The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-17

If we apply our analysis OF educa.
ton us acquiring knowledge. forming
habits and training the intellectual
force. to the college curriculum, 1t Is
found wanting.
Contrary to the popular notion, edu-
cational authorities do not seriously,
claim that the classical college curri-
culum furnishes any great amount Of
real knowledge. A language is not
Knowledge. not even formal knowi-s
edge. 1t Is the art of expressing
thought or knowledge. Tho learning
of language is learning an art. or
IL may be regarded as forming a
habit of speech. Learning language
to forming a habit rather than ac-
quiring knowledge. In no sense IL
| learning a language a training of the
intellectual force. The reason why n
| language is SO much more easily
| learned, In childhood is. no doubt. due
| to the fact that 1t Is n matter of FORM
| Ing habit OF mental operation rather
than an cxertion of tho Intellectual
force.
Not only is language childish cS-
ercise. but ae inflexional languages
grew. up In childish ago of human
development. A recrudescense to them
by grown men Is ono OF tho most
monumental follies that ever afflicted
the human race. 1t Is misfortune
that man finds it necessary to learn
a language after his 1anguage-forming
age is past. 1t cannot be true that
learning language. dramatically. by
force OF memorizing after the natural
age is past. Is n valuable mental
training. It is turning OF the mind
backward instead of forward, the more
SO if the language is dead language.
No one needs more than one lan-
guage In which.to learn and express
| his Knowledge. especially II this IL
one OF the leading languages. In view
| OF the great volume of present knowl-
edge. 1t is folly to spend long periods
| learning different and Inferior meth
oas Of expression. Every day spent In
learning language not needed for
| practical use among foreign people Is
a day wasted. and more than wasted.
Language studies do not aid ones
| mowers OF expression. Tho purest and
best language is used by those thor-
ourhly acquainted only with their own
| native tongue. ~.
A language like the English Is ike
| law. a Jealous mistress. To be master OF
English sone must spend his days Win
It alone. and not divide his alleglanee.
| IL one wishes to improve his powers q
exnression let him carefully sele Ct the
hookg In which he will acquire his
real knowledge, and use those which
are known to be written In a good
| sty,a. so wealthy Is English In books
tha+ one may find books even IN the
Ismore abstruse subjects like sphiiosopny
and the different sciences. written IN
pure and attractive language.
mathematics, In, most colleges. Is
only regarded as formal knowledge
acquired for mental exercise alone az i.s
steaching Is entirely trivial anu over
shadowed by the languages. MOS. COZ,
lege men cannot realiy ecolHp ...7',',,.,,
higher mathematics. and they Iflunk..
! tbrnnrh their recitntfons. crl D.
tnronrii or, at best. .stuff up or
1 acram" for their examinations. Mathe-
nlatIcs is OF no use. either as knowl-
4 edpe or discipline, to more than one
Dcrson. In a thousand or ono IN Ten
=, those who got as far as the higher
mathematics In their studies.
rho official college curriculum cons
tatns nothing concerning the lorna-
! tionsof habits. although We have seen
sthat college life is very active IN habit
forming especially In the formation
OF bad habits. We have seen tnat- ohe
1 STANDARD OF living is largely formed
IN the three years at high school or
q On deny. the four years In college, and
the two or three years more of rro-
fcsslonal school life, a matter OF about
Item years In ALL fully one -fonrth OF the
average life above Childhood.
Passing over the requirement OF
knowledge and the formationtof habits
not officially regarded as OF the es-
sential advantages OF the college
course. we find that the leading potioi,
i is ACCOMPLISHMENTS discipline.
this means, anything. II Is that these
4 studies tend to lrayv out and train
4 tho intellectual force, q
\ Tho common. and even tho official
idea is that tho discipline Is the better
4 the harder tho study. But in practice
i acute minds chop tip the languages
!. with greater and greater fineness Will
each new text-book published, an,
they arrange the portions SO that the
smallest minds may assimilate thcr
without difiicnlty.t Everything Is 50
II prepared that nothing hut q retentlvt
|, memory Is needed by tho ;clussica
! sscholar. l1very hing As done to make
translation easy, except to horse" \
silput by means Of TRANSACTIONS. which !,