Criticsofthelatterdayuniversitypolicieshavefromtimetotimecalledattentiontoanapparentreluctanceonthepartoftheseacademicscientiststoencounterpresent—dayfactshand—to—hand,ortotraceoutthecausestowhichcurrentconditionsaredue。Distemperedcriticshaveevenallegedthattheacademicleadersinthesocialsciencesareheldundersomeconstraint,asbeing,insomesort,inthepayofthewell—to—doconservativeelement;thattheyaretherebyincapacitatedfromfollowingupanyinquirytoitslogicalconclusion,incasetheconclusionmightappeartotraversetheinterestortheopinionsofthoseonwhomtheseleadersareinthiswaypecuniarilydependent。
Now,itmaybeconcededwithoutviolencetonotoriousfacts,thattheseofficialleadersofsciencedocommonlyreachconclusionsinnocuoustotheexistinglawandorder,particularlywithrespecttoreligion,ownership,andthedistributionofwealth。Butthisneedimplynoconstraint,norevenanypeculiardegreeoftact,muchlessamoralobliquity。Itmayconfidentlybeasserted,withoutfearofcontradictionfromtheirside,thattheofficialleadersinthisprovinceofacademicresearchandindoctrinationare,commonly,innowayhinderedfrompushingtheirresearcheswithfullfreedomandtothelimitoftheircapacity;andthattheyarelikewisefreetogivethefullestexpressiontoanyconclusionsorconvictionstowhichtheirinquiriesmaycarrythem。Thattheyareabletodosoisafortunatecircumstance,duetothefactthattheirintellectualhorizonisboundedbythesamelimitsofcommonplaceinsightandpreconceptionsasaretheprevailingopinionsoftheconservativemiddleclass。Thatistosay,alargeandaggressivemediocrityistheprimequalificationforaleaderofscienceintheselines,ifhisleadershipistogainacademicauthentication。
Allthismayseemtoomuchlikeloosegenerality。Withaviewtosuchprecisionasthecaseadmits,itmayberemarkedthatthisprovinceofacademicscienceashabituallypursued,iscommonlyoccupiedwithquestionsofwhatoughttobedone,ratherthanwiththeoriesofthegenesisandcausationofthepresent—daystateofthings,orwithquestionsastowhatthepresent—daydriftofthingsmaybe,asdeterminedbythecausesatwork。Asitdoesinpopularspeculation,soalsointhisacademicquasi—science,theinterestcentresonwhatoughttobedonetoimproveconditionsandtoconservethoseusagesandconventionsthathavebyhabitbeenimbeddedinthereceivedschemeofuseandwont,andsohavecometobefoundgoodandright。Itisoftheessenceofpopularspeculationsonthisrangeoftopicsthattheyarefocussedonquestionsofuse;thattheyareofateleologicalorder;thattheylooktotheexpediencyoftheobservedfactsandtotheirexploitation,ratherthantoascientificexplanationofthem。Thisattitude,ofcourse,istheattitudeofexpediencyandhomiletics,notofscientificinquiry。
Asingleillustrativeinstanceoftheprevalenceofthisanimusintheacademicsocialsciencesmaybeinplace。Itisusualamongeconomists,e。g。,tomakemuchofthepropositionthateconomicsisan\"art\"——theartofexpedientmanagementofthematerialmeansoflife;andfurtherthatthejustificationofeconomictheoryliesinitsserviceabilityinthisrespect。Suchaquasi—sciencenecessarilytakesthecurrentsituationforgrantedasapermanentstateofthings;tobecorrectedandbroughtbackintoitsnormalroutineincaseofaberration,andtobesafeguardedwithapologeticdefenceatpointswhereitisnotworkingtothesatisfactionofallparties。Itisa\"science\"
ofcomplaisantinterpretations,apologies,andprojectedremedies。
