The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1912-01-05
SCHOOLS IN CHINA
They Have Curious and Strenu-
GUS Methods of Teaching.
AMAZING FE.TS OF MEMORY.
For Years the Pupils Are Kept "Get-
ting by Heart" Books Of Which They
Have No Understanding, After
Which Comes the Exclamation.


Which Comes the Explanation.
A Chinese schoolboy sets off one fne
morning when seven or eight years
old to enter on his Institutional course.
He makes the most profound obeisance
to his teacher. His parents provide
the table at which and the stool on
which he sits. TLey also supply the
flour precious articles" the ink slab.
the ink cake, the pen or brush for writ
ing and the paper.
He will have no need at first Of the
writing materials. all his time being
employed in memorizing the books
given him. Perhaps dozen boys.
each a class by himself. are busy on
his entry. Each is shouting his task
at the top of his voice. the teacher
sitting Mt his table in all the SON.
nolent wakefulness of a Judge. No
wrong pronunciation or information es
capes his practiced ear, and correc-
ton Is frequent
1t is a simple country house. with
its earthen floor. its unglazed windows
and Its air of utter poverty. Our
young hopeful, says the National Re-
view. in due time Is introduced to the
"Trimetrical Classic" and the ques-
tionable statement, which forms its
very threshold, that "men at birth are
radically good" SO set in classical
form that he has no more idea of its
meaning than II it were In Greek. 1t
is not meaning. however. that is the
object just now, but sound and men,
orizing.
Then he will be introduced to the
book Of surnam 400 in number. as
another exercise in getting by heart"
after which in parts of the land the
Thousand Character Classic" is set.
This is book consisting Of the num-
Der of characters named. no one Of
which is ever used twice. Still no ex-
PLANTATION is vouchsafed. For all the
learning our youth Is gaining he might
with equal profit memorize number
of auction catalogues. He Is given in
varying order. according to the custom
followed by his teacher. the four sacred
books-the Great Learning" also
known as 1.-THE Door of Virtue" the
"Analects" of Confucius. the Doctrine
Of the Mean" and the Book of Men
Gus"
As early as thirteen, it may be, he
will have done the memory work of
the four books and be capable of reel
ing off yards, rods. furlongs or miles,
the form of explanation begins. Dark
ness Is made visible. and education
may be said to have begun. There is
wearisome work in sight now.
| As IL the books themselves were not
of sufficient difficulty, there are end
less commentaries after the fashion of
, our own on the Bible or Shakespeare.
| The "Great Learning" provides illus
| trations of virtue. aims at the constant
renewal of good and so at the attain
ment Of the highest excellence. Its
ideal is a righteous government over q
tranquil and happy people. The DOC
i dividualistic. Correct conduct In every
stage Of life is its subject.
] The chief competitive examinations
are three in number. The first. fol
the Situsai. or B. A. degree. is held al
the prefectural city: the second. tho
| Ku-jen, or M. A., Mt the provincial
capital. and the third. the Tsin-shi
or IL. D.. at Peking In one or Other
! OF these the clever youth whose ca
reer we are following may possibly
find himself in peculiar position as
competitor with his own father or even
his grandfather. who. with more per
"pegging away" year after year till
success arrives-or death.
Many are the attempts at trickery;
cribbing, bribery or whatever may
bring the candidate sufficiently neal
the top to be one of the favored few
who pass" the percentage of these
being fractionally small at times. Tt
guard against fraud there are pre-
cautions such as could never have beer
suggested In the west.
Every candidate has his own little
cell in which be works during the days
Of the examination. Not q few die
under the ordeal ANY essay is good
which gives man his NJ. A." says
the proverb, and "if one comes Out
first on the dragon list there is chance
within ten years of being in the Phoe
nix pool" which being interpreted
means that he who heads the NJ. A
list is likely by and by to become q
Hanlin. So, indeed. 1t happens to ouI
young hopeful now arrived at years Of
much discretion. He even becomes the
Shuang Yuan Of his year. the laureate
or senior classic. as he might be named
in the west.
Whereupon on his return to his ma
tive province he is received with the
highest honors from the highest PEG
pie. the viceroy leading, and then 9
curious thing happens. Many of thu
people Of the province having the same
surname apply for the honor of beini
permitted to worship at the ancestra
hall of the successful genius and &C
company their appeals with valuabl,
persuasives. They thus establish &
claim to relationship with the ami
able desire of having friend at court
New York Sun.