The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-14
EDUCATION TAKES
SECOND PLACE IN
MIND OF AMERICA
Commissioner Tagert Warns
Against CommerCiaIism
Run Wild

Wealth and commerce cannot make
America secure for future genera
tons, only the proper kind Of edu-
cation can accomplish this, according
to j. J. Tigert, United States COM
missioner of education, who lectured
on THE Conservatism of Human
Talent" before the southern section
of the Classical association of the
middle west and south, in the Sunday
school building of the First Methodist
church Friday night
He told of the fall of Carthage,
said to have been the greatest com
mercial nation of her time. He spoke
of the cultured little nation of
Greece and told how she was able tc
stand before the mighty Persian
armies. without education and
truth, those things which make for
the ideal, no nation can stand" he
Rome a the time of her decay and
fall and declared America today as
being in almost as sad a state as re-
CARDS wealth and the disregard for
high ideals. as was Rome at the time
of her passing from the stage OF
noted nations of that time.
The speaker declared: I'm America
today the seeds of discomfort are
Furnishing more than ever in any
nation of the world. How can l con-
vert education into dollars and cents?
This is the question we are asking
ourselves in America. The educatlCn
which stands for the ideal is given
but little attention nowadays. Amer
lea has been in stage of material
education that has crowded the clas-
steal education from the arena. This
tendency means ruin to the nation.
We have waxed fat on material
things. During the World war many
FOR
School Indifference.
He declared that many people to-
day were more interested in who
were handling their automobiles than
they were in who were educating
their children. He told of one man
who didn't know the name of the
school teacher who instructed his
children or the grades his children
were assigned to, yet this man was
very particular as to who handled ms
automo bile and other material be-
lonsings
He said there was in America to-
day such a great love for money that
the average person failed to appre-
ciate those things which are eleVat-
ing and uplifting. He told of the ia
nous picture which the noted Amer
lean artist, Whistler, painted OF MS
mother as gift to the American
n,
found for it in the art galleries of the
nation because it was not regarded of
sufficient interest. HE sent the pic
ture to Germany, and there he was
voted second class medal, Whlch
was returned with the artists thanks.
Yet today this painting hangs in the
art galleries at Paris, valued at
s1,o0O,o0o. This is but one example
to show the like of appreciation in
America of those things which ele-
vate the mind of man." the speaker
said.
Lack Humanism.
He said one of the troubles with
America and the entire world Today
was the lack of "humanism." He told
of visiting Europe during the World
war and of witnessing the lack or
"humanism' there. In England the
American soldiers were cursing the
English in France they fused about
the bull frogs; in Italy they were
cursing the "wops," in little Belgium
1t was just as bad. 1t was in Italy
| learned from the American soldiers
that an Italian never discovered
America and that a woman never
pawned her jewels to pay the expense
OF the discovery. In France l FOUND
a great lack of "humanism" among
the American soldiers for the French.
| told them of the 10 decisive battles
of the world. ten of which were
fought since Christ, and that of these
the French won seven. But all they
wanted to talk about was the lone
some call of the French frogs" In
the various countries of Europe dur
ing the World war he said he talked
to over 1000 American soldiers on
.humanism," because he regarded
this as the greatest need at that
time, and one of the great needs to
the present day.
Go To Extremes.
He declared that educators often
times go to extremes; that one class
believes a certain kind of education
will save the world, while another
class believe the same kind of edu-
cation will mean the worlds ruin.
Some educators held that all knowl-
edge originated in reason. Others
believed that no knowledge came
from reason, but through sensation.
There was still another school which
believed there was some truth IN
both"
DR.. Tigert said that in Washington
one hears little of classified educa-
ton, but much of industrial educa-
ton. He said he found many people
who say that classical education Is
loss of timN; that there are but few
people In America able to teach the
ciaS SlCS. Inc trouble Is tneTe is Ho
vested interest in the classics, hence
classical education has lost ground in
the high schools of America" he said.
DR.. Tigert told his hearers that
since he had held his present office
this was the first time he had ever
addressed a meeting dealing with
classical education, but that he had
talked to many audiences concerning
industrial education. However he
expressed a pleasure in being in Biz
mingham. due to the fact he is a
native of the south, and was edu-
Gated at Webb and at Vanderbilt.
President John c. Futrall, Univer-
sity of Arkansas. and President Guy
e. Snaveley, Birmingham-South
college, followed DR.. Tigert with
short addresses
Proceeding the speeches an ovches-
ira composed of high school students
of the Central, Woodlawn and Ensley
High school rendered a number of Sc
Iections to the enjoyment of the au-
dience.
MRS. CHARLES WEBB DIES
Mrs. Charles D. webb. aged 80, died
A.