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Carrie C. Lane presented
The Culture Demanded by American Citizens
, her thesis statement, atthe Iowa State College’s Eighth Annual Commencement Ceremony held at the College chapel onWednesday, November 10, 1880. Lane was the last to present; out of eighteen people, she wasthe only woman.
The Culture Demanded by American Citizens—Carrie C. Lane
Typed by Lindsay HoffmanFootnotes by Brandi Ostrander Page 1We boast of our modern originality, of our modern civilization, of our modern culture, yetaround us on every side there clings the musty remnants of the institutions of forgotten ages.Governments have been founded upon principles established by men long since forgotten.Modern Religions have arisen from creeds upheld centuries ago. Educational institutions have been bequeathed to us from the traditional system of the past.Aristotle
and Socrates
have well deserved the homage of their renown, but through themaze of mystery surrounding their lives, their greatness has been magnified. But the UnitedStates, while boasting of her independence, has accepted their principles as those of eternalTruth, and has established her system of mental culture upon the ideas first proclaimed by them.Theirs was a system of Education shaped and [moulded]
by the times in which it was originated.Were there no other cause, the simple fact that the nineteenth century is [imilating]
the ancientforms of Greece and Rome, would be enough to condemn it.Page 2There on every side were to seen the distinction between the educated and the ignorant.We learned were the wealthy and powerful. The mass of the people had little use for their minds,they had little cause to think. Stout limbs, stalwart frames, robust health were what the timesdemanded and what the times admired. A man was valued by the force of his blows, by hisswiftness of foot, by his capacity for hardship. Now, these qualities will give no position in thesocial scale, and secure for him but a few of the prizes of life. When the glory of youth, indeed,lay in strength, today it lies in their mental power. When, the race of life was a conflict between
1
Greek philosopher and scientist known for his studies of physics, ethics, politics, poetics, natural history andscience. Lived from 384-322 BC. http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9355778
2
Greek philosopher who influenced the thought of the past and is still prevalent today. Known for his pedagogicaltechnique named the “Socratic Method.” http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9379012
3
Unknown word, probably meant to be “molded”
4
Unknown word, probably meant to be imitating or immolating
muscle and muscle, today, it lies mind and mind. Ideas of government, religion and society have been completely metamorphosed, yet the youth of our land are drilled in ancient forms andmythologies. There has been a revelation of man’s powers and abilities and nobler expectationsof his achievements, yet the lives of the ancient philosophers are to be studied to gain the data for their own advancement. A strange proceeding for all en-Page 3lightened people! A pe-culiar commentary upon their intelligence!Some one has said that there are but three ways of existing “by working, by begging, and by stealing.” In no nation is this truer than in our own. Each American youth comes out into theworld with the idea that he can exist only by the “sweat of his brow.” He is animated by a loveof freedom, a sense of independence, a jealous dread of restraint. He possesses the enterpriseand zeal, the courage and ambition to fathom every mystery and to unlock every secret. Butwhat kind of drill have our schools given them for the accomplishment of their task? Realmafter realm of new truths have been discovered and yet those truths have been withheld from himwho is to make farther progress in unveiling nature’s mysteries and in their place has beensubstituted the memorizing of Greek and Latin verbs. Has he received a broad and liberaleducation, his acquaintance with the ancient languages and literature and pure mathematics iscomplete and as HoracePage 4Mann
once said: “he is pronounced a Master of Arts, but what arts is he master of. He may bestarving and not know how to satisfy his hunger. Nature is a sealed book to him and yet the earthis fruitful, the woods and fields are full of life. He alone has place at the table where all arefed.” Has he received but a common education we have given him only an acquaintance, as our father’s used to say, with the three R’s forgetting the truth pronounced by Miss Nightingale
, thatthey were usually accompanied by a fourth R-[rascaldom]
. In either case no industry has beentaught him, no preparation for the actual realities of life. It may be [unpoetical]
, but the first,last and only problem of any importance, which presents itself to the average American is bywhat means shall he earn his bread and butter. Yet with the general acquirements of the averageAmerican, he “drifts through his existence like a leaf blown before the wind.” To be sure there
5
United States educator and congressmen (1796-1859). Known as the founding president of Antioch College.http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9371191
6
Known as Florence Nightingale (1820-1910). Famous for establishing nursing as a trained profession.http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9373492
7
Unknown word
8
Unknown word
are [exciplious]
, a Greeley
, a Lincoln
or an Edison
would make his way through allimpediments into the occupa-Page 5tion which belongs to him. But we have to educate “the millions, not the units; the average, notthe exceptions.” We have to educate them to answer that great problem, and the questionnaturally arises, by what means can it be accomplished? Each flash of the electric light, each passing engine, each telegram, each trade and profession sends back with indisputable force, thereply-Science. She has been the mainspring of every improvement. Here has been the handwhich has plucked the fruit from the tree of knowledge. To her we are indebted for our civilization. To her our toiling millions indebted for their daily bread. Yet the youth of our landare scarcely familiar with her name. Not all occupation of life but needs her assistance, not asingle industry but has been perfected through her aid, and only from Science can come future progress. The church, the law, army, navy, literature and trade alike need her aid. Where wehave laid aside our foolish prejudices and our ancient standard and have united ourselves tomake a unanimous effort to introducePage 6her into every rank, then shall we see the higher condition of personal excellence and usefulness,which will be the inevitable result. Would we lessen the number of our criminals and beggars,we must establish industrial schools for our lower classes. But the opposers of Science admit allthis. It is only when it is talked of introducing her into our high-schools and universities thatthey object. They still insist upon mathematical and classical discipline to fit men for the laborsof everyday life. And by what kind of logic have we upheld this culture of the middle ages? Saythe adherents of the [traditiouary]
system “Knowledge is to be acquired, not on account of itscapability of useful application, but for its own intrinsic interest; that the purpose of a liberaleducation is not to prepare for a vocation or profession but to train the intellectual faculties; thatmental discipline is the true object of higher culture and that for its attainments the study of theMathematics and the Classics is superior to all other means. But so untrue is both premise and
9
Unknown word
10
Known as Horace Greeley (1811-1872). A United States political leader and newspaper editor.http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9366089
11
Served as the 16th president of the U.S. (1861–65). Known for the Lincoln-Douglas debates, EmancipationProclamation, and the Gettysburg address. He was assassinated in office. http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9370274
12
Known as Thomas Edison (1847-1931). A United States inventor famous for the incandescent light bulb and the phonograph. http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9363424
13
Unknown word
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