Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-04-24
THE THREE RS
Importance of Thoroughness In
Fundamentals

Importance of Thoroughness In
Fundamentals
At a time when 80 many young
men and women are preparing Ia
graduate from the various schOlds-
.ic institutions for which Bait =
more is famous it may NOT be out
of place tc hope that, along with
their higher culture, they have &C.
CURED a proper working knowl-
edge of the old fashioned three
RS, which our forefathers deemed
sufficient for all practical pur-
poses, says the Baltimore Ameri.
can.
Indeed, it might be taken for
granted that high school and col
lege graduates know how to read
and write the English language
correctly, and to tabulate sum
of figures accurately, were it not
Tor the fact that frequently bust
ness men find the contrary to be
rue, aud a weakening of their
faith in the public school theory is
the consequence.
These rem arks are called forth
as q result Of the experience Of a
weIl-knowu banker in this city,
" no ie very often applied to by
young men seeking positions in
lis bank. His Tetbod CT proceed
IRE ls a simple one. He puts the
applicant at desk anG gives him
a long list of checks to add up.
rhe young nan then signs his
name ano address, giving with it
nis scholastic record and the insti.
buttons of which he Is graduate.
Inc results have been discourage
ing to this banker. He has found
in altogether too many instances
that, while the applicant has been
a high school or technical grad
uate, he lie lacking in the funde-
mental principles of education
the ability to write ard figure cor
rectlY.
In the majority CT cases the ap.
plicants could have proven to the
tanker jusi why straight line Is
a straight line, or have expOund.
ed elaboraiely upon the philosophy
of Plato. They could have named
the npOneEt parts of every flow
err growing or have nodded beauti
full creations out of clay, or have
whitfield a ST ;sm locomotive out of
block of wood. but they cculdH't
add simple column of figures cor
rectly. Therefore, they were of
no use to him.
So, in the light of practical ex-
Ierience, it il sometimes well u
urge upon young men and women
to ground themselves we'll in the
fundamental principles Of educa
ton, and TO hope that Instructors
may rot lose sight of the practi-
cal IN the pursuit Of the theory.
This Is an emineatly practical age.
Practical men are in demand.
There Is always work for the grad
uete who has equipped himself
from the ground up along special
lines. There is no room for the
drea mer or the theorist. Abstract
methC ds are not as
efficacious as the concrete, the par
ticular. Fsddism finds no favor
with che practical business man.
The Pennsylvania Ra Tread IS in
the market for college men,, but
that great corporation does 70.
" ant them for the simple reason
that they are in possession OF Il
signifying that they
have by heck or crook passed
through the various curriculuns
of college. 1T wants trained mel
men who, through the four years
OF their study. have endeavoEed TO
fit themselves for practical work |
along a certain line, and who are
to devote that knowledge |
to practical purposes. And SO the
Pennsylvania is efter college men
men WHO know chemistry, en-
gineerirg or mathem atics-prscti
sal ren above all else; men with
practical training.
The exhibit which the Maryland
school will make at jamestown
will be an interesting one, and Will
1--WE those from other States some
dea Of the methc Dis in vogue here.
But the beet exhibit lie In young
zen and women who, after
course CT sane and serious prepare
lion, are equipped ~ take their
Iust place among the practical men
If the world, and TO acquit
with honor to them
,elves al d the school system. And
% the credit of Maryland, the
graduates of her schools stand
orc minently among those of others.
But the practical must never be.
ost sight Of. The three RS are
,tlll important.