Presbyterian College - Pac Sac Yearbook (Clinton, SC)

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I0 THE COLLEGIAN. it Hlls the store house of the mind with knowledge and this knowledge is so general that it make the universe seem like our home. An educated man knows something and knows it well, although he can never become master of any branch of learning. Ideal education will give a man self-knowledge, making him familiar with his faults and weaknesses. It will also cultivate Z1 person's taste, making him love the ideal. And iinally the educated man is happy. Happiness consists in the possession and use of one's full powers. He knows the truth, and the truth has made him free. He feels the beautiful, and the beautiful has made him gentle. He wills the good, and the good has made him strong. On the other hand, education is not a gift and can be attain- ed only by hard work and perservance. Ideal education does not give us something newg it only developes the faculties that lie dormant in the mind and fits us to be something. Let us now consider the six different sides of a man's nature to be developed, the spiritual, moral, aesthic, intellectual, prac-- tical and physical. The spiritual side of man well developed will enable him to know right from wrong and will show him what his business in this world is. Perceiving the evils existing in society, the spir- itual man will seek to establish a christ-like peace over all the land, preparing himself as well as others for the life to come. The study of the Bible is necessary in the spiritual develop- ment of man, and it has been said that if a person perfectly masters the Bible he will be really an educated man. We have always had warm advocates of this development. The most familiar one to us all is Christ. His life represents a mirror into which we may look and which we may use as a standard of our lives. We cannot think of him as looking over us to restrain and reprove, but must think of him as a kind anil tender and compassionate father leaving behind him traces of such a pure life that we cannot help imitating it. Witli Mar- tin Luther, Christianity was the basis of all worthy living. Other great pedagogists will emphasize the moral develop- ment. In Herbert Spencer's treatise on education a chapter is

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THE COLLEGIAN. 9 relationship of the world. The Hague Conference and the Peace Congress have done much toward promoting peace. But some nation must lead. The question arises, What na- tion shall be first to disarm her soldiers, sink her battle-ships, raise the banner of peace and command all nations to follow ? Emerson said, As goes America, so goes the world. When the art of printing was introduced into America, it was prophe- sied that she would become the seat of learning. And the time is not far distant when America will be like a beacon set on a hill. When it was discovered that America concealed in her bosom wealth untold, it was predicted that she would lead the world in wealth. VVhen the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, they brought into America the salvation of Christ, and today America is sending into all the world the gospel of the Prince of Peace. America is surely coming into the leadership of the world in wealth, in education, and in Christianity. Now it seems that the honor of leading in this great movement of universal peace is destined to be bestowed upon America. Oh nation, the honor awaits you! The glory is yours! Raise the banner of peace! Lead all nations that have refused to be driven! Hasten the dawning of that brighter day! This world is longing for that day to come when the tie of friendship and brotherhood shall be an unbroken chain, holding all nations in close fellowship with one another, and when there shall be Peace on earth, good will toward men. sleeleeie Ideal Education Since the dawn of true civilization, ideal education has been the standard of many of our truly great educators. Every day we live we constantly meet persons who have developed only one or two of the six great sides of education, and we see constantly the need and value of an ideal educational sys- tem. What do we mean by ideal education? It is that which en- ables us to be the best, and do the most, and get the most out of life. It should open the door of our minds, making the senses respond to the good, the true, and the beautiful. Again,

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THE COLLEGIAN. II devoted to the morality of a person. VVith him morality was the end of education. He did not associate morality with re- ligion or ethical principles, and he considered the teacher who failed to develop the moral side of the pupil a failure. These statements are much overdrawn, for morality without religion is practically useless, and a person who lays undue stress on this one side of development is likely to become fanatical. The practice of virtue is to count far more than lectures on ethics. It is by doing good that one becomes goodg I do not know any exercise more certain in its results. Gccupy your pupil with all good actions that are in his reachg let the interest of the poor always be his: let him assist them not only with his purse, but with his personal attentionsg let him serve them protect them and consecrate to them his person and his time 5 let him be their advocateg he will never have a nobler employ- ment. VVe now come to the aesthic side of development. One of the hardest and yet one of the easiest things to do is to see beauty in everything. Often people grumble and complain because they hear other people admire some painting or music or a master-piece of some kind. These things cannot appeal to them because they have not trained the aesthic side of their nature. VVhat a pleasure it is to meet with persons who really see and enjoy the beauties around them! Once there was an old man who lived in a hut in a valley. Every morn- ing at day break he would start up the mountain side. On his way up the mountain he would always stop at a spring for a drink and then pass on. As he would reach the top of the mountain the sun would just be rising. Taking off his hat he would say, Good morning, Mr. NVorld, I'm glad to see you. This simple story impresses upon us the fact that if we kreally open our eyes and ears we can see beauty in everything. All persons should cultivate the aesthetic side of their nature be- cause it tends to soften their dispositons and make their thoughts purer and holier and Fill their souls with adminration. The Athenian system was by no means idealg the fundamental idea was not correct. This system was overdrawn. Their ob-