Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-04-06
PRACTICAL EDUCATION

Education has commanded special attriii i"l
0f late in consequence of the publication Uf the
letter TO the Governor from the superintendent
designate of Public Instruction. whose views
BY the way, met with general commrndati"n
Mr.. Kinney as a candidate showed thai he had
q very good grasp of the general needs Of the
Territory and his words Of criticism 70" errors
on what he believes to he the errors of the past
are of a character to Indicate that he is Il build
er rather than a DESTROYER.
Every man finds handling task quite diff
ferent from discussing it at long range
Probably Mr.. Kinney's opinions on vocation
al training were read with more searching and
general interest than any others. This is a topic
to which all are devoting much thought Prar
teal, more effective, more helpful education is
what We are driving at
On this phase and sphere of education, oul
old friend Ray StannaFd Baker has made some
very enlightening comment in the current issue
Of the American Magazine incidentally educa
tors must thank Mr.. Baker for coming a new
phrase which epitemiZes an ambition which the
practical men have for the educated and the edu
Gator. He SAYS the scouts of modern knowledge
are .'teaelling the people howsto conquer the
Wilderness under the soles of their shoes"
As the ar-Bulletin understands it, that il
what We seek here in Hawaii-that the children
shall be fitted to deal with what they find right
under the soles of their feet, not far distant
dreamy theoretical impossibility which will lead
far away from everyday facts of real life, oI
that will cause them to be disconnected OH az
count OF a false estimate of their opportunities
AR. Baker centers his remarks on the western
university Int pplies. with splendid force to
every detail in the scheme of education. He
writes as follows, the emphasis is ours:
A new movement has not only its morality but
its teachers. should indeed. that the soul of
the educational. movement in America, which is
closely linked up with agricultural development is
passion for the adaptation Of knowledge.
Emphasis in education in the past has, been upon
the requirement of knowledge, often of useless
knowledge; but in the great vital peoples universi
ties Of the West, while investigation and the
qurement of knowledge remain a large part of the :
work, the profound emphasis, the sense of vivid
life the weight Of enthusiasm is upon the adapta-
ton of the vast stores of knowledge hitherto hived
up in Libraries and in tae brains of to the prac.
teal problems Of everyday lifc | treasure
mark of one of the abest OF the leaders of the new
education, President Van lse of Wisconsin Univer-
sty. with whom | had of the most interesting
talks of my western trip.
" Think of it, he said, we know enough already
TO double the agricultural production of the state
OF Wisconsin; we know enough eliminate
practically all contagious diseases; know
enough now to make government that it
viii serve the people more justly; but the great
problem is of application-to get all this knowl-
edge out among the people and make it effective
This idea is what has made the great
universities strong, so full of enthusiasm; it is
felt TO be a work, somehow connected up with
the new pioneering And today in every little town
country settlement in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa.
Kansas, Missouri. Illinois, Michigan. you will find
these scouts of modern knowledge at work telling
the people how 10 conquer the wilderness under the
Soles of their shoes.
"1f there be any pessmist in the east with
outlook American institutions, let him go out
have and travel for day with group of
these farm revivalists hear them talk better pota
toes, better better better schools better
churches-and not only tell them but show them"
This is just what we expect from our eluca
tional revivaliStS in Hawaii We ask that the,
not only tell uS hut also show U.s.
Mr.. Baker went abroad looking for the pic
neer in the middle west. He found the obcc
of his search as just summarized. If the people
of Hawaii have not Il pioneer work in dignity