New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-07
THE SCHOOLM4STER
What He Is Doing in Some Remote
Parts of the World.

EDUCATION IN THE FAR EAST. BY Charles
r. r. T H3ygstg' Ii j. l2no. PIP \, 277 Hough-
Education is so far the keystone Of our policy
In dealing with detached and inferior races that
the observations Of an experienced and trained
american educatonalist upon the hastiest of
tours have value. President Thwing of West
eIn Reserve has lately made the circuit of the
globe and gathered into a series of suggestive
papers his impressions upon the problems of
government which are affected and moulded by
educauon To such an observer. qualified by
years OF experience in shaping the minds of
youth and cherishing the American ideal OF the
little red schoolhouse the hill. education is
apt 10 seem the panacea for every human ia
Danish lulteracy and the home will be exalted
and the moral atmosphere viii be clarified DIFF
ncuIues OF government will dissolve into mist
poverty and crime and superstition will vanish
and industry and integrity will progress hand in
hand when everybody knows how 10 spell II
has been so among our people and in our lati-
tude and so ii must be universally. OF course
We are all working for the redemption of man
kind in general and the uplift of everybody in
particular. but some day philosopher will arise
with turn for figures and tell US what viii
happen 10 the rest Of the world when every little
Indian and Javan and Cingalese and Filipino
can read and write and cipher. and wears shoes
and starched collars and there is no more child
labor and only union hours and rates for adults.
Lots Of people will have 10 change their ways
when tea, for example, is s. pound.
From Japan and Corea and China DR. Thwing
passes in quick succession 10 the Philippines
India and Egypt and OF necessity his little book
is one Of generalization. It treats large sub
Jects with comprehensive brevity. The span OF
centuries, continents and nationalities IS COM
passed in a phrase There is little in it that is
new He is not long enough in a place to get
much beneath the surface, and no pretence is
made that the volume contains more than the
passing impressions of hasty tourist tested
and illuminated by the writer's wide experience
in his chosen field. In Japan the people are adj
dressing themselves 10 the problem of keeping
life simple in an age when other nations are
given TO luxury, and there are strong reasons
for believing that they are solving the problem
more satisfactorily than any world power has
solved it, China is a nation petrifed and in
spite Of her potential wealth and racial and cli-
matte advantages present limitations incline to
the belief that the conservatism and inertia of
China are too great TO be overcome for cen
turtles. COrea has sinned away her day of grace
She lacks men. There Is no one to respond II
called; there is one TO call. Her foe rs not
Japan. but herself. The world is watching
Japan's treatment Of Corea with interest be-
cause OF the growing belief that the uniting Of
small nations with large has gone far as il
is well for it to go. Yet Corea as a nation is
doomed, and she only has herself TO blame.
In India and Egypt in spite Of all that Eng
land is doing for education. there is profound
and illimitabe ignorance. India is a nation Of
initerates. IN certain parts Of IL only one
woman In thousand can read and write. The
seclusion Of women interferes fundamentally
with their education. Not only for their own
happiness, but for the proper bringing up Of
children, the education Of women should be pro-
NOTED. The prolOngatiOn of the period of edu-
cation would add 20 its Improvement. Tropical
women should not be in such hurry TO marry
They don't begin 10 know what is best for them
THE force most general of application for the
promotion of the highest elements Of civiliza-
ton in India is educational" says the writer.
but the apathy and poverty Of the people present
insuperable difficulties In America four-afths
of the teachers in the public schools are women;
in Japan four-ffths men. The japanese
schoolhouse is frail, with general air of in
stability. and without intmation of the strength
or the beauty of the American brick or stone
schoolhouse But this approaches a question Of
taste that some people tell us there is no use in
debating. II is more 10 the point that japanese
merchants have now better name for honesty
than ever before and this is directly due 10 the
teaching OF ethics in the schools Score one for
education. The japanese are strong in memory
and teachers are put to 1t 10 make them learn
less and think more There is no fear that the
japanese will enaigrate in vast numbers out Of
hfty millions less than three hundred thousand
are living in foreign countries
China lacks stable society, a free press a
proper body OF laws and a uniform currency
The need of the hour is 10 educate China 10 see
her shortcomings in these respects. No ono
oouots' We are told. that the primary aim OF
Japan IN corea is 10 benefit Japan. but America
Is IN the Philippines 10 benefit the people them
selves. This is judgment in which sor5,a g.
signers may not AT present wholly coincide h,t |
II is worth having It recorded for the sake Of |
that impossible prig. the future historian. DIR
Thwing was long enough in Hong Kong. shanr. |
hal and Yokohama 10 reach the conclusion the. /
The Foreigners who reside there are not up 10 the
standard OF the Americans in the PhiIipnlnes |
In intellectual and moral strength. in insigbt /
comprehensiyeness. solidity and sobriety. iptee-
rity. efficiency the American is superior" This |
Is highly gratifying 10 modest national sense
and seems TO point TO day when we as peopIe