Discussions on Technical Education, at the Washington Meeting of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, February 22d and 23d,1876 - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876. Excerpt: ... two, the second should be French, as being the key to what.was formerly done, and to what will probably be done again in engineering science. The acquisition of at least one modern language is almost an indispensable requisite to success. More important than either of these is the sign language, drawing. He should become as far as possible an artist in both free-hand and mechanical drawing, for, as a master of his pencil, he will be able to communicate his own ideas with his fingers, and to understand those of others which could not perhaps be readily expressed in words. I do not think that sufficient importance has been given to drawing as a means of expressing thought in our system of education. There is too much drawing done from models which is absolutely necessary to the beginner, but we do not require the student often enough to express his own thoughts by a drawing, just as he would be called on to express them in words. This could be accomplished in the same time that is now devoted to it, but would require a different system of instruction. Dr. Raymond remarked at the Washington meeting that we had taken from the German university system everything except the time it takes, which is lamentably true. In this age and in this exciting climate we live in a hurry, we work in a hurry, and die in a hurry. We commence too young, enter our preparatory schools and colleges with too little preliminary training, and before we are physically and mentally able to comprehend what we are taught. Our high standard then, if premature, becomes simply a forcing system, and until we can do away with it, we make engineers on the principle of the survival of the fittest. It is no wonder that so many young men give out before they leave the intellectual hothouse, or occ...