Theacademicleadersinsuchaquasi—scienceshouldbegiftedwiththeaspirationsandlimitationsthatsoshowupinitspursuit。Theirfitnessinrespectofthisconformitytotheknownmiddle—classanimusandapprehensionoftruthmay,asitexpedientlyshould,beconsideredwhentheirselectionforacademicofficeandrankisunderadvisement;but,providedthechoicebeawiseone,thereneedbenoshadowofconstraintduringtheirincumbency。Theincumbentshouldbeendowedwithalargecapacityforwork,particularlyfor\"administrative\"work,withalivelyandenduringinterestinthe\"practical\"questionsthatfallwithinhisacademicjurisdiction,andwithashrewdsenseofthefundamentalrightnessoftheexistingorderofthings,social,economic,political,andreligious。So,byandlarge,itwillbefoundthattheseaccreditedleadersofscientificinquiryarefortunateenoughnotnarrowlytoscrutinize,ortoseekparticularexplanationof,thoseinstitutionalfactswhichtheconservativecommonsenseoftheelderlybusinessmanacceptsasgoodandfinal;andsincetheirfieldofinquiryispreciselythisrangeofinstitutionalfacts,theconsequenceisthattheirleadershipinthescienceconducesmoretothestabilityofopinionsthantotheadvancementofknowledge。
Theresultisbynomeansthatnothingisaccomplishedinthisfieldofscienceunderthisleadershipofforcefulmediocrity,butonlythat,insofarasthisleadershipdecides,theworkdoneliesonthislevelofmediocrity。Indeed,thevolumeofworkdoneislargeandofsubstantialvalue,butitrunschieflyoncompilationofdetailsandonthescrutinyandinterpretationofthesedetailswithaviewtotheirconformitywiththeapprovedgeneralizationsofthedaybeforeyesterday,——
generalizationsthathadtimetogrowintoaphoristiccommonplacesatadatebeforethepassinggenerationofbusinessmenattainedtheirmajority。
Whathasjustbeensaidofthisacademicleadershipinthesocialsciences,ofcourse,appliesonlywithduequalification。
Itappliesonlyinsofarastheprinciplesofcompetitiveenterprisecontroltheselectionofthepersonnel,andeventhenonlywithexceptions。Thereisnointentiontodepreciatetheworkofthosemanyeminentscholars,ofscientificanimusandintellectualgrasp,whoseendeavoursaregiventothisrangeofinquiry。Itsapplication,indeed,isintendedtoreachnofartherthanmayservetocoverthesomewhattactfulandquietisticattitudeofthemoralsciencesintheuniversities。Astheyarecultivatedinthegreatseminariesoflearning,thesesciencesarecommonlyofasomewhatmorearchaiccomplexionthanthecontemporarymaterialsciences;theyarelessiconoclastic,haveagreaterregardforprescriptiveauthorityandauthenticity,aremoregiventoresttheirinquiryongroundsofexpediency,ascontrastedwithgroundsofcauseandeffect。Theyarecontenttoconcludethatsuchandsucheventsareexpedientorinexpedient,quiteasoftenandaseasilyasthatsucharethecausesorthegeneticsequenceofthephenomenaunderdiscussion。Inshort,underthisofficialleadershipthesescienceswillhaveanattitudetowardtheirsubjectofinquiryresemblingthattakenbythematerialsciencessomethinglikeacenturyago。
Tothecreditofthisacademicleadershipinthesocialsciences,then,itshouldbesaidthatboththeleadersandtheirdisciplesapplythemselveswithadmirablespirittotheseinquiriesintotheproper,expedient,andnormalcourseofevents;andthattheconclusionsarrivedatalsoshedmuchsalutarylightonwhatisproper,expedient,andnormalinthesepremises。Inquiriescarriedoninthisspiritinthefieldofhumaninstitutionsbelong,ofcourse,inthecategoryofworldlywisdomratherthanofscience。\"Practical\"questionsoccupythesescientistsingreatpart,andpractical,orutilitarian,considerationsguidethecourseoftheinquiryandshapethesystemofgeneralizationsinthesesciences,toamuchgreaterextentthaninthematerialscienceswithwhichtheyareherecontrasted。