99 s 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



mentioned. It should be distinctly un- 

 derstood and continually repeated that 

 the state has nothing to do with this or 

 that individual's success in life, so far as 

 that may be a matter of competition ; 

 that the only "success" the state can 

 undertake to prepare any one for is the 

 success of good conduct and of social 

 adaptation. 



Now it is evident that if State edu- 

 cation were dominated by this idea, it 

 w r ould have to assume an essentially 

 scientific character. For the conduct 

 of life, what is wanted is not accom- 

 plishment of any kind whatever, but 

 knowledge of what life is and a sense 

 of its realities. A true education will, 

 therefore, find its basis in the laws of 

 life physical, intellectual, and moral 

 and will aim at bringing each indi- 

 vidual face to face with the great re- 

 alities upon which happiness depends. 

 From such an education all false prudery 

 would be banished. No child would be 

 allowed to grow up in an ignorance 

 which might expose it to the gravest 

 physical perils ; on the contrary, the 

 way of physical salvation would be 

 clearly and plainly indicated, and the 

 perils of every kind which wait upon 

 violations of law would be faithfully 

 exhibited. The chief impression, how- 

 ever, would be produced by the con- 

 stant reference of all instruction to the 

 grand aim of promoting integrity, puri- 

 ty, and harmony of life. Every branch 

 of knowledge would be considered and 

 treated in its bearing upon this aim, 

 and not, as is now generally the case, 

 in its bearing upon individual success 

 in the competition of life. " Do so and 

 so," children are now told, "and you 

 will rise to positions of distinction in 

 society." Yes, provided others fail to 

 act with equal wisdom ; but, supposing 

 all to conduct themselves wisely and 

 well, where is the distinction to come 

 from ? No doubt it may safely be pre- 

 dicted that all will not ; but is it well to 

 assume this in the appeals we make to 

 the young, and so to accustom them to 

 thought of profiting by the errors or 



weakness of others? The educator, we 

 hold, should use only such modes of 

 appeal as are applicable to all ; and a 

 promise of eminence, of distinction, of 

 wealth, of power, is not applicable to 

 all, but only to a few. To all it may 

 be said : " Do so and so, and your life 

 will rest upon solid foundations ; you 

 will be a healthful and helpful member 

 of society, and, whatever your lot in 

 life may be, you will have an inward 

 fund of happiness and self-respect that 

 will be secure against all vicissitude. 

 Moreover, the world is so constituted 

 that you can not give without receiv- 

 ing, and whatever you sow for others 

 you will reap the same yourself." 



We believe that were education 

 dominated by these ideas, and by the 

 one main purpose we have indicated, 

 the result would soon be seen in quick- 

 ened intelligences and improved dis- 

 positions; and at least the gross ig- 

 norance would be removed which at 

 present is answerable for so large an 

 amount of juvenile depravity. 



There is, however, another aspect 

 to the question with which we are now 

 specially concerned. What shall be 

 said of the " education " of the men of 

 wealth and leisure, who find their high- 

 est pleasure in the most criminal and 

 ruthless forms of vice? These men 

 have passed through public schools, 

 perchance through universities; some 

 are said to be doctors of medicine; 

 others to be eminent at the bar or on 

 the bench ; and some even to wear the 

 livery of the Church. In what shape 

 can life have been presented to such 

 men? What sense can they ever have 

 gained of the organic unity of society ? 

 What respect can they ever have been 

 taught for the temple of their bodies, 

 or for the cardinal institutes of nature 

 and of society ? What regard for others 

 can ever have been inculcated upon 

 them when they think that money can 

 atone for the utter degradation of a 

 fellow-creature? Surely it is time to 

 cry aloud and spare not, when men can 

 pass for " educated " to whom the very 



