Evening star., 1927-11-10

as well as poor. Reading, writ
ing and arithmetic are very necessary
to those whose business requires such
qualifications; but where peoples live
lihood has no dependence on these
arts. they are very pernciouS to the
poor, who are forced to get their daily
bread by their Daily Labor"
In 1857 Soame Jenyns wrote:
Ignorance, or the want of knOWl-
edge and literature, the appointed lot
of all born to poverty and the-drudger-
les of life. is the only opiate capable
of infusing that insensibility which
can enable them to endure the miser.
les of the one and the fatigues of
the other. 1t Is a cordial administered
bv the gracious hand or Providence.
of which they ought never to be de-
prlved by an ill.iudged and improper
education. 1t Is the basis of all sub
ordination. the support or society and
the privilege of Individuals
The above are prose explanations of
what the poet has more musically
told:
where ignorance Is bliss,
'Tis folly to be wise
-
1t is pointed out. however. that the
social and economic conditions have
wholly changed in the last two cen.
turies, and the delights of ignorance
and contentment Of those who did not
know the sweets of knowledge are
wholly outgrown today,
1t is comical-but woeful--to note
in what disesteem knowledge was
held. even in the very year of our
Declaration of Independence. In the
Maryland Journal of Baltimore. June
:. 1776, Is found a notice OF the ar
rival OF ship bearing "a number of
healthy men and women servants.
Their indentures are to be disposed
Of" Mere dumb. driven cattle'-
white servants. but healthy crit
ters.'"
Four days before the Declaration of
Independence q Boston paper had an
editorial based upon the news OF the
Baltimore ship. and in that editorial
cultured Boston enlarged on the fact
that the ship which had reached Bal
timore carried various Irish com.
modities. among which were school.
masters. beef. pork and potatoes" 1t
did not record how the Irish school,
masters would be sold--whether by the
pound, with the beef and pork, or by
the bushel, like the Irish potatoes.
n Y X
Forty years ago only 655 per cent
of all children between and II years
were enrolled in the public schools of
America, today S2.S per cent are 50
enrolled. Then 62.3 per cent attended
school each day, now 1873 per cent.
The average number OF days attended
annually by each child tnen was SAL,
today it is 1895.
All colleges are crowded to over.
flowing. But in recent years much
criticism has come concerning the
practical and cultural results of the
modern college. Veteran teachers
heads of normal schools-decry the
increasing loOseness Of college courses
and the lack Of mental and social dis.
cipline OF the students. not to men,
ton the eccentricities of sensation.
seeking professors.
Even the National Education Asso.
citation points with pride to the fact
that modern schools aim at "democ.
racy" of the pupils-freedom to exer-
else thei" own immatured wills i'm
study and in discipline. Conservatives
answer that that Is what ails modern
schools, the weakening of direction
and control Of untried youth by wise
e experience and matured character
The head of one Of the most promi.
nent normal schools Is quoted as dep.
recating the breaking down of the an.
cient landmarks of discipline. From
away off in China, from a missionary
college in which American modernisms
have crept, comes cry by the presi-
dent that the radical students demand
that they be represented on the faculty
board. and that upon the Independent
will of the students should depend the
tenure of all professors. and even of
the president of the college.
*>,**
College presidents and deans agree