The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-09
GLEN RIDGE WOMAN coLLAPSES AT DEPOT.
SAYS GooDBY TO FRIENDS AND DIES AT HOME.
URGES NIGHT SCHOOL
FOOLISH TO LIMIT EDUCA-
TON TO CHILDREN.
East Orange Pastor Says Men Should Be
Given Opportunity to Improve-For
Greek in High School

Educational matters in East Orange were
discussed by the Rev. DIR. o NJ. Thomas,
pastor Of the Arlington Avenue Presby-
terrain Church, that city. yesterday In his
morning sermon. DR.. Thomas stated that
the time is coming when it will be thought
ridiculous to shut up the school plant of
the city every night and TO limit formal
educational opportunities in Il city of 5000
to children and boys and girls.
IF a man of 90 TO 40 wants to learn
said DR.. Thomas, the State should help
him just as much as 1t helps a boy of ten.
Ii is u tragedy of humanlty's life. AS It
has existed thus far, that in so many in
dividuals the real desire for knowledge
does not awaken until after the age when
the door of opportunity Is shuts
There are no night schools in East Or
ange.
Among other things DR. Thomas said:
lions a very eniigh .ening discussion arose
over an appropriation of $1l0,OO00 for a
proposed new school. l understand that
the board of school estimate vetoed the
proposition. and called attention to large
sums recently expended for school build
ings. Now. as to whether $110, 5000 is too
much or too little for a schoolhouse, l do
not express an opinion. Citizens certainly
have a right to the worth of their money
In all public improvs nents. 1t is not the
business question which interests me, but
the attitude of mind revealed In the dis
cusSion.
"Of course. extravaganza and wasteful-
ness are foolish and wicked, either for a
community or for an individual, and we
will all support any public official who
sees to it that the city does not buy
receives full value. But. then, comes the
question, what is needed? Certainly COM
modious buildings. with ample accommoy
dations for all, within reach even of yountg
children; the best teachers that money
and good judgment can secure; the best
appliances and textbooks. and full eqVip-
mcnt in every way for all grades of fec
ondary neutrality-suspicious. for any
course in any. college or university or
II have had an inward quarrel Of late
with our school authorities because foQ the
last two years at least it has been imptf ssi-
bic for a boy to study Greek in our ERigh
School. Not every boy ought to std dS
Greek. Many boys in past years have
thrown away good time on the languag r
which they might have better spent
ways more according to their bent. But J
is just as wicked to deny a boy the study
of Greek whom the gods made for 1t as II
was for our fathers to- keep a lads nose
down to his "Anabasis' and "1liad" whose
soul was all in engines and dynamos.
The western world has had but one
civilization, and that is the civilization OF
Hellas. All others, from the Roman down
have been but copies. Our art and utera-
ture, our science and philosophy, the very
terms by which we reason and discuss, go
back to the men of Greece. He VINO VIII
go to the roots of things must find his way
thither, and breathe the spirit of their life
in the very accents of their speech. Now
and then a youth is born to penetrate to
the soul of things and to hearken to the
mystery of the world In the fellowship OF
the mighty lei who have given them
selves to its discovery. He should be en-
couraged. The means should be given to
his hand. If there be but one such boy q
year, aye, but one In ten years, he should
have his chance.
Soon after 1 came to this town va gen.
tleman who had removed here fro1n New
England said to me: You are likely to
be deceived as TO the general CULTURE, and
the interest in higher things, which pre-
vail In East Orange. Do not be smisled
by wealth, and by superficialities. The
average New England village, with grace
full white meeting house and modest school
beside the village green, is as much Anead
of East Orange in general culture as hEsast
Orange is ahead of Harrison, dow bf the
Passaic.'
81 will neither affirm mol deny the cor
r~ectness Of that judgment, but 1 viii say
that If We are to render any effectivf CO.
| operation in the education Of our Xoutn
we must do more than visit the SCHOOLS
occasionally and be friendly with tine
| teachers; we must do more than be iberal
in financial support of the schools; we MIST
first Of all fix upon the educational idRal
as the motive and inspiration of our Ne.
You cannot push a boy where you i've
not gone. where, Indeed, you are not sfiil
going. He will receive no help or impe1us
from you in a matter which you Ions ago
finished, and put behind you with a
hearty kick of good radiance. If you hap
| finished your education he is likely "a
want to finish his with as much speed aud
| as little trouble as possible"