The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-08-16

Of.
We have this to add II each
succeeding generation did not profit
by the experience of the preceding
ones. we should not have what we
are SO proud to call civilization"
which means an improving standard
of humanity as the world grows
older.
Education Is the great civilizer.
1t has placed men on an equality
with all ages that follow, as indi-
,viduals, and as a whole, 1t has
rendered races able to govern their
actions, pursue national ideals, agree
with justice, and surround children
with greater and greater opportuni-
ties for individual development.
Moses, Plato. Socrates, Bacon,
SHAKESPEARE, Voltaire. Franklin, Lin
coin. any one Of these could sit down
today and discuss with full power
Of reason the matters we discuss,
and could catch up with US on mod
ern problems in a few days. Their
brains were trained to thinking.
They gave themselves the opportun-
ity Of education, one way or another.
But that word education" has
been so manhandled and abused by
every upstart educator and putter-
ing professor since propaganda be-
gan to be valued that, as the oldsters
complain, the youngsters will not
receive it In reverence. To them it
means school days, school days"
to a drawing tune. As a call to
action all this talk about education
is about as rousing as the now ne
elected assertion, America kin lick
the world" Education may be all
right. America might be able to lick
the world. Neither question draws,
enough interest to fan the flame of
GOOQ argument,
II we only had a word that came
out of our own language, denoting
what education really means, ''learn-
ing to think and act" we could en-
large upon its virtues without vast
ing time. That part of 1t we call
school education" comprehends the
first part, the learning to think,
chiefly. Experience in the world
teaches US to act, if we don't learn
it at home.
=. II brains were visible, like mus
cles, no youngster would seek to
avoid schooling of some sort. But
think how careful men and women
are not to let the world see how
puny their brains are! If they had
to walk around like cripples show
ing their slender, grapevine men
talities, what object lessons!
Brains are muscles that have to
be trained or they petrify just the
same as arm and leg muscles. And
yet some parents will let innocent
children carry their brains in a sling
until vitality of thought is lost to
them forever.
School is brain gymnasium.
College is the professional training
course for those who will carry on
the worlds best thought. You can
get enough exercise for your body
without attending a gymnasium, for
the reason that we have police pro-
lection and public conscience: you
don't have to protect yourself from
your neighbours club every time you
step outdoors.
But you do have to protect your
self from your neighbours brains if
you would get along in the world
today. The contest is mental. If
you can t think for yourself nobody
alse is going to have time to do it
for you.
Schooling gives one a chance, good |
schooling a good chance, exceptional
schooling an exceptional chance to
learn to think. That is all it can
do, and yet it is enough to smooth |
life's way, feather the nest and dig
nifty old age.-F.C.K.