The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-06-18

maintains the schools. that IS to say the
government, working through It's various
agencies maintains the schools, the
schools should maintain and uphold the
government.
educational System
It Is said that the civilization and
standards OF thought and life Of any
nation depend In large measure upon its
public school system The state owes its
young people, those who are to become It's
leaders in the activities OF life, those who
are to preserve its ideals and traditions
and even the government itself, debt to
assist them In equlpping themselves for
life by the development OF their faculties
and powers so that they may live lives
OF usefulness to themselves and society
and the social order Of which they are
part.
The object primarily Of education is
not to fit students to be mechanics. or
artisans. or artists, or members Of any
OF the professions. 1t is TO make men
and women. It is not the policy Of the
high school system that few shall be
selected and trained so that they may
be better prepared and may have advan-
tage over others not given the same bene-
fits. The young men and women gradu-
ating from the high schools of this state
owe to the state and to the social order
this debt: that in the positions OF lead
ersnip in society which they are equipped
to take they win stand for measures
which viii have for their purpose the
preservation OF the institutions and ira
ditlons OF this republic and the liberties
OF its people.
Object Of Education
The object OF education is not to bene-
TT the Individual primarily, but for the
Improvement OF the social order. It is
not to prepare the student to make a
living. but to make living, but to make
a life Wells, the writer whose recent
works have caused considerable COM
ment and some controversy, has asserted:
ut is a modern error that education
exists for the individual. Education
exists for the community and the
race. 1t exists to subdue the indi-
viduaI for the good Of the world and
his own ultimate happiness"
Babson. the statistician, in his recent
book. enduring Investments, says:
"The second requisite for an edu-
cational system Il will mention his
first later), If our investments are to
endure, is practical instruction in
civic and constitutional government.
Certain very commendable work is
being done along these lines by
groups interested in Americaniza-
tion. sss All, however, are lack
ing in instruction regarding govern
nent"
Within the last ten days a great South
ern university has accepted this view and
set about its correction so far as its
courses leading up to degrees are con-
cerned The University of the South at
Swanee. Tenn, by resolution of It's Board
of Trustees now requires that all candi-
dates for academic degrees take a special
course OF one term in the American Con-
stitution, with special emphasis to the
spirit OF the founders Of the republic and
it's Interpretation by the highest courts Of
the land"
What Is EducatIon7
What Is Edueation7. make no at
tempt at technical definition. II may be
said generally TO be the development Of
all the powers OF the personality. The
true educator deals not with time but
with eternity. He sees In the face a
light from the altar Of eternal. fires.
When God created man He breathed into
him the brsath Of life land man became
a living soul.". True education, there
fore, must contemplate not the physical
and mental only. but the. moral. and
spiritual development also..... ...a 49,.
Physical Education
In the public school system physiology
and anatomy are required subjects. We
are expected TO learn something Of our
physical natures, the abiding place Of the
infinite within us. We study the laws Of
health and Of hygiene. The Home Eco
Monies department is becoming an es-
sential part Of our system. An important
feature Of the public health activities Is
an inspection by which physical defects
which hamper and impede the work OF
the schools and destroy effort Is discov-
cred and removed. Athletics are feat
ured and encouraged as they should be-
Track meets are annual interesting
events. There Is criticism, however, from
some quarters that too much considera-
ton Is given by some OF the schools and
colleges Of the country to athletics and
athletic contests. In a recent address at
old William and Mary's College the Solicit
tor General of the United States made the
observation that Jack Dempsey would
attract more attention than George Wash
Ington. II IS asserted that an athletic
contest between two college teams at
tracts more attention than an inter-col-
legiate debate. This situation may be
illustrated by the story Of the Sunday
school teacher who asked her class what
they knew about Ruth. When a boy held
up his hand and was permitted 20 answer
ne said HE made his forty-second home
run yesterday" But 1t Is not my pur-
pose TO enter Into a discussion of this
question. only suggest It for your
thought.
intellectual Education
Primarily our educational efforts are
directed to the development of the intel
lsot. The propriety of this policy IS Of
course not quetioned, It may be con-
ceded that in large meaure under our
system the object Of education Is the
development Of the intellectual powers.
This may be said to be an ago OF intel
lectual and material progress. Emerson
says Every great achievement was once
an unspoken word in the mind OF an in
dividuaI"