The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-03-07
Just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment Considered or Ineensfdsrsfs

1t is little more than generation since "educa-
ton" not only rallying cry but religion
among the American people II is still kind of re-
lgion but has settled into the condition of wide
spread routine sect with little ardor consistency
in its services.
In the older time, education was the universal
prescription for the healing of all individual and
cal ills, and for the achieving of all desirable goals.
Was there dishonesty and injustice? Education would
it, people would have to be educated in the
ways Of righteousness. Was there juvenile delin-
quency? Education would make it disappear.
Was there inequality in the relations of capital and
labor? Education would quickly clear up the diff
culties and lead to their removal.
The trouble was that education was largely ac-
cepted as merely the process of going to school That
was mistake. Another mistake, fathered by an
understandable impatience to get tangible (hat is,
materially results, was the sudden swing TO special
ization The old academic training the acquiring of
"the liberal arts" long and tedious process
with little dollar-andcenS return. This largely
abandoned so that the special talents of individuals
could be employed without unnecessary delay to pro.
mote progress" and boost bank accounts. AS a re-
suit general culture disappeared To-day two special
lists in different fields meet in kind of vacuum,
with nothing to discuss but politics. sports and the
weather. they speak no common language on other
subjects
The saving wisdom that should by now have come
pouring upon the land from college and university
has failed to appear AS look for it, we may be re-
minded Of Bill Nye's remark upon the crowds of
people he expected to acclaim him when his first
book appeared: II looked from the window and was
startled to behold the enthusiastic and abrupt man
ner in which they were not there" Education, in
the sense of schooling, is more widespread than
ever before; are our problems our troubles and
dstresses
The degree of ''literacy" is comparatively high
among our people. Nearly everyone read and
write. But there is evidence that we think
clearly and reason more soundly than our great.
grandparents did; indeed, seem to have gone
back. Great mechanical precision in the crafts and
sciences appears TO be accompanied by increas-
ingy heavy fog of confusion in things of the mind.
The very centers of education are fruitful of twisted
philosophers Destructive doctrines spring from the
schools which we're expected (by J. G. Whittier
and his times to keep ''the quick wires of inelIi-
gence" humming with truth and brotherhood And
sometimes the most absurd nonsense is proclaimed
by teachers and pupils of leading universities This
thing called education" like of the early
attempts at vaccination, does not seem to take"
Consider this recent matter of sapient discussion
the Yale campus committee of alumni pom
dered the abvsibility of having Communists on the
Yale faculty The committee decided il would not pro-
mote the intellectual and spiritual welfare of Yale to
have Party members there But the university paper.
the Yale Daily News, disagreed The News feels that
il is inconsistent in the University to deny teach
ing post to Communist Party member since IL has
recently given such post to a Jesuit priest,
What can be said of the trained mind the edu-
Gated intelligence, which spews such idiocy as this?
One can only think of Haire Bellocs phrase "moun-
tans of ineptitude" What must be the state of a
mans knowledge of current fact and human history
If he can place upon par for comparison and the
weighing of consistencies. disciple of Lenin and
disciple of ST. Ignatus Loyola? What should we
think of the waiter who would say. ut is inconsist
ent of you to refuse to eat arsenic since you have
Just consented to the bread?"
Do not forget that this imbecile comparison of
Communist and Jesuit comes not from some back
ward spot where darkness and illeracy might
from great university nesting luminousy under
her ancient elms shrine and tabernacle of modern
education. this sort of thing be the fruit of educa
ton, ii is high time we looked elsewhere than to
education for social and national salvation
Another instance of modern enlightenment pro-
duct of education the great panacea and stimulant
big city newspaper gave columns of first page pub
city to the mouthings of ant-Catholic agitator,
and then. on its editorial page, spoke piousy and at
length on Brotherhood Week" Thus does the press,
most potent instrument of education, show itself
the palladium of our liberties and the protector of
the peoples rghts
Education would be all right If only we had
some way of educating the educators