The New York herald., 1922-11-12
THE. REAL AIMS
OF EDUCATION
Principal Stearns of Phillips Academy
Declares They Must Not Be Less
Than Laying the Foundations of
Character, Backed by Traine d
Minds and Acquired knowledge


words were written in ITS. The
business Of living" was a serious mat
ter to the founders Of this Republic
and to those who before them cleared
the path for its coming. And the
business Of living" is II anything a
more serious matter for those of this
later generation who have 30 recently
learned that the scope of their life
and interests is not limited by the
geographical boundaries of these
United states. To make living is
necessary and important enough in
Itself But to lve--in proper and
harmonious relations with our neigh
oors' our brothers Of the world and
our Maker-this is of supreme i'm
| portance.
Character Building Chief
Purpose of Education
| Character building should once more
become therefore the chief business
OF our educational institutions. And
character building does not mean. as
50 many thoughtless persons have ass
sumeo' the mere instilling of moral
rnaxims and ethical principles. Good
ness without knowledge, as 1t con-
Germs others, is weak and feeble" wrote
the statesman quoted above. But he
nastened to add, knowledge without
goodness is dangerous"
II the world war with all the misery
and chaos that have followed In IT'S
train, has not driven home to us the
unchanging truth Of these clear state
rnents we are blind and deaf indeed
Soulless efficiency has well nigh ruined
the world; and a maudin sentimen-
talfty devoid OF knowledge and wis
dom bids fair to delay, if indeed II does
not prevent, the worlds recovery.
knowledge lacking the stabilizing and
uplifting influence of moral purpose
and spiritual ideals has run arnuck.
bringing untold misery to humanity.
And increased knowledge alone vii,
only add to the worlds misery and
ruin. Education cannot afford to ic-
more this truth; and education must
set itself the all important task Of
supplying for the future that needed
spiritual element which has so largely
been lost sight of during recent years
when material world has been CRYING
for moro and ever more material
achievement.
thoughtful scholars and statesni IN
the world over have long recognized
this truth and grasped its full signa-
canoe. Years ago Macaulay wrote
Nine-tenths Of the Ills that have be-
fallen humanity have had as their
origin nothing less than a union OF
high intelligence with a low moral
purpose" Cavour. the great italian
statesman, voiced the Same thought
when he said: "It costs far less to edu-
cate one hundred persons than TO cor
rect the mistakes of one who for lack
OF an education has gone wrong"
Education for efficiency. education for
utilitarian ends, education based on
merely practical and material con-
siderations can never supply the ele-
ments so badly needed to-day II the
evils contemplated by these ana other
thoughtful mon are Ito be done away
with and the blessings Of our modern
civilization are to bo assured for our
selves and the coming generations.
Cease to Overemphasize
The Purely Uilftarian
How then shall this needed element
be supplied? First of all by ceasing
to overemphasize and extol the purely
practical and utiltar1an. Place the
emphasis where II properly belongs
and where our fathers with clear vi
sion placed II. Restore once more the
balance OF the school curriculum by
returning to their rightful place tho
too long derided humanities with their
vivid portrayal OF the struggle of the
human mind through the passing CEN
turies with the great and battling
problems that still to-day challenge
and defy.
Let history teach us more compell-
ingly what men and nations have
learned with patience and sacrifice in
their ago long struggle for better
and nobler life. Give us more of the
inspiration supplied by literature, art
and music that has always lifted
mems minds above the sordid things
Of material world into the clearer
air where ideals and idealism give
breath and life TO the soul and chal-
AChbo ~ W dttuS OI C0lVhlTY ana
moral achievement. Stress once moro
the great and undying truths of re-
ligion that men. in that spirit OF hu-
mility that spells wisdom, may be led
to realize that the Individual and the
nation are instruments In the hands of
the Creator to be used In the accom-
plishment of the divine plan.
And on this foundation we may
build II we will the practical and tho
utilitarian with the assurance that
this superstructure will not crumble
and that II will bring to the individual
not only material return but an even
deeper satisfaction in the realization
that what he adds 10 the worlds store
oe knowledge and material wealth will
be for It's permanent good ana not nu
its possible destruction. In making
better citizens we shall also make bet
ter scientists, better engineers and
better business men; and, best Of all,
we shall make better world.