90 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



and industrial, which go to make up its greatness and to perpetuate its pros- 

 perity. Intellectual and moral fitness are essential qualifications in order to 

 the effective use of the ballot in self government. Industrial thrift based 

 on the most effective use possible of natural advantages possessed, is the key 

 to the prosperity of the State and the advancement of the people in civiliza- 

 tion. 



The proper field of this discussion thus becomes pretty clearly defined, 

 and I venture some remarks partly by criticism of existing methods and 

 partly by suggestions, on the lines of thought already indicated. 



The public school system of the State seems almost exclusively directed 

 to the intellectual training of the youth, and in this specific field may be ac- 

 counted fairly successful. The stream cannot rise above its source, and 

 considering the money and other agencies available I do not see how greatly 

 improved results could reasonably be expected. The intelligent observer of 

 forty years past will notice that booms and crazes have characterized the 

 work of the school room as well as other departments of industry. Some of 

 these have intrinsic and permanent value. Others may be accounted indif- 

 ferent or hurtful. It will be noticed however that almost all consist only of 

 some new form of application of an old principle familiar to and practiced by 

 the skillful teacher of every age. Sir Wm. Hamilton, the highest authority 

 probably in this field of enquiry says: " The primary principle of education 

 is the determination of the pupil to self activity— the doing nothing for him 

 which he is able to do for himself." The whole machinery of schools and 

 teachers thus becomes to the youthful mind as the stick to the rocket. Pro- 

 perly balanced, directed and ignited, it shoots toward heaven with brillisnt 

 effulgence ; misdirected, it grovels to earth carrying consternation and des- 

 truction in its path. The value of school training is apparent in almost all 

 cases in which it is enjoyed, but its essential benefits may be attained inde- 

 pendent of school advantages as illustrated in the case of many self made 

 men. The Greek proverb reads : " If you love learning you will have learn- 

 ing." And here I desire to enter my protest against many of the so called 

 easier processes which to a considerable extent have taken the place of the 

 more rugged paths in the mastery of a given subject. These for the most 

 part substitute mere receptivity and memorization for the more strengthen- 

 ing exercise of analysis and independent inductive reasoning. English 

 grammar is taught, or rather not taught in "language lessons" so called. The 

 cross roads school teacher flouts Lindly Murray and Gould Brown, and in- 

 sists that the best rules in mathematics are the ones the piipil makes for 

 himself, although it is probably notorious that neither teacher nor pupil is 

 able to frame an intelligent statement of rule or principle. Nay more, elo- 

 quence and learning are sometimes evoked to ridicule the slow and plodding 

 paths through English, Latin, and Greek grammar; through Cesar, Cicero, 

 Xenophon and Homer, by which intellectual power and distinction were for- 

 merly acquired and by which the critics themselves have attained to the 

 power of eloquent invective which they now turn upon these slow and lab- 

 orious methods. Let us see the fruits of the so called better methods and 

 then it will be time to discard the old, 



I am not among those who believe that the farmer has been particularly 



