The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1910-09-09
EDUCATION AND REFORM
Rev Charles Stelzle Shows that Social
Uplift Depends Upon knowledge.

Rev Charles stelzle Shows that Social
Uplift Depends Upon knowledge.
The spirit of social unrest is not
confined to the proverty stricken. The
pople of the Stun and of the low-class
tenement are cropping blindly for relief,
but there is a growing and an intellig-
ent movement among the great middle
class, consisting largely of the better
type Of artisans and the semi-profes-
sional people. This is largely due to
the unusual opportunities for education
in this generation.
In medieval times and in the early
renaissance only those who were ex-
pected to become members of the lei
sure class received an education. The
original scheme of education implied
nothing more than rather shallow cul-
ture given to small ruling class made
up of the official, military and &C.
clesiastical satellites of the ruler, and
it was intended more for ornament
than for use. On the other hand there
was the large uneducated class whose
function it was to remain in Ignorance
and to obey. Since the introduction
of education for the common people,
both the curriculum in the schools and
the general purpose of education have
undergone a decided change. Educat-
ors awoke to the fact that it was
necessary to prepare children for the
practical duties of life and while our
public school system is by no means
ideal in this respect, it has enlarged
the opportunity of the masses in their
reaching for better things.
There are 100000 pupils enrolled
in the common schools of the United
States, and over 100000 teachers
About 90 per cent, therefore, of the
population of the United States is IL
the common school. To this number
must be added approximately 1000,
900 in the high schools and academies
$4,000 in the universities and colleges
10000 in the professional schools, IS,
900 in the normal schools and 100000
in the city evening schools, besides
the large number who are in special and
private schools of various kinds.
The public school is the great level
Ter of the nation. 1t is here that tn.
children of the rich and the poo
learn their first lessons in democracy
While there is an aristocracy in som'
of Nthe colleges and universities, con
this feeling is rapidly passing away
Never before has there been so mucl
attention given to the discussion O.
social questions, both in the regula
and special courses of our institution
of learning. Some professors hav
gone to extremes in this direction; no
only do they themselves give lecture
which may be regarded as decided
heretical, but social agitators of tn
most radical type are invited to &C
dress the ST. dents. However, on tn
whole, these lectures are resulting j
"a better understanding of the pre-
blems of the masses by the classes.
1t is due to this wider knowledg
of the problems of the poor that ha
caused our student life to become mol
interested in the cause of the peopl
Witness the large number of collee
? men and women who are voluntaril
living in the settlements of our gre,
cities, representing their chapters ar
fraternities, bringing to these problem
all of the fine devotion of youth, ar
the understanding of broadened min
It is to this leadership that much
the social unrest of the times is du
For, seeing the poor suffering tho
things which they, themselves, fe
must be beyond endurance, they a
seeking to give them not only
broader outlook upon life, but by pc
sonal friendship and intelligent d
rection, they are showing the peop
how they may be delivered from Il
limitations Of poverty. ], .ies,,,,;x,