The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-08-04
IN. O. Picnyune. Aug. IL


IN. O. Picayune. Aug. II
1t has been repeatedly east I'm the
teeth Of the higher educational instI.
tutions that men come out of colleges
aud universities loaded. with intel.
Iectual accomplishment and learn.
ing which are 40 many gewg aws and
80 much worthless trunpery because
their possessors. despite their educa-
tiOnal attainmentx. do not know how
10 earn an honest livelihood. II this
he the case. as 1t has been 40 often
charged, then mere intellectual de-
yelOpment IL SO far useless that to
give 1t freely to the people Is only to
waste money.
This. gay the advocates and cham.
paOns Of Government paternalism
demands change which shall reme-
dy all the faults of the existing sys-
tenn. and tn discover Just what the
remedy shall br Is the question. Hon.
Andrew =. Draper, LID. Commits
siOner of Education Of the State of
New York, writing to Appleton's
Magazine for August, says plainly:
Ourentire system Of schools. higher
ana lower, Is moving toward re-
W tuc tTuttltIlk WHICH
fits one for successful living in our
complex civilization. The mere ru-
dament which enables n child to read
and write are far from sufficient I'm
the elementary schools, AMI the lin
guistic studies which are merely
culturing. In the old sense of the
term. are no longer In the highest
favor in the advanced schools. The
early ideals are passing away. The
little child must be trained to see, to
think. To do. and to express himself:
the college student must get the
knowledge, the purpose. the over.
the steadiness. AMI the endurance
which accomplish substantial re-
suits, through mental or manual Ia
Dor. Culture which gains recogni-
ton I'm this country must lie more
than skin deep and must come from
the reactionary discipline Of work
upon the workman.
The trend Of our higher education.
mp To the present generation, was
toward respectable polish for the
lille rich. and toward some prepara-
ton for the learned professions. The
trend OF our higher etiucat ton now
Is toward u much better prepara-
ton for the professions and toward
very complete preparation for all the
skilled employInents; all of the CON-
structive Industries. and all Of the
commercial activities.
This means simply that It il the
busiiiess of the State to teach it's
people. wholly at the public expense.
any and every trade. calling aud pro-
fession that anyone niay chOane to-
adopt sts a MEANS of earning n liveli-
hood. Already there are Industrial
FREE schools, In which various me-
chunical trades ami Industrial arts
are taught at the public ex perlse, and
although Ii has become a custom
among our own people to tlenounce
the illiteracy and educational back
war,iiiess Of Louisiana, the fact new
ertleless exists that In addition to-
the very considerable amounts Of
money spent 10y the State and It's
people la giving to their educablp
youth general educational advan-
tages, there are ut least three State
schools In which trades and callin.s
are taught FRYE, and that sort of in-
stitutisin IL found Ia many other of
the States
The tendency IL to- abolish from
the public universities and State
schools III the highest class all stud
les that do not lead directly To pro-
ductive results. aud particularly to
throw aside those that have been
cOntemptuOusly referred to an con-
ferring polish and accomplishments |
upon the idle rich, as mentioned by |
the New York State Commissioner.
1t would seem that we are rapidly |
drifting into conditions I'm which |
competition In the struggle for life |
Will lie 40 strenuous that all Intellect |
ual accomplishment and polish will |
be swept out Of the way and the en- |
tire course Of institution In the State |
schools will he narrowed down to |
those matters which offer direct pe-
cuniary returns tn the students who |
shall be graduated.
That this Is the -trensl-Olsaaulfi ed |
ucation In this country IL admitted
by educators Of the highest rank and |
authority, and Ii IL In harmony with |
the growing idea that all power, au-
thOrify and ownership shall be vest
ed In, and deposited with. a central |
government, Federal or State. ac-
cOrding to appOrtionment and sub
division of jurisdiction. I
As to the slur that under the pres
ent system men come out of colleges
and universities ignorant OF the
means Of earning n living. the blame
should not fall on the education. but |
ON the individual. There are thou
sands of men I'm every class In life.
learned or ignorant, who do not or
Will not or cannot earn a meagrc
support for themselves. The de-
feet Is In the man. and the quality or
degree OF his education has nothing
tn dO with man nj r,ncif..