Liberia: Description, History, ProblemsStarr, Frederick
History
Liberia: Description, History, Problems
Starr, Frederick
Liberia
Mind is everywhere the same; and everywhere it receives
character and formation from the same elemental principles. If it has
been properly formed and has received a substantial character, it will
work out its own calling, solve its own problems, achieve its own
destiny.”
In other words, it is the old question between Tuskegee and Atlanta. In
any broad and wise view both are equally essential.
Liberia College and the Higher Agricultural School will do more to
develop a national spirit among the natives of the interior than any
other single agency. From the native village schools boys will go out to
the county “feeder”; there their ambition is stimulated; they come into
contact with boys of other tribes; acquaintance and a generous and
proper rivalry develops between them; each boy will feel that the credit
and reputation of his people rests in him--he will feel that he is not
inferior--he will strive to hold his own in legitimate fields of
rivalry; from the county “feeder” the brightest, most ambitious, and
best of the scholars will go up to the College or Agricultural School,
both of which are national. There, in contact with the selected and best
from every part of the Republic, from Liberians and natives alike, the
native boys will come to know the national spirit; they will learn what
Liberia means, they will comprehend its plans and hopes; they will be
prepared to assist in its development and to protect its rights.
We have said that Liberia College would be national; it can not and
ought not to be hampered by denominational or even by religious demands;
it would be better if the College were absolutely under the control of
the national government; the double control works badly. It is not
absolutely essential that such should be the case; if the American
Board, or Boards, interested in it would wake up to the idea of the
great opportunity within their hands, they would be willing to
co-operate heartily with the local authorities to develop a really great
institution. The difficulty of distance of course would ever interfere
with prompt and harmonious action; ignorance of local conditions and of
the inherent difficulties is another bar to effective and prompt
co-operation. If the double control of the Institution is to continue,
there should be a carefully worked out agreement between the two
governing bodies which should leave very considerable power with the
resident authority to deal with serious problems as they may arise. If
the double control must continue, it is cryingly necessary that more
vigorous and liberal assistance should be rendered. To put the College
into proper condition, and develop its field of action, needs money, in
considerable quantity, much more than the government would be warranted
in supplying for some time to come. There are various things in
connection with the conduct of the College which are bad and need
re-adjustment. Thus, there is a vicious system of student assistance,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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