Analertsenseofthepracticalvalueoftheirinquiriesandtheirteachingisoneofthechiefrequisitesforofficialrecognitioninthescientistswhooccupythemselveswiththesematters,anditisoneofthechiefcharacteristicsoftheirwork。Sothat,insofarasitallconformstotheprinciplesofcompetitivebusiness,thelineofdemarcationbetweenworldlywisdomandtheoreticalvaliditybecomespeculiarlyindistinctinthisprovinceofscience。And,itmayberemarkedbytheway,theinfluenceofthisacademicscience,bothinitsdisciplineandinitstenets,appearstobewhollysalutary;itconduces,onthewhole,toasafeandsane,ifnotanenthusiastic,acceptanceofthingsastheyare,withoutunduecuriosityastowhytheyaresuch。
Whathasherebeensaidoftheplaceanduseofthescientistunderthecurrentr間imeofcompetitiveenterprisedescribeswhatshouldfollowfromtheunrestraineddominionofbusinessprinciplesinacademicpolicy,ratherthanwhathasactuallybeenaccomplishedinanyconcretecase;itpresentsanidealsituationratherthanarelationofevents,thoughwithoutlosingtouchwithcurrentfactsatanypoint。Therunofthefactsis,ineffect,acompromisebetweenthescholar’sidealsandthoseofbusiness,insuchawaythattheidealsofscholarshipareyieldingground,inanuncertainandvaryingdegree,beforethepressureofbusinesslikeexigencies。
NOTES:
1。Cf。alsoJ。J。Chapman,paperon\"ProfessionalEthics,\"inUniversityControl,asabove,foranestimateoftheinefficiencyofacademicopinionasacorrectiveoftheexecutivepoweronhishead。
2。\"Thelambsplayalways,theyknownobetter,Theyareonlyonetimesone。\"
3。\"Hewasatrustedandefficientemployeeofaninstitutionmadepossibleandmaintainedbymenofgreatwealth,menwhonotonlyliveontheinterestoftheirmoney,butwhoexpendmillionsintheendowmentofcollegesanduniversitiesinwhichenthusiasticyoungeducators……findlucrativeandhonourableemployment。\"——EditorialonthedismissalofDr。Nearing,intheMinneapolisJournal,AugustII,1915。
CHAPTERVII
VocationalTrainingInthislatterdayacademicenterprise,thatlookssoshrewdlytopracticalexpediency,\"vocationaltraining\"has,quiteasamatterofcourse,becomeaconspicuousfeature。Theadjectiveisanewone,installedexpresslytodesignatethislineofendeavour,inthejargonoftheeducators;anditcarriesanoteofeuphemism。\"Vocationaltraining\"istrainingforproficiencyinsomegainfuloccupation,andithasnoconnectionwiththehigherlearning,beyondthatjuxtapositiongivenitbytheinclusionofvocationalschoolsinthesamecorporationwiththeuniversity;anditsspokesmenintheuniversityestablishmentsaccordinglytakeanapologeticallyaggressiveattitudeinadvocatingitsclaims。Educationalenterpriseofthiskindhas,somewhatincontinently,extendedthescopeofthecorporationoflearningbycreating,\"annexing,\"or\"affiliating\"manyestablishmentsthatproperlylieoutsidetheacademicfieldanddealwithmattersforeigntotheacademicinterest,——fittingschools,high—schools,technological,manualandothertrainingschoolsformechanical,engineeringandotherindustrialpursuits,professionalschoolsofdiverskinds,musicschools,artschools,summerschools,schoolsof\"domesticscience,\"
\"domesticeconomy,\"\"homeeconomics\",(inshort,housekeeping),schoolsforthespecialtrainingofsecondary—schoolteachers,andevenschoolsthatareavowedlyofprimarygrade;whileavarietyof\"universityextension\"bureauxhavealsobeeninstalled,tocomfortandedifytheunlearnedwithlyceumlectures,todispenseeruditionbymail—order,andtomaintainsomeputativecontactwithamateurscholarsanddilettantibeyondthepale。
