Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1913 — HIGHER EDUCATION. [ARTICLE]

HIGHER EDUCATION.

Neglect of the English language is education’s greatest defect today. -Asking and answering difficult conundrums relative , to doubtful meaning of passages written long ago occupy time and attention that might better be devoted to a study of the proper use of words. A vast amount of time and mental energy is wasted in our high schools and colleges. Our professors are lacking in that they literally ladle out subject matter to so great an extent that it cannot possibly be grasped by the student. Better be stingy in this respect. Then the student can mentally digest what is given him. There is power in the English language. The man who can speak and write so as to be understood has a great power at his command. It is a glorious thing when the schoolboy Is made to feel that our language is not a thing to be trifled with. Too many persons believe gaining of knowledge Is the one object of a college education. The primary purpose is to gain the power to become an effective personality. Knowledge is secondary to this. There is nothing specific in education. It Is development of personality. We are reaching out too far in our high schools. Children are being taught there what we used to learn in college. A sense of form and refinement is badly needed here. Too much is undertaken In the way of higher education that should not come until after the university stage is reached. Benjamin Ide Wheeler. .