Eau Claire High School - Beaver Tales Yearbook (Eau Claire, MI)

Page 17 text:

E. C. H. S. Annual '24 ii

Page 16 text:

Maroon and White If»

Page 18 text:

-------------Maroon and White----- Superintendent’s Address THE VALUE OF AX EDUCATION DUCATIOX has lieen defined as the process of preparing for the duties and res]x nsihilities of life. In this age of progress and invention an education is decidedly necessary in order to offset the difficulties and take advantage of the opportunities presented. In this age of ours, in- dustries are developing fastei than men. The commercial, industrial, social, religious, and educational enterprises of the present day are enormous, indeed, compared with those of former generations. The more extensive, compli- cated. and difficult to manage these enterprises are. the greater must l e the capacity and skill of men to handle them. The greater the res|M nsihilities, the greater must Ik? the ability to meet them. Since there is this great increase in the complexity and difficulty of life’s problems it follows that the preparation to meet these prob- lems must 1« more carefully planned. Truly, there is a greater need for educated men than ever lie fore in the history of the world. Education must lx? three fold; it must he moral, mental, and physical if its aim is to prepare for life in the highest sense. Education of the mind alone, with- out the necessary accompanying moral and physical education leaves the person in danger of lieing a weakling or a criminal. It has been said that one of the educational marvels, a hoy whose father developed his mind so that at the age of six months he knew the alphabet, at the age of three years could speak foreign languages and at the age of seven could pass the entrance examination for Harvard University; this boy. on reaching young manhood, was arrested for advocating riots and revolutions against the government, and today works for $25 a week at a machine. This boy was not given a true education for he was not really prepared for life, the emphasis having l ecn placed on the intellectual development while the moral and physical sides were neglected. Modern conditions demand efficiency, and efficiency depends in part on the action of the mind, the power to he observant, exact and jiersistent. Mr. Emerson has said that “ efficiency means that the right thing is done in the right manner by the right man in the right place at the right time.” Efficiency means directness in thought and action and applies itself to and is dependent on man’s physical, mental and moral well lieing. In other words efficiency is a quality developed by education. The narrow minded sentiment of former generations, calling for a trifling accomplishment in reading, writing and numbers has given way to a firm con- viction that the school should furnish a broad, liberal, thorough education such as is productive of mental and moral and physical development. Education means efficiency and efficiency can only he acquired by preparation for the exhibition of that quality. Education makes for character development and the building of character is one of the most important parts of human life. Every act in life depends on character so it is important for young people to establish good habits in order to lay the foundation for a good character. There is no place that furnishes the incentive to form proper habits that can compare with the school, for the nature of the child is shown very clearly in his school activities. All improper habits are 12