Onitsface,thisenterpriseinassortededucationsimulatestheprecedentsgivenbythelargermodernbusinesscoalitions,whichfrequentlybringunderonegeneralbusinessmanagementaconsiderablenumberandvarietyofindustrialplants。Doubtlessaboyishimitationofsuchbusinessenterprisehashaditsshareinthepropagationoftheseeducationalexcursions。Itallhasanhistrionicair,suchaswouldsuggestthatitsuse,atleastingoodpart,mightbetoserveasanoutletfortheambitionandenergiesofanexecutivegiftedwithapenchantforlargeanddifficultundertakings,andwithscantinsightintotheneedsandopportunitiesofacorporationofthehigherlearning,andwhomightthereforebecarriedoffhisscholasticfootingbytheglamouroftheexploitsofthetrustmakers。Nodoubt,thehistrionicproclivitiesoftheexecutive,backedbyasimilarsensibilitytodramaticeffectonthepartoftheirstaffandofthegoverningboards,mustbeheldaccountableformuchofthisheadlongpropensitytodomanyotherthingshalf—wayratherthandotheworkwellthatisalreadyinhand。Butthisvisiblehistrionicsensibility,andtheglamourofgreatdeeds,willbynomeanswhollyaccountforcurrentuniversityenterprisealongthisline;notevenwhenthereisaddedtheurgentcompetitiveneedofashowofmagnitude,suchasbesetsalltheuniversities;
nordotheseseverallinesofmotivationaccountfortheparticulardirectionsotakenbytheseexcursionsinpartesinfidelium。Atthesametime,reasonsofscholarshiporscienceplainlyhavenopartinthemovement。
Apartfromsuchexecutiveweaknessforspectacularmagnitude,andthecompetitiveneedofformidablestatistics,theprimemoverinthecaseispresumablythecurrentunreflectingpropensitytomakemuchofallthingsthatbearthesignatureofthe\"practical。\"Thesevariousprojectionsofuniversityenterpriseuniformlymakesomeplausibleclaimofthatnature。
Anyextensionofthecorporation’sactivitycanbemorereadilyeffected,isacceptedmoreasanexpedientmatterofcourse,ifitpromisestohavesucha\"practical\"value。\"Practical\"inthisconnectionmeansusefulforprivategain;itneedimplynothinginthewayofserviceabilitytothecommongood。
Thesamespiritshowsitselfalsoinaceaselessrevisionofthescheduleofinstructionofferedbythecollegiateorundergraduatedivisionassuch,whereitleadstoamultiplicationofcoursesdesiredtogiveortoleaduptovocationaltraining。Sothatpracticalinstruction,inthesenseindicated,iscontinuallythrownmoreintotheforegroundinthecoursesoffered,aswellasinthesolicitudeofthevariousadministrativeboards,bureauxandcommitteesthathavetodowiththeorganizationandmanagementoftheacademicmachinery。
Ashasalreadybeenremarked,thesedirectiveboards,committees,andchiefsofbureauarechosen,ingreatpart,fortheirbusinesslikeefficiency,becausetheyaregoodoffice—men,with\"executiveability\";andtheanimusoftheseacademicbusinessmen,bysomuch,becomestheguidingspiritofthecorporationoflearning,andthroughtheircontrolitactsintimatelyandpervasivelytoorderthescopeandmethodofacademicinstruction。Thispermeationoftheuniversity’severydayactivitybytheprinciplesofcompetitivebusinessislessvisibletooutsidersthanthevariouslinesofextraneousenterprisealreadyspokenof,butittouchestheworkwithintheuniversityproperevenmoreradicallyandinsistently;although,itistrue,itaffectsthecollegiate(undergraduate)instructionmoreimmediatelythanwhatisfairlytobeclassedasuniversitywork。Theconsequencesareplain。Businessproficiencyisputintheplaceoflearning。Itissaidbyadvocatesofthismovethatlearningisherebygivenamorepracticalbent;whichissubstantiallyacontradictioninterms。Itisacasenotofassimilation,butofdisplacementandsubstitution,garnishedwithcircumlocutionofamoreorlessingenuouskind。
