best in life. You rarely
find man who has won success with
out college education who is not GER
tain ito send his son to college. He
feels that he has had to work with
dull tools and at a disadvantage. and |
he is resolved to give his son the edu-
cation he has missed all his life. And |
it is quite as rare to find a college-bred |
man who is.not willing to make sacri- |
fees to send his son to college. These |
almost universal experiences would |
seem to settle the question in favor of
a college education wherever it is
practicable. But when the young man
cannot go to college, he does not de-
spair of success if he is made of the |
right stuff. He redoubles his efforts |
and often outstrips the man with SUI
perior educational advantages. 1t
often happens that the best educated |
man in a community is self-educated. |
studies at night after his days work |
and educates himself, you find ninety
nine who are never educated unless
they obtain it before they become
men.
The important thing in a young man |
who goes to college is to improve his |
opportunity and master the course. |
The particular college he attends is of |
far less Importance. 1t is far better |
of course, for a man to be educated |
in an institution in the state in which |
he expects to live. for the friendships |
made in college are more helpful and |
more lasting than those made in after |
life. 1t is dangerous thing to send a |
young man abroad to be educated. He |
is apt to imbibe notions and to Guilt
vate tastes that do not help him 20 |
attain success in his home. Jefferson
strongly inveighed against sending
young men to Europe to be educated, |
and one of his ideas in establishing
the University sof Virginia was to pro-
vide an institution in that common
wealth that would make no parent |
feel it necessary to send his son to |
Europe or to England to be educateq.
Writing to Mr.. j. Bannister from
Paris in 1885, Mr.. Jefferson said: IAN
American coming to Europe for educa-
ton. loses in his knowledge, in his
morals, in his habits, and in his hap
piness. l had entertained only doubts
on this head before / came to Europe;
what l see and hear, since l came
here, proves more than l had even
suspected
By all means, give your boy col
lege education if he will take it and
YOU can afford it. and send him to an |
institution in YOUR own state. But let |
young men remember that collese eau
cation will do them no good unless 1t |
better fits them for service to their
fellow men.