The Washington herald., 1912-03-02
|OUR EDUCATION
SYSTEM IS CURSE
-DR. HARVEY w. WILEY.
College President Must Be,
Beggar as Well as Mas
ter, He Declares.
STUDENTS NOT TRUSTED
Pure Food Expert Asserts Educated
Men Should Not Try to
Gust Judges.
STUDENTS NOT TRUSTED

"The education the young men set in
the universities of this country is a
curse II imbues them with the idea
that the world owes them living, when'
as matter Of fact. It owes them moth
ing. The world has absolutely no use
for the educated man, unless he proves a
desirable citizen; unless he accomplishes
something that benefits it. He must be
willing and able to serve in some ca
pacity."
In a bitter arraignment of the system
of education in the great universities OF
the United States, DR.. Harvey W. Wiley,
speaking at the annual ladies' night OF
the Federal Schoolmen's Club. in Fair
mount Seminary. last night. called atten-
tion to the cBariike attitude Of the presi-
dents of these institutions and the lack
of confidence displayed in the integrity
of the student by the faculties.
student Not Trusted.
1T seems to me-" continued DR.. Wiley,
that the thought in our institutions Is
that the student is not to be trusted.
They are subjected TO a roll call, and
are under constant supervision. We may
well learn an object lesson from the
great German universities. There the
students are not compelled TO attend lee
lures, but as a rule, they all do, be-
cause they realize that they will not
get their sheepskin unless they qualify
in the yearly examinations. There Is
no favoritism there.
THE president Of the American uni
versity must be a beggar as well as a
master. They are great men. and I ad-
mire them, but they are selected for
their ability to solicit endowments. There
Is not a college student in the United
States who does not select his college,
unless his father matriculated there. be-
cause he thinks IL excels in, athletics in
the section in which IL is located. A
system OF this kind is faulty. Instead OF
taking the best lawyers. doctors, and
scientific authorities. and installing them
in our universities. a great many OF our
professors are selected for other reasons.
a liberal education is the foundation
for a great career. That's why / don't
care to see vocational studies taught In
the public schools and universities OF this
country. Blue Jeans Williams. former
governor Of Indiana, once said: Educate
boy and he won't work. / agree with
him.
The educated man can be OF benefit to
the community and help greatly in the
civic work by devoting himself to the
realization of three thingS-sanitation.
protection OF moral health. and protec-
ton in legislation. I do not fayer the
recall OF judges and do not intend TO i'm
ply that believe the educared man
should seek TO remedy faulty legislation
in this way"
Compliments DIR. Wiley.
Senator John Sharp Williams. OF Mis-
sissippi. the next speaker. complimented
DR.. Wiley by declaring that a mans edu-
cation is just in proportion 10 his sense
Of devotion TO the public. Senator Will
Jams also declared that trust is the root
of success in all walks OF life and is the
only solution of all social, industrial. and
educational problems. He also supported
DR.. Wiley's contention that the educated
man should not try to put the Judges out
Of office saying the recall OF Judges would
make a supreme court OF the people Of
the United States. who are not competent
to shoulder the responsibility.
President Percival Hall. OF Gallaudet.
presided and introduced the speakers. The
guests were received by Mr.. and Mrs. Ar
thur Ramsey. Senator and Mrs. John
Sharp Williams. Mrs. Harvey Wiley. DR..
Percival Hall, and DR.. and Mrs. Thomas
SidWell