Historically,inpointofderivationandearlygrowth,thismovementforvocationaltrainingiscloselyrelatedtotheAmericansystemof\"electives\"incollegeinstruction,ifitmaynotratherbesaidtobeadirectoutgrowthofthatpedagogicalexpedient。(1*)Itdatesbackapproximatelytothesameperiodforitsbeginnings,andmuchoftheargumentsadducedinitsfavouraresubstantiallythesameashavebeenfoundconvincingforthesystemofelectives。Undertheelectivesystemaconsiderableandincreasingfreedomhasbeenallowedthestudentinthechoiceofwhathewillincludeinhiscurriculum;sothatthecollegeshaveinthiswaycometoreferthechoiceoftopicsingoodparttotheguidanceofthestudent’sowninterest。Tomeettheresultingrangeanddiversityofdemands,anincreasingvarietyofcourseshasbeenoffered,atthesametimethatanarrowerspecializationhasalsotakeneffectinmuchoftheinstructionoffered。Amongtheotherleadingsofinterestamongstudents,andaffectingtheirchoiceofelectives,hasalsobeenthelaudablepracticalinterestthattheseyoungmentakeintheirownprospectivematerialsuccess。(2*)Sothatthis——academicallyspeaking,extraneous——interesthascometomingleandtakerankwiththescholarlyinterestsproperinshapingthescheduleofinstruction。Adecisivevoiceintheorderingoftheaffairsofthehigherlearninghassobeengiventothenovices,orrathertotheuntutoredprobationersoftheundergraduateschools,whoseentranceonacareerofscholarshipisyetamatterofspeculativeprobabilityatthebest。
Thosewhohavespokenforanextensiverangeofelectiveshaveinaveryappreciablemeasuremadeuseofthatexpedientasameansofdisplacingwhattheyhaveregardedasobsoleteordispensableitemsinthetraditionalcollegecurriculum。Insoadvocatingawiderrangeandfreedomofchoice,theyhavespokenforthenewcoursesofinstructionasbeingequallycompetentwiththeoldinpointofdisciplineandculturalvalue;andtheyhavecommonlynotomittedtoclaim——somewhatinthewayofanobiterdictum,perhaps——thatthesenewerandmorevitaltopics,whoseclaimstheyadvocate,havealsothepeculiarmeritofconducinginaspecialdegreetogoodcitizenshipandthematerialwelfareofthecommunity。Suchalineofargumenthasfoundimmediateresponseamongthosepragmaticspiritswithinwhosehorizon\"value\"issynonymouswith\"pecuniaryvalue,\"andtowhomgoodcitizenshipmeansproficiencyincompetitivebusiness。Soithascomeaboutthat,whiletheinitialpurposeoftheelectivesystemappearstohavebeenthesharpeningofthestudents’scholarlyinterestsandthecultivationofamoreliberalscholarship,ithasbyforceofcircumstancesservedtopropagateamovementatcrosspurposeswithallscholarlyaspiration。
Allthisadvocacyofthepracticalineducationhasfalleninwiththeaspirationsofsuchyoungmenasareeagertofindgratuitoushelptowardagainfulcareer,aswellaswiththedesiresofparentswhoareanxioustoseetheirsonsequippedformaterialsuccess;andnotleasthasitappealedtothesensibilitiesofthosesubstantialcitizenswhoarealreadyestablishedinbusinessandfeeltheneedofafreesupplyoftrainedsubordinatesatreasonablewages。Thelastmentionedisthemoresubstantialoftheseincentivestogratuitousvocationaltraining,comingin,asitdoes,withtheendorsementofthecommunity’smostrespectedandmostinfluentialmen。Whetheritistraininginanyofthevariouslinesofengineering,incommerce,injournalism,orinthemechanicandmanualtrades,theoutputoftrainedmenfromthesevocationalschoolsgoes,inthemain,tosupplytrainedemployeesforconcernsalreadyprofitablyestablishedinsuchlinesofbusinessasfinduseforthisclassofmen;andthroughthegratuitous,orhalfgratuitous,opportunitiesofferedbytheseschools,thisneededsupplyoftrainedemployeescomestothebusinessconcernsinquestionatarateofwageslowerthanwhattheywouldhavetopayintheabsenceofsuchgratuitousinstruction。
