SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 215 



he said : (1) That knowledge which has to do with self-preser- 

 vation. The litle babe's eyes must be protected from the 

 bright light lest they suffer harm. His first steps must be guided 

 lest he fall. Berries good for food he must be taught to pick, 

 not berries from bushes which poison. As the years advance 

 every stage of life calls for special care lest the body suffer injury. 

 All things which have to do directly with self-preservation are 

 of the first importance. (2) That knowledge which has to do 

 indirectly with self-preservation. Here Mr. Spencer referred 

 to training which develops a man's power for earning a livelihood. 

 All occupational knowledge is here included. The body must 

 not only be protected from harm, it also must steadily be sus- 

 tained and promoted in well-being. (3) That knowledge 

 which has to do with parenthood, including all training necessary 

 for the creation and well-being of family life. (4) That knowl- 

 edge which is conducive to social or community welfare. (5) 

 Finally, that knowledge which has to do with the graces and 

 refinements of life, including literature, music — fine art in all 

 forms. 



Mr. Spencer's discussion was of great value owing to the 

 broad scope of his treatment of education. It was unique for 

 the order in which he stated the objects of knowledge and their 

 relative worth. Before art and refinement he put social and 

 community well-being. Before knowledge of history and poli- 

 tics he put knowledge of parental functions and obligations. 

 Before all these he put that elemental knowledge which has to 

 do with vocational efficiency. What gave his contribution its 

 most searching pedagogic importance was his insistence on the 

 relatively higher educational value of vocational knowledge for 

 the average pupil in the average school, and no less for 

 the average student in the average college. The school men 

 could not escape his psychology nor his logic. The common 

 people received his message gladly. Almost immediately his 

 doctrine crossed to the continent, and there was translated into 



