Evening star., 1922-10-22
Lively Debate Follows Edict
On 'sAristocracy of Brains''

will help much In the cone1dera.
tion Of the educational question II
the word "aristocrat" In 2 de-
mocracy shall be used to designate
what It ought to designate-thst
man who possesses the finest
Qualifications and the finest pur-
poses In the work OF q democracy.
If 1t were true that all men
went to college because they were
sincerely 'desirous of that cultural
training which would enable them
the better to live and lead in our
democracy. then the president of
Dartmouth was altogether wrong.
During tho great war man who
had never seen any carpenters
tools except a saw and hammer.
could get a union card and draw
as. big wages as the artisan who
by patient toll and correct edu-
cation had fitted himself for his
hi9h calling. VIII any Of Prof.
Hopkins critics pretend to deny
that the purpose of a higher edu-
cation in the colleges and univer-
stiles OF America is to afford a
right philosophy of life. and to
At a man for leadership in some
calling? Is there anything wrong
in the fitting OF a man for the
calling which nature intended him
to follow and in instilling into his
mind philosophy to be centent
to 10 the thing nature and natures
God designed him to do?
II would have heen utterly foolish
to have placed me in q technical
school in an attempt to A. me for
nf
In a thousand years could have
learned to fit joint could
have gone to conEervatories OF
music until all human ohoirs
were swallowed up in the angelic
chArus and would have not
been able to recognize g. false
note.
DO the critics Of President Hop
Eins dispute the fact that one OF
tendance upon the part of many
husky Young men who would
make splendid boiler makers Is a
desire to devote their muscular
power to foot bali? Is there a
question that may arise to the
point Of controversy about thou
sands OF snccessfni men IN America
who. having made for themselves
successful careers. find themselves
University Club Of their city. and
therefore resolve that their un-
fortunate situation shall not be
the lot Of their bows? Many young
men are idlinR through the college
courses Of America to satisfy the
pride and ambition of their par
entH rather than because of any
desire unon their own part to OBJ
tain a PHILOSOPHY OF life or to At
themselves as the leaders Of men.
REGARDLESS Of whether anything
guaRe OF the president of Dart
mouth. the fact remains that you
can't make a silk purse out OF a
sow's ear.
1t IS the duty Of the state to
give the rudiments Of education
commonly referred to az the grade
schools to every child of the re-
public. teaching all Of them the
use Of the English language and
compelling thorough under
standing of the principles Of the
republic When this has been
forcibly given to every child the
system OF natural selection must
then be adopted unless all the
square holes in the republic are
to be filled by round pegs. The
student who really desires an
education along literary zines must
have opportunity to obtain It: the
man who prefers to enter a man
ual calling must have his chance.
Information. ofttimes miscalled
education. must not be stuffed into
the youth of the land as though
they were mere sausages. Ard
more, Okla. recognizing this truth.
has put a psychologist in her
grade schools and is separating
the skillful Of hand from the nim-
BILE OF brain.
A real democracy depends upon
every calling In life having as its
members aristocrats. men who
love the work they do. When we
get sense enough to know that
an educated farmer is of as much
value as an educated lawyer to
the republic. and when we become
democratic in our ideas rather than
snobbish. the president Of Dart
mouth will be sustained. He
started a valuable discussion and
may patiently suffer the adverse
criticism Of the day and the sneers
Of other college presidents whose
successes are measured by In
rreaaas IN enrolment rather than
by the character Of the output on
commencement day.
(OopyrfRht 1922 by Thomas r. Marshall)