Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-02
ANNUAL DINNER IT 7. n G. 4.
EDUCATIONAL DEPARrMENr EN-
TERTAIHs SPECIAL GUESTS
Aentien 1rads Of the Great Need for
Higher acknowledgements
to Toast2

5
to Toastal
Elmer Ellsworth Brown. United States
commissioner Of education, and John Bar
rett, director OF the bureau of American re-
publfcs. were the special guests last even
ing at the annual dinner OF the educational
department of the Y. NJ c. A. In the ban
auet hall Of the association building They
spoke OF the great need for higher educa-
ton OF the people The banquet was at
tended by about 900 students and instruc-
tors OF the evening institute.
In the absence from the city of Dr. Mer-
rnl e. Gates, chairman Of the educational
committee OF the association, Commissioner
Macfariand acted as master of ceremonies,
Foiiewing the repast he outlined the work
OF the evening institute under Myron J.
Jones. educational director. During the win
ter 1t has had registration of 58s Students,
- members Of the faculty and "a classes.
Representing the Students.
representing the students OF the school
brasht r. Sonen and Thomas R. Thibodeau
were called upon for brief remarks an to
the benefits Of the class. and they testi-
ned to Its worth. to the excellency and COM
potency OF the instructors and to the bene-
hts they have derived from it.
D. Knee OF Korea. the next speaker, point
co out that In the foreign countries Wash
ansfon is regarded as the center OF all
America, and that when he returns home
ana tells his friends that he graduated from
= university In Washington aud attended
classes IN Y. NJ. c. A. in Washington it
would mean more to his friends across the
water than IL he SAID he graduated from
Harvard. Continuing. he stated that he
counts II special pleasure to be a mem
per OF the debating society Of the associa-
ton. because in his country before the re-
cent Ralsso-Japanese war the formation of
Qepating society was prohibited by law,
reIsons mere. ne said. should appreciate the
opportunity and should have sympathy with
those who have not such opportunity
Commissioner Brown urged higher educa-
ton throughout the country, his subject be-
ing The Continuing School In Modern Ed
Schools like this evening institute" the
speaker said. look like the pioneers of a
movement essential to progress in education
IN this country and represented by the con-
In the American cities. he added, Stats
tics show that only 80 per cent of the pupils
reach the end OF the sixth grade. and only
10 per cent enter the high school. In this
country. by reason of that fact there il
coming a definite movement toward the
establishment Of schools where those earn
ting a living every day can carry on q sys-
femattc education.
Benefits Of Schools,
As. to the benefits of such schools Com
missioner Brown pointed out, first, that
they enable q person in a trade to have
more skill in his trade. Second they enable
a man in one occupation to outgrow that
occupation and rise to a profession above It
By their aid the electrician becomes the
electrical engineer. Third. they enable q
person to enlarge himself outside of his
trade. Schools such rs the 7. M. c. "A. In
stitute, according to the speaker. are the
skirmish lines leading an advance OF the
main column of education.
Let me outline an ideal Of education to
which this country should attain" the COM
missioner continued. "In such country
as ours the real systematic education OF
schools should not close before the citizen
has attained his majority. The republic
needs for its work the degree OF education
which no man can attain without keeping
on until his majority Is reached and by
deyoting some part OF each year up to ehat
time for better citizenship. And VIII say
that some. part of every year OF q mans
life should be given to some sort OF We'll
ordered education"
Foreign Relations.
In discussing education and our foreign
relations Director Barrett stated that more
would be attained along the line Of peace
than by peace conferences, II the people OF
this country would learn more about the
history. customs and laws Of their neigh
boring countries, and thus get into close
touch with them. The man who takes an
interest in his neighbor and his work and
progress becomes leader. And IN the same
way, Director Barrett thought, IL this ma
ton is to become world power all young
men should be educated regarding foreign
countries, their physical characteristics.
history laws and customs r
1.-The great principle OF diplomacy, tne
speaker remarked, SIS that we must apply
the golden rule in our relations with other
nations The duty Of the United States to
other countries is the relation OF person
to his neighbor. And the more this idea u
developed and applied. the more peace wah
come; more peace than will be produced by
all the peace conferences that can be held.
And I want to see ia the schools moro
interest in foreign lands. In their history,
intellectual progress and characteristics.
Mr. Barrett went on to say. LAS director
Of the bureau Of American republics have
found that there are 1.0oO students In this
country from the Latin-American countries;
and each Of those students Is going back to
his country as missionary OF this country.
The more the better. II were asked why
there is so much distrust In South America
of the United t would say 1t Is be.
knowledge OF those countries by the people
of the United States. Unless you become
familiar with their history you cannot get
into close touch with them.
Free Of Revolutions.
because we hear Of revolution be-
tween two small countries of South Amer
lea, we attribute revolutions to all Of South
America. But four-fifths of the area OF
the sister republics In America has had no
revolution in the past fifteen or twenty
years. Such countries as Brazil. Argen-
tine Peru, Ecuador and Mexico are re-
garded by European capitalists as safe for
investments practically as the United
States. Out of the twenty-one national
tiles in America twenty are Latin-Ameri-
can and only one Anglo-Saxon. Does 1t
not behoove US to learn something Of the
history and customs of our sister re-
publics?
but the great item in the relations OF
this country to those of South America is
not commerciaiism, not the finding Of mar
kets, but the moral responsibility of the
United States as a great nation before the
world. And the sister republics are now
watching this country and wondering
which civilization they will follow. the
newer one OF this country or that of Eu-