The Washington herald., 1915-09-11

ton or the communication of knowledge.
though 1t necessarily accompanies any
right system Of education. 1t fact. the
acquisition Of knowledge is a secondary
result OF education. Learning 10 an in
strument OF education. not its end. The
end II culture. and mental and moral de-
velopment.
Understanding. then. clearly the pur-
pose Of education. such instruments Of
education, that IL, such studies. sciences
or languages, are chosen as win most ef-
fectively further that end. These studies
are chosen, moreover, only in prepara-
ton, and in such numbers as are suffi-
cient and required. A student who Is to
be educated will not be forced. in the
short period OF his school course. and
with his immature faculties, to study a
multiplicity of the languages and sciences
into which the vast world Of modern
knowledge has been scientifically divided.
If two or more sciences, for instance,
give similar training to some mental fac
ulty, that one Is chosen which combines
the most effective training with the larg-
est and most fundamental knowledge
The purpose of the mental training
given is not proximately to fit the student
for some special employment or profess
sion, but to give him such a general. Wig
orous and rounded development as will
enable him to cope successfully even
with the unforeseen emergencies of life.
While giving the mind stay, it tends to
remove the insularity Of thought and
want Of mental elasticity which is one of
the most hopeless and disheartening re-
suits of specialism in students who have
not brought to their studies the uniform
mental training given by a systematic
high school course. The studies. there
fore, are so graded and classified as to be
adapted to the mental growth of the stu
dent and to the scientific unfolding of
knowledge: they are SO chosen and COM
municated that the student will gradual
ly and harmoniously reach, as nearly as
may be, that measure Of culture Of which
he Is capable.
Classical Training Superior.
Application is sometimes made for a
special training intended to fit the stu
dent Immediately for business. Expert
ence, however, proves that but very
poor substitute for education can be
found in the almost exclusive develop
ment of a single faculty whether for a
business or technical career. The details
of business or industrial life can be
learned only by practice. and these once
mastered. the superior and thorough
training of all the faculties. such as is
given at Gonzaga, makes itself felt from
the outset.
Instead therefore, Of offering a special
commercial course GonZaga insists on a
thorough training in the languages, his
tory and mathematics supplemented by
an up-to-date practical course in elocu-
ton and debate such as will result In the
uniform development of all the faculties.
and will fit students to take up and pur-
sue any career with assured success and
material profit.
The study of Enklish.
The study of the languages at Gonzaga
not only develops the intellect by form
ing an indispensable habit Of accuracy in
Judgment, and the will by giving i'll
strength and constancy Of purpose. as
we'll as the memory by enriching and en-
larging its powers of usefulness. but ii
also proves to be the best means of per-
fecting the student in his own native
tongue. For in studying them the STU
dent is led to the fundamental recesses
of language. They exercise him In ex-
actness of conception in grasping the for
eign thought, and in delicacy Of express
sion in clothing that thought in the dis
similar garb Of the mother tongue. AS
then the process Of translating demands
new words and new combinations of
words to bring out the exact shade of
meaning and idiomatic force Of a foreign |
language. It is evident that the study Of
the other languages must result in a
greater fiuency and more perfect mastery
of ones own native tongue.
The Classics the Best Training for |
the Scientist.
Many eminent professors Of our best
known universities. as Harvard, Cornell. |
etc. agree with Prof John B. Ekeley. |
of the University of Colorado faculty. |
who very emphatically declares that the |
classics form the best training for a sci |