The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-09-10
A COLLEGE COURSE 1N oFF1cE HOLDING

Dr. Mccormick chancellor of the University of Pitts
burgh, at National Conference Universities and Pub
lie Service held at Boston, said "an expert knowledge is
as essential for public official for the solution of the
problems of civil government as it is in any other bust
Chancellor Mccormick urged that there should be
systematic instruction in civil in the public
schools OF the country He said that Socrates twenty
three centuries said his friend "Caas if your sons
were colts or calves, should be able find
ter probably some horseraner farmer whom could
hire to bring out and improve the good qualities of their
nature. But now, seeing they human beings what
master have you in view for them? Who understands
those good qualities which belong to the and
citizen?"
The question of Socrates Dr. Mccormick held to be
pertinent then and We require education training
preparations for all the duties of life save one of the most
important and one for which preparation is most needed
We refer to the business of government the business Of
administering the affairs of great nation in its trans
actions with the other nations of the world; and with its
transactions with the separate of the union; and
with its transactions with the people of the nation.
The Boston Transcript paraphrases Dogbery thus:
conduct ones business we'll is the gift of orune but
to administer the affairs of state by nature The
Transcript continues:
State after State adopting the principle of iterate
electorate, requiring voters to be able read write
That we'll 1t is based upon the fundamental principle
OF the welfare Of the State 1t is necessary for the well
fare OF the State that citizens shall ineIgenty and
thy cannot vote nteligenty unless they read Very
to be required by law to be intelligent would not be
anomalous to have them served by unntegent officials?
And the official must be accounted unntegent unless he
has had instruction in the duties which he is to preorn
Perhaps he may learn those duties after he has been
placed Office but he does the expense of the pub
c which suffers inferior service while he is learning his
trade Business corporations not in the habit of put
ting uneducaed inexperienced in important places
and letting them learn their duties afterward Why should
the State be less nsstent upon well-nsructed civil
service?
The Imperial university of Japan procams as its pur-
pose to teach all things that necessary for the welfare
OF the State That should be the purpose of every sys
tenn OF public instruction; for public schools are not
after ALL eeemosynary institutions giving instructions as
aims to people for their good but rather state
serving agencies giving instruction for the welfare of the
State ITSELF in order that it may suffer evils of an
ignorant ctzenry So would be well if even our com
mon schools gave specific and practical attention to
intructng prospective citizens the duties and rights of
citizenship and higher institutions did the same in
the preparation OF to the responsibilities and
exercise the activities and powers of oceholders We
have our West Point and Annapolis to prepare men to
the State in military affairs Do we so much less
esteem nonmitary affairs that give men no prepare
ton for them? Or do consider the art of civil govern
ment to be SO simple that especial preparation is
needed for it?"