The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-18
DOES EDUCATION PAY?
Question Discussed By Dr. Schaeffer
 at Summer School.

Owing to the proximity of the state examinations waich almost all of the students intend to take, only a moderate evening to hear Dr. Schaeffer deliver an address on the question, Does Edu- cation PayY Those who attended, however, were more than repaid for the time spent in listening to him. There was no one who heard the talk but was convinced that education gives handsome returns in both material and spiritual profits. As has been the case whenever he spoke, Dr. Schaeffer's lec- ture was full of truth, supported by concrete facts.
 In support of the proposition that education pays from the material point of view he cited facts concerning Germany, England and America. He said that the reason why a premium Is put on German work manship along cer- tain lines is that Germany has an in tensive educational system. Then, too, conclusive evidence Is to be found in Great Britain, In the fact that sin ce
 
 all, the populat ation has grown wonder fully and the annual earning capacity of the nation has increased enormous ly. Even in our own country we find In one section a splendid illustration of the value of education: the average New Englander has far greater earn ing capacity than the average citizen of other parts of the country The ex- planation of this is not hard to find For time immemorial, every town of 500 or more inhabitants has had to support a high school.
 But, the speaker said in conclusion the material returns from educa ti on the spirit. Education teaches men how to spend rightly their free hours anI thereby opens up a field of infinite breadth for the growth of the soul. This morning pr. Schaeffer brought to a close the regular series of sum- mer school lectures with a discussion of "The Dead Line," a subject of i'm mense consequence to teachers The question, he said, which keeps superir- tendents awake at night Is to know what to do with teachers who ha ye ceased to grow. Since there is no resur- rection from the dead in the domain of education, it Is wise to keep the teachers from gavitating toward the dead line so long as they are not ready to quit the school room. The favor ite remedy is the examination. but the superintendent who knows no other method of stimulating his teachers Is himself perilously near the dead line
 The best remedy is to be found in the interest which the live teacher interesting than the transforma tion of knowledge into a harvest of new thoughts, sentiments and purposes. h. struction must pass over into will and conduct and life. Take the teacher of history as an instance It matters not how brilliant are the answers of his pupils at the examinations, his teach ing has failed if 1t does not beget the sentiment of patriotism and the deter imitation to serve ones country in the | hour of need and at the ballot box. As long as the teacher finds his greatest delight in watching the growth and progress of his pupils, so long there ]. no danger that he will gravitate to- ward the dead line even though his hairs turn gray through length of 1 service.
 After the general assembly this morning, the qualification for exam | nations took place All fold +here were 1e5 applications for certificates Tomorrow morning the examination n i, ! will begin. They will conclude Tues | day at noon.