Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-01-02
souND. sMr AND SENSIBLE.

tNlNth winch rttNiiH NN'iAN 'i'''t
Is now demanding OF them. VIC think
the solution offered boy Prest Jacob
Gould Schurmau of Cornell should
be recognized as safe sound and
sensible
PRIEST schurman has shown that
schools cannot revert to tho Greek
ideal Of culture through mcmorlzing
poems. learning rhetoric and music
and training che muscles of the body.
He thinks that while our schools may
well retain these features and Greek
education, they must also prepare
their pupils for acuve participation
in that industrial life which is the
chief thought and glory OF this Re
public
But. he asks, how may this be done2
lie admits that in the district schools
it IS not possible 10 teach plumbing
carpentry. blacksmithlng. dressmak-
ing. and especially agriculture as such
without the sacrifice OF mental cul-
ture. He argues that the time IS
too brief. the expense it too great
the result too meager. 10 risk the
neglect of the immortal mind for
the skill OF the hand or thumb. he
wisely declares that the greatest thing
in the universe is man. the greatest
thing IN man is mind and that the
splendid training Of the mind and the
excellent development OF character
which our schools everywhere, despite
ihor imperfections. are nevertheless
giving. must not be sacrificed FOR that
mechanical skill Of the thumb ana
fingers which enables the pupil to
earn fifty cents more per week than
he could without IT, And so he con-
cludes that there is grave danger
in attempting TO duplicate the
farm in the school. since the latter can
give only a small illustration OF what
can be seen at any farm home to bet
ter purpose.
How. then, shall the schools do what
the people are everywhere saying they
must do? How teach reality in place
OF fancy. things in place OF words, do
INK in place Of memorizlng. working in
place Of repeating. In the daily lessons2
schurman's answer Is that by means Of
nature study by the observation OF the
general processes and laws % natural
phenomena, and by the study Of the
plants at our own doors and OF the
animals al home. Of the COW and the
horse, the sheep and the dog, as well
as OF the Wild species, We can give TO
The country child that love for nature
which win solve the problem Of the
present exodus from the country 10
the city and to ely people II we can
only educate them. too. to see the beau
tien OF nature and Of rural life, We can
give the desire TO go 70 live ia the
country, 10 buy farms there and Guilt
va.e the garden just as the first Car
dener did In this way. and without
attempting to turn school buildings in
Go barns. and without sacrificing but
rather adding 90 the mental training
of the child. he holds that we can keep
abreast Of the demands the age in
the teaching OF agriculture i'm the
schools. Art. one OF the finest means
OF expression. he maintains, should De
Ah'"NN h"NH' AHMA NH DOG HA IT Nv ANaAhNA
ing he declares that we must begin az
home and study first the things that
we can inspect Home plants and
animals must Doe considered, watched
known, drawn, written about before
the foreign are talked about or even
mentioned and the study of our own
surroundings must precede that OF dis
tant places. From the known 10 the
unknown rs Tie great law OF learning.
and as soon as the teaching proceeds
according 20 this fundamental law. the
solution of placing Industrial work IN
20 the schools win be easily accom-
pllshod without sacrificing any OF tho
culture the character, the knowledge
OF law truth. and beauty, for which
true education has always stood, and
Tor which 10 now should stand more
than ever before n history
We have said that we regard PresI-
dent schurman's solution of the prob
lem go ominenty sound and practical.
We may add that This particular part %
his principal address before the Utah
Teachers association was accorded The
heartiest reception aud evoked the
greatest enthusiasm OF any feature
during The entire proceeding APP
plause greeted each point in the demon
stmtlon The teachers. new ana ola.
experienced ana inexperienced. from
tho college, or from the erado schools.
an alike perceived cop felt the truth and
value OF what schurman was SAYING.
and burst into enthusiastic approval.
as he vigorously reiterated hia maWr.a
convictiN1a For as bee said. he had
arrived nt these conclusions through
a careful study of the problem nom
me standpoint of an Institution which
undoubtedly leads ali others Boz Amer
Tea u this very matter of advocating
the Introduction of agricultural and
indusuial work into tho common
schools
such conclusions from such sources
and nuthorties uuou "a tonic that 3
now ono of tle foremost n Che pub
lic mind. aro of the utmost value. Tho
topic ls one 0f perennial interest. eycu
when held for "a time m abeyanco ~
other questions. For the education and
tainlng OF the youth Del. AFTER au. the
principal business the main ocoupa-
zion, and the chief concern of am that