Gilpin observer., 1909-07-15
Some Ideas Prompted by the N. e. A.

Educational Association has passed
) into history, with the close of the
: session in Denver.
! The state has received an inspira
) ton in the cause of education from
the Congress of such a number OF
educators
They are engaged in the noblest
work possible by mankind. 1t is a
protection stronger than bulwarks of
iron. The ignorant and superstitious
are swarming our shores and their
hearts are surcharged with belief
that the powers that be- are against
them, and in order to make them de.
sirable citizens they must be met
with the refining fires of education
Myron Reed said that poverty and
ignorance get together and crime is
BORN Nothing more truthful has
ever been uttered, and the union
should be prevented
Though great things have been ac-
complished in the line of education
there is yet room for improvement,
and the same have "grasped the ban
ner bearing that strange device 'eX-
celsior' and have stepped out from
the ranks and are beckoning the
others onward. We need more of the
practical and less of the theoretical
| Too often the scholar spends all the
plastic period of their lives in the
school and emerge therefrom without
learning the rudiments of the sys-
tenn of self support. And again, per-
haps unconsciously, they are taught
the idea that it is not necessary for
them to engage in manual labor, and
in fact they are above anything so
debasing as working with their hands
The result is that as there are so
rev places that conform to their
lofty ideas open to them, they deter
mine on course of robbery in some
form, or gambling in some of its
phases, in short nonproducers, which
is the curse of any nation.
Some have the idea that because
they have passed through some col
lege and have absorbed little know
ledge, they are very much superior
to those who have not had those ad-
vantages and they feel as Gratiano
says, Il am Sir Oricle; and when
ope my lips let no dog bark"
fully when he says:
"A set of dull conceited hashes,
Confuse their brains in college
classes;
asses,
Plain truth to speak.
And syne they think to climb
Panassus
By dint O. Greek"
If they could realize at the end
of their school career that they have
only laid the foundation, that it is
only the beginning instead of the end
and on this foundation they must
build the structure of a successful
life by application to duty and a de-
termination to continue the work and
make their lives period of study
then would there be born in them
a faith that would remove mountains
l was very much impressed with
a picture saw once. 1t represented
a graduate just emerging from the
school and walking into a dark and
gloomy cave. labeled Oblivion" This
is not entirely the fault Of the stu
dent. They have spent all OF their
life up to this point in theories and
know nothing of the practical and
natural conditions of life.
They are told that they must study
Greek and Latin as a mental develop
ment. Have the dead languages ant
impractical things a monopoly or
mental development? Why not pu
the same time on such studies a.
are necessary in our life's work. The
at the same time something tha
desired results will be attained anc
can be turned to account in earnin.
livelihood, or preparing them t
uplift and influence the human race
No greater mental development cal
be applied than study OF scienc,
> which will teach us our origin, ou
place in the animal kingdom and ou
relation to nature. Then there is thu
great study of mathematics, whicl
can never be exhausted and can on
=. ly be surfaced in lifetime.
, Next let us take mechanics whicl
helps us to understand little O
the energy of the world, made practi
cal by man. If the necessary stud,
had been given to those practica