Notthatthesesubstantialcitizens,whosewordcountsforsomuchincommendationofpracticaleducation,needbegreatlymovedbyselfishconsiderationofthisincreasedeaseinprocuringskilledlabourforuseintheirownpursuitofgain;
buttheincreasedandcheapersupplyofsuchskilledworkmenis\"goodforbusiness,\"and,inthecommonsenseestimationoftheseconservativebusinessmen,whatisgoodforbusinessisgood,withoutreservation。Whatisgoodforbusinessisfelttobeserviceableforthecommongood;andnocloserscrutinyiscommonlygiventothatmatter。Whileanycloserscrutinywoulddoubtlessthrowseriousdoubtonthisgeneralproposition,suchscrutinycannotbutbedistastefultothesuccessfulbusinessmen;sinceitwouldunavoidablyalsothrowashadowofdoubtonthemeritoriousnessofthatbusinesstrafficinwhichtheyhaveachievedtheirsuccessandtowhichtheyowetheirpreferentialstandinginthecommunity。
Inthishighratingofthingspracticalthecaptainsofindustryarealsosubstantiallyatonewiththecurrentcommon—senseawardofthevulgar,sothattheiradvocacyofpracticaleducationcarriestheweightofaself—evidentprinciple。Itistrue,inthelongrunandonsoberreflectiontheawardofcivilizedcommonsenserunstotheeffectthatknowledgeismoretobedesiredthanthingsofprice;butatthesametimethesuperficialandtransientworkdaysenseofdailyneeds——the\"snapjudgment\"ofthevulgar——drivenbythehardusageofcompetitivebread—winning,saysthatagainfuloccupationisthefirstrequisiteofhumanlife;andacceptingitwithoutmuchquestionasthefirstrequisite,thevulgarallowituncriticallytostandasthechieforsoleandthatisworthaneffort。Andinsodoingtheyarenotsofaroutoftheirbearings;fortothecommonman,underthecompetitivesystem,thereisbutascantmarginofenergyorinterestleftoveranddisposableforotherendsaftertheinstantneedsofbread—winninghavebeenmet。
Proficiencyandsingle—mindednessinthepursuitofprivategainissomethingthatcanreadilybeappreciatedbyallmenwhohavehadtheusualtraininggivenbythemodernsystemofcompetitivegainandcompetitivespending。Nothingissoinstantlyrecognizedasbeingofgreaturgency,alwaysandeverywhere,underthismodern,pecuniaryschemeofthings。Sothat,withoutreflectionandasamatterofcourse,thefirstandgravestquestionofanygeneralbearinginanyconnectionhascometobethatclassicofworldlywisdom:Whatprofitethitaman?andtheansweris,justasuncritically,soughtintermsofpecuniarygain。Andthementowhomhasbeenentrustedthecustodyofthatculturalheritageofmankindthatcannotbeboughtwithaprice,makehastetoplayuptothissnapjudgmentofthevulgar,andsokeepthemfromcallingtomind,onsecondthought,whatitisthatthey,afterall,valuemorehighlythanthemeansofcompetitivespending。
