The Somerset reporter., 1907-10-31
knowledge about SO called advanced

knowledge aoOut 80 caileo advanced
subjects.
This practical education which IL
first of all matter OF personal con.
cern and, second, matter of power
and service rather than one of knowl.
edge is, in the third case question
largely Of method.
II there was one special virtue IL
the old school it was in its recogni.
tion of the omnipotent power of work
II there IL, in the modern school
any fault that overtops all others 1t il
in the idea that work is something to
be disguised, something to be passed
by, something to be avoided, wher.
ever and whenever possible.
Education does not mean freedom
from work. Far from it! 1t means
the ability, the power and, above all
the desire to work.
The education provided In oui
schools has been directed mainly to
the development of mentalpower. 1t
has exalted brain work. Is not the
time at hand when we should attend
to other education? 1t is not the
sole nor the chief purpose OF the
schools to produce results that are
literary or scholarly in the narrow
significance of the term.
A practical education for society at
large is the education which will lead
everyone of its members to his own
place of chief contentment and great
est usefulness.
Manual training is a most important
instrumentality in practical educa-
ton, because it does these things. 1t
trains the senses, it develops skill in
doing; it promotes habits of order
and industry; it leads to a respect
for labor and it reveals tastes and
talents that would otherwise remain
undiscovered and undeveloped.
Any education which sacrifices
these not only cheats the individual,
but, ultimately, endangers the State.
Note the penalty Maine is paying
for having always placed first and
sole emphasis upon literary train
ing. The education of a generation
ago and far too much of it today en-
phasized the unpleasant side of man
ual toll by comparison with those
forms to which a literary or head
training would lead. Our boys and
girls were trained away from the
farms; their eyes we're fixed upon far
off opportunities; they were told that
Maine held no chance for them-and
with what result? Today 200, 900
Maine born men and women are Civ
ing the fruit of their productive years
to other parts of the country. Many
of these have prospered as they might
not at home, but, of them all, how
many thousands might have found
the same opportunities here had their
education made these openings appar-
ent to the n!
The teachers of Maine have now a
chance to change this. A new era
has opened for Maine. The impulse
of a quickened industrial life is felt
throughout her borders. New towns
and new industries are springing into
existence and old ones are being re-
neWed. Our six thousand Maine
teachers may so influence our Maine
youth that it shall seek and find here
its golden opportunity.
Seated near the great markets OF
the land, no other state compares
with ours In agricultural possibilities
Unlimited water powers speak of
manufactures to be developed. Our
hundred harbors beckon the COM
merce of the world. The beauties of
Maine scenery allure visitors from
every quarter of the land.
To these opportunities we may not
only draw attention, but | believe the
time is not far distant when, in our
own schools of industry, we shall
promote the prosperity both of the
| individual worker and of the great
/ industries that are the foundation of
our prosperity. These schools we
must have, if we are to meet the
competition of other states and other
lands.
If the teachers and citizens oil
Maine have that faith in her which
shall lead to deeds, then generation
hence it may not be true that a third
or more of our native population has
sought homes outside the borders OF
Maine. With much truth it has beer
said that Maine's best product is men
For the future, at least, let us moi
raise SO much of our best product fol
export!
4 practical education then, first OF
all. serves the individual. 1t is al
education for power and for service
and not for knowledge alone. A
practical education is an adjustment
of the individual to his environment
and to the life he is to live. A prac
tical education makes out of all thu
varying elements of society perfec
whole; each doing the work of |
part aid doing it well.
A practical education is not knowl
edge only, not skill in reasoning, no
quickness of intellect, not shrewdnes
of judgment. 1t is the education tina
brings the man to the fulness of hi
man stature, able and willing to d.
the work that comes to his hand ant
to perform his own part, howeye
humble or exalted, in the way tina
shall help the entire race to fulfill hi
great destiny.