The Washington bee., 1907-11-30
Dr., ThirkieId's Speech
THE MEANING AND MISSION OF
EDUCATION.

Thirkield, DID, LID, as President
Of Howard University, Washington,
D c, Rankin Memorial Chapel, z.3o
PM, Friday, November IS, 1907.
This occasion, the fortieth anniver-
sar Of an institution with the location,
history. relations and ideals of Howard
Umverfty, suggests the theme, the
Meaning and Mission of Education 1t
is fitting that We consider % the aims
and ideals in modern education, and (2)
the place and mission of Howard Uni
ycrsity in the higher life of a race.
Il vas Herbert Spencer who, about
the time of the founding of this univer-
.itv, startled the educational world wit"
the question, What knowledge is of
most worth?" The answer, involving
what Bacon called the relative value Of
Bnowledges," has
ChaHged the Face of Modern Education
Il has given true place to the mod
ern sciences, history, economics, sociol-
ogv. philosophy, literature, and physical
raining, along side of Latin, Greek and
Mathematics, which once held exclusive
SWAY. 1t has broken the tradition that
education is for an aristocracy; has
made education free and democratic;
has made education OF for luxury, but
for lie; not the badge OF class dis
tinction, but equipment for service. Ed
ucation, then, makes its appeal not to
the intellect alone, but to the entire
man A rounded personality with fore
sight, insight, widesight is the supreme
outcome.
What knowledge, then, IS of most
WORTH We answer, the knowledge that
can be wrought most effectively into the
fabric Of life; that will ennOble and
strengthen character; that will equip
man for his place and part in the real
work of the world. We plead, then, for
IN Education That Can Be Translated
Into AetioH.
that, through cultured powers, makes
for higher living and larger efficiency;
an education that viii make better citi
zens; give better homes and children; (;
an education that will improve physical
and moral we'll being; that will arm
against intellectual crazespolitical frauds
and social follies; that will give sanity,
vision, progress, power.
In short, the aim in higher education
IS to develop men-wise, sane, conscien-
tous. fearless; of clean character and
Lofty ideals; men of keen perception,
large outlook and broad sympathles; in
dependent, yet considerate; aggressive,
yet tolerant, courageous, yet gentle
men with a passion for righteousness,
standard bearers of truth, consecrated to
service.
.41ty These Principles and Ideals to
the Education of a Race,
The needs and claims of the Negro
for such an education as will draw forth
he entire man to his best is grounded
in his humanity. The demands of mod
cm sociology are for "a social con-
sciousness that shall be characterized
by three-fold conviction of essential
likeness of men, of the mutual intiu-
ence of men, and Of The value and sa-
credness of the person" This means
that all men should be sons Of God and
brothers of their fellow-men; that no
race is left without witness of the di-
vine in mental and moral capacity; that
men are so bound up together that edu-
cation must be for all; and that the per
sonality of every man is sacred.
This is the teaching of the Son OF
Man. Every man has in him values
above all market price. This IS
The Democratic Ideal.
Democracy bears living witness to the
capacity of the downmost man. There
ale in American history numberless ex-
ampes OF the fact that the common
man mas stored up in him uncommon
powers for highest life and service OF
man. Lincoln, Grant, Douglass are on
ly conspicuous examples.
This IS the meaning OF equallty-not
that every man in capacity IS the equal
of every other man; or that there Is
Z
any such thing as equality OF gifts and
powers; for it is a truism that Liberty
leads to inequality based on natural drf-
iercnces OF capacity and application
among men," 1t IS rather that IN a
democracy
Ersyy Man Has Right to Equality OF
Opportunity;
may claim equal right with every other
man to a free unfoldment of all the
powers and possibilities that are stored
up in him; that there are diversities Of
gifts, but one spirit of freedom; that
no artificial barrier shall bs~placed IN
The way of any man; that in civil life