Concomitantwiththisgrowinginsistenceonvocationaltrainingintheschools,andwiththisrestlessendeavouroftheacademicauthoritiestogratifythedemand,therehasalsocomeanincreasinghabitualinclinationofthesameuncriticalcharacteramongacademicmentovalueallacademicworkintermsoflivelihoodorofearningcapacity。(3*)Thequestionhasbeenasked,moreandmoreurgentlyandopenly,Whatistheuseofallthisknowledge?(4*)Pushedbythispopularprejudice,andthemselvesalsodriftingundercompulsionofthesameprevalentbias,eventheseasonedscholarsandscientists——MatthewArnold’s\"Remnant\"——havetakentoheartthisquestionoftheuseofthehigherlearninginthepursuitofgain。Ofcourseithasnosuchuse,andthemanyshrewdlydevisedsolutionsoftheconundrumhavenecessarilyrunoutinastringofsophisticaldialectics。Theplaceofdisinterestedknowledgeinmoderncivilizationisneitherthatofameanstoprivategain,northatofanintermediatestepin\"theroundaboutprocessoftheproductionofgoods。\"
Asamottoforthescholars’craft,ScientiapecuniaeancillansisnowisemoreseemlythantheSchoolmen’sPhilosophiatheologiaeancillans。(5*)Yetsuchinroadshavepecuniaryhabitsofvaluationmadeevenwithintheprecinctsofthecorporationoflearning,thatuniversitymen,——andeventhescholarlyonesamongthem,——arenomorethanhalfashamedofsuchaparceloffatuity。Andrelativelyfewamonguniversityexecutiveshavenot,withinthepastfewyears,takenoccasiontopleadthemeritsofacademictrainingasabusinessproposition。Themanoftheworld——thatistosay,ofthebusinessworldputsthequestion,Whatistheuseofthislearning?andthemenwhospeakforlearning,andeventhescholarsoccupiedwiththe\"humanities,\"areatpainstofindsomecolourableanswerthatshallsatisfytheworldly—wisethatthislearningforwhichtheyspeakisinsomewayusefulforpecuniarygain。(6*)
Ifhewerenothimselfinfectedwiththepragmatismofthemarket—place,thescholar’sanswerwouldhavetobe。Gettheebehindme!
BenjaminFranklin——high—bredpragmatistthathewas——onceputawaysuchaquestionwiththerejoinder:Whatistheuseofababy?Tocivilizedmen——withtheequivocalexceptionofthewarlikepoliticians——thislatterquestionseemsfoolish,criminallyfoolish。Butthereoncewasatime,inthehighdaysofbarbarism,whenthoughtfulmenwerereadytocanvassthatquestionwithasnaiveagravityasthisotherquestion,oftheuseoflearning,iscanvassedbythesubstantialcitizensofthepresentday。Attheperiodcoveredbythatchapterinancienthistory,achildwas,inaway,anarticleofequipmentfortheup—keepofthefamilyanditsprestige,andmoreremotelyforthesupportofthesovereignandhisprestige。Sothatamalechildwouldberatedasindubitablyworthwhileifhegavepromiseofgrowingintoarobustandcontentiousman。Iftheinfantwereagirl,orifhegavenopromiseofbecominganeffectivedisturberofthepeace,theuseorexpediencyofrearingthechildwouldbecomeamatterfordeliberation;andnotinfrequentlythefindingofthoseold—timeutilitarianswasadverse,andtheinvestmentwascancelled。Thehabitofsodeliberatingonthepragmaticadvisabilityofchild—lifehasbeenlost,latterly;oratanyratesuchofthelatterdayutilitariansasmaystillentertainaquestionofthiskindinanyconcretecaseareashamedtohaveitspokenofnakedly。WitnessthelamebutirrepressiblesentimentalprotestagainsttheMalthusiandoctrineofpopulation。
Itistrue,inout—of—the—waycornersandonthelowerlevels——andonthehigherlevelsofimperialpoliticswheremenhavenotlearnedtoshrinkfromshamefuldevices,thequestionofchildrenandofthebirth—rateisstillsometimesdebatedasaquestionofthepresumptiveuseofoffspringforsomeulteriorend。Andtheremaystillbefoundthosewhoaretouchedbythereflectionthatachildbornmaybecomeavaluableassetasasupportfortheparents’oldage。Suchapecuniaryratingoftheparentalrelation,whichvalueschildrenasaspeculativemeansofgain,maystillbemetwith。Butwherevermoderncivilizationhasmadeitswayatalleffectually,suchaprovidentratingofoffspringisnotmetwithingoodcompany。Latterdaycommonsensedoesnotcountenanceit。
