Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-13
BROAD BACKGROUND URGED
FOR LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Or. Walsh of G. U. Discusses
Better Education
Methods.
Character, Poise, Culture
and liberation Among
Factors Involved.

BY EDMUND A. WALSH, S. j.. Phi. D.,
Vice President Gsor gesoEn University
The spirit Of unrest, verging in GER
tain quarters on panic. which has laid
hold Of the worlds political and eco
nomic conscience has not spared the
educational world. There has been
much searching of hearts in academic
as we'll as in business circles during
these latter years The widespread con-
Sultation concerning our educational
health has revealed symptoms 81 a
disease not infrequent in individuals
and nations that have risen rapidly to
power and affluence.
1t is not the mere physical presence
OF nearly million students In our IN
situations of higher learning that con-
stitutes the cause of intellectual dis
tress: 1t is the diet that has been led
there. It is not unreasonable nor dis
proportionate for the Nation to mail
tain less than l per cent OF its popu-
lation in training for leadership, which
is the function Of the university as dis
tinguished from the common and sec
ondary school, Primarily and secondary
education are concerned respectively
with the abolition of illiteracy and fun
damental training for citizenship In
complex democracy.
Academic Fare Too Dainty.
Academic fare in too many American
colleges has been overloaded with
pastry, creamy sauces, caviare and
dainty condiments. Immature adven-
turers, just released from high school,
have been encouraged in their salad
days to pick their own way for four
years through pedagogical cafeterlas,
Such generation may achieve
sophistication. but not that humility
which Is the beginning of wisdom; 1t
may acquire breadth but not depth.
superficial information but little dis
elimination. and the fabric OF It's
thought will be shoddy Wool wears,
shoddy shines The results are already
apparent to every experienced educator
who has not become fascinated by the
lure Of numbers.
1t must in justice be confessed, how
ever. that the fault lies not wholly with
the student He has fioated willing
enough. with the tide Of events His
tendency to evaluate an education in
terms of its practical utility. earning
power and overnight results has been
quickened by the example OF his go
getting" elders. 1t was his natural
heritage from the feverish industrial
age into which he was born and which
now sees its progeny come home to
plague it. He seized on the elective
and the credit systems with gusto and
turned them both against their creators
with a vengeance. Were not they the
masters In Israel? Responsibility IS
divided. I have read that Diogenes
struck the father when the son
blasph"med.
Liberal Education Function.
The time has come for frank. for
continued end organize restatemenc
of the function of & liberal educat on
in American life. From thinking"
wrote George Washington. proceeds
speaking, thence to acting is often but
single step. But how irrevocable and
tremendous" A satisfying definition of
what a liberal education means would
require a thick volume. 1t is as illu-
sive and intangible as the essence of
poetry and the gossamer structure OF
a butterfy's wing. Its presence in a
man IS revealed as subtly, as Is the
fact that he may or may not be a
gentleman. It is a preparation for life
in its entirety. not for any one spe-
cialized branch Of human endeavor. 1t
furnishes factual information from the
long history Of the race and offers
guidance for its future development It
is the record of mans laborious ascent
to civilization. But the inner gifts
which 1t bestows. of character, po.se,
culture, liberation and understanding,
are far more valuable. Without them
the highly trained statistical eXrert,
the dynamic salesman and the light
ming calculator are simply appan ne
Doors Without them the licensed
practitioner in medicine too often be-
comes a menace to the community
the commercialized lawyer an ambu-
lance chaser and the registered
pharmacist purveyor of narcotics.
Because foreign service. either In a
public or private capacity is such an
exacting profession. there develops a
special social responsibility, both upon
the candidate for overseas service and
on the university which undertakes to
prepare him for his llfe's work We
are all judged in his person: credit or
diScredit results to the Nation as a
whole from the habitual conduct of
individual Americans residing in foreign
lands. That is why the School of
Foreign Service of Georgetown Uni
versity, basing its decision on the ex-
perience OF II wears. requires a mini
mum OF two years Of general cultural
education before entrance on the
specialized and professional part of its
curriculum. We realize that technical
and business training is of the highest
Importance. But experience likewise
demonstrates that it is wholly in
adequate unless humanized by a broad
and liberal background which alone can
insure its fruitful application to human
relations. Premature and unbalanced
business training increases the supply
OF specialists but diminishes the num-
Der OF the educated. We hope that the
day Is not far distant when a full COL
lege education will be required before
professional training.
Length Of Apprenticeship.
But l hear someone say. will not
that be too long an apprenticeship?
Would you have American students.
begin their professional studies at am
age when most youths in Europe are
finishing theirs? My answer is yes and
x K x x 4 4
Felix Mallony's
National Art School
l747 r. ]. Ave. North TIA