The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-21
IDEAL Of TO-DAY
DIFFERENT FROM
HALf-CENTURY AGO
President Harper of Elon Col
lege Discusses Progressive
System of Education
GETTING READY FOR
LIFE A VITAL. THING
The Practical Age We Con-
front Renders Necessary
Practical and Efficient
Mental Equipment
BY w. A. HARPER. LID.
President Of Eion College, N. c,

Every age has It's characteristics,
aauuds it's dominant note. And equal
Nv dues every department of lite. IN
every age have its peculiar. it's dis
tinguishing tendencies. Influenced OF
course. by the general character, hut
having nevertheless something as
tfrctiyeiy its own. To these general
principles education is no exception.
The conceptions Of what IL ought 10
be and do has changed from age to
age and lis different now from what
II has ever before been in the ~orlds
history. The educational Ideal of to-
day. / mean the commonly accepted
ideal. Is far different from that or nIsy
or IF one hundred years ago ms
modern leaders OF educational thought
ok- with comriserAtion upon those
asho we're educated under the old re-
giine and hold up the new as worthy
~ all acceptance, and OF every conii-
dence.
Getting Ready 10 Live.
The old education was staid ahd
signjfled and thorough. 1t Laid great
stress upon disciplinary studies es-
peciail, mathematics and ancient IAN
ruages. and honored them with the
tlat,ering title of the hunanities IL
regarded man az a living soul ana en-
deavored TO enlarge the sphere OF ms
living. Getting ready TO I'VE was
the aim of every one Who sought euu-
cation. whether In the preparatory
school or the college. And hia was
more AN arr than "a scienee@-4 me
art coineiy and symmetrical ana
charming Culture was appreciated
as one OF the greatest human graees
and Conversation was brilliant ana
engaging. The human soul unfolded
and expounded benignly under TINS
system of education. Great thinkers
in pulpit and in pew graced the age
tfe vas large and sympathetic, con-
duct was cultured and humane, anu
there was time not Only for making a
/, living bur also for living iife-~a
life that was proportionafe. simple.
even, graceful, charming, cultured.
But this system OF education ana
tbs Eifa IL fostered and fruited were
both destined TO receive harsh treat
ruaut in the strenuous days that sue
ceeded the early nationa life. Wealth
began to accumulate. and men 10 os
cay not that population decreased,
but that men became intoxicated WIN
the idea OF making money and gave
less heed 10 Matchmaking than In for
mer DAVIS This has been the exper-
fence OF nearly every new country,
fertile and well favored rs ours il. but
particularly go in ours because OF the
era Of invention IN mechanics that
has ushered In. making mammoth
Nonaires pientifully all over the land.
The easy, care-free, cultured life OF
th.. preceding generation fell into dis
repute and was regarded AS unsnited
., ,rar,tca1 men The education
which fostered II was Also dlscredsted
Mechanical SCHOOLS. business sscnoots,
normal schools trade schools schools
~ all kinds offering shortcuts in the
vav Of preparation for the new IDEAL
lie then forming arose as CRITICISMS
Of the old sduca tional method II ne-
came tho fashion 20 berate and, m'hi-
s-s.zs tbs ,snstst15sens OF ft}s t"stissss
days. and many OF tnem changed t''rff
ideal and made IL az far az possfbfe
conform to the demands for "a more
practical education, the dofnihan'
notes Of which are practically, eih
cheney. specialization. and the elective
Th,. q Practical Age.
Their. il no denying that ours Il
practical age This arises from Ing
commericalism which is our hope ane
also our menace. have no quarre
with waaith-we must have II. IN
dustrv and life today both REQUIRE
large wealth 1t is our hope gu
the spirit Of commercialism, uhies'
tempered with the spirit or humah"S
will prove "A direful menace TO per
sonaY and national life. The practi
ever, direction The church inter
rrets It 10 mean social service through
various forms Of organized enort. I'M
statesman no longer hus'es hiInss1
with the elemental principles OF de
mocracy. but devotes his energies u
efYecting certain desired legislation
No feature of our public Me exeW
plIfies this practical tendency NOR
than the present day typicaf fourti
Of July Grafton The practical ecu
Gator would spend time on nothih'
that does not tend directly 70 IN
production Of more wealth I'M
practical tendency uarrows. HE emp
ties IL. makes a man a machine. W
forget that the most practical maj
after all may be the man VINO pu.
emphasis on man and not on pracu
cal We are first OF all men an'
should not allow ourselves TO De .
practical that we become cogs In IN
dnstry.s WHEEL and cease to be men
The system OF education when intro
duces its pupils to nothing excep
what will contribute directly ana prac
tically to their narrow sphere OF nc
t1vity in life Is seriously at fault. !
will make its graduates practical. Oh
will limit their horizon. sap their sym
pathies, dwarf their HE, and distiuai
ify them in iifes evening time to en-
Joy the fruits of their INDUSTRY
EcfTiiency, too. Is an outgrowth o
rather an exaction of our commercial
Ism The units of our industrial sys
tenn. whether they be human or me