Notthataquestionofexpediencyisnolongerentertained,touchingthismatterofchildren,butitisnolongerthepatriarchal—barbarianquestionastoeventualgainsthatmaybeexpectedtoaccruetotheparentorthefamily。Exceptintheviewofthosestatesmenofthebarbarianlinewhoseethematterofbirth—ratefromthehighergroundofdynasticpolitics,achildbornisnotratedasameans,butasanend。Atleastconventionally,itisnolongeraquestionofpecuniarygainfortheparentbutofexpediencyforthechild。Nomotherasksherselfifherchildwillpay。
Civilizedmenshrinkfromanythinglikeratingchildrenasacontrivanceforuseinthe\"round—aboutprocessoftheproductionofgoods。\"Andinmuchthesamespirit,andinthelastanalysisonmuchthesamegrounds,althoughinalesssecureandmorelooselyspeculativefashion,menalsolooktothehigherlearningastheripefulfilmentofmaterialcompetency,ratherthanasameanstomaterialsuccess。Intheirthoughtfulintervals,themostbusinesslikepragmatistswillavowsuchanideal。Butinworkdaydetail,whenthequestionturnsconcretelyontheadvisabilityofthehighereducation,theworkdayhabitofpecuniarytrafficassertsitself,andthematteristhenlikelytobearguedinpecuniaryterms。Thebarbariananimus,habitualtothequestofgain,reverts,andthedeliberationturnsonthegainfulnessofthiseducation,whichhasinallsobrietybeenacknowledgedthedueendofcultureandendeavour。Sothat,inworkingoutthedetails,thisendoflivingismadeameans,andthemeansismadeanend。
Nodoubt,whatchieflyurgesmentothepursuitofknowledgeistheirnativebentofcuriosity,——animpulsiveproclivitytomasterthelogicoffacts;justasthechiefincentivetotheachievementofchildrenhas,nodoubt,alwaysbeentheparentalbent。Butverymuchastheboorishelementinthepresentandrecentgenerationswillletthepecuniaryuseofchildrencomeinasalargesubsidiarygroundofdecision,andastheyhaveevenavowedthistobetheirchiefconcerninthematter;so,inalikespirit,mentrainedtothebusinesssystemofcompetitivegainandcompetitivespendingwillnotbecontenttofindthattheycanaffordthequestofthatknowledgewhichtheirhumanpropensityincitesthemtocultivate,buttheymustbackthispropensitywithashamefacedapologyforeducationonthepleaofitsgainfulness。
Whatisheresaidofthebusinesslikespiritofthelatterday\"educators\"isnottobetakenasreflectingdisparaginglyonthemortheirendeavours。Theyrespondtothecallofthetimesasbesttheycan。Thattheydoso,andthatthecallofthetimesisofthischaracter,isafactofthecurrentdriftofthings;
whichonemaycommendordeprecateaccordingasonehasthefortunetofallinwithoneortheothersideofthecase;thatistosayaccordingtoone’shabitualbent;butinanyeventitistobetakenasafactofthelatterdaysituation,andafactorofsomeforceandpermanenceinthedriftofthingsacademic,forthepresentandthecalculablefuture。Itmeansamoreorlesseffectualfurtherdiversionofinterestandsupportfromscienceandscholarshiptothecompetitiveacquisitionofwealth,andthereforealsotoitscompetitiveconsumption。Throughsuchadiversionofenergyandattentionintheschools,thepecuniaryanimusatlarge,andpecuniarystandardsofworthandvalue,standtogain,moreorless,atthecostofthoseothervirtuesthatare,bytheacceptedtraditionofmodernChristendom,heldtobeofgraverandmoreenduringimport。Itmeansanendeavourtosubstitutethepursuitofgainandexpenditureinplaceofthepursuitofknowledge,asthefocusofinterestandtheobjectiveendinthemodernintellectuallife。