Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-03-27
COMMUNICATION.

M. EDiroR:-We prOtniseu III our last
CO nmunicstion that we would offer som
thoughts upon what We conceived to b
the most corrcc. method of training the
youthful mind and heart. II matters but
little how well we may roiut out the ma
ture and causes Of q disease, II we shall
offer no specific for it's cure. How well
we have given the causes OF the prevailing
moral disease, or how well we may point
out the remedy for the same, we shall leave
for others to Judge. That it is the bind
ing duty Of every individual, to whom has
been committed the destiny and welfare o
any Of The rising generation, to provide tor
their iutcjIectual culture aud their training
in the elementary principles Of good be-
hayior, and correct morals, Is a truth which
needs no demonstration. We are exceed.
ipply anxious that their bodies should be
nourished with plenty of Wholesome food,
in order to their healthy physical develop
ment; how much more should we be con.
cerned sbou, the proper food for the mind
aud heart,-tbat is, whatsvef is Necessary
to form the intellect, and teach, rgulate
and purify the passions. The former does
not particularly concern US at present, as
we are, pehaps making as rapid advance
ment in that direction as any people in the
world. It is in tie latter that we are def.
cient. And in order that we may make any
advancement IN that direction,it will be ne
cessary in the frs; place, to give morality
a higher stand in The character OF our pub
lie teachers. Now we do not think it
would be practicable, though it might be
L. 81 hat liz nph IN.
er should be accountable to some church,
or society, for his course Of conducts; but
we do think il not only practically, but
absolutely necessary itha, they should be
such persons as are neither afraid nor
ashamed ,c teach morality. AS a class we
believe they stand as fair in this particular
az any other portion Of society; but very
few OF them, from some cause or other,
even deem il their care. One reason of it
we believe to atise from the fact that it is
not required Of them by their eTupoyers.-
Blu. we hold that they are held account
able by the interests of socrty at large,
to enjuin, at least the fundamental prin-
cples of sound morals, upon all that are
committed to their influence and control;
whether it should be required al their hands
or not. And we think our civil law might
90 little farther in this direction without
in the least encroaching upon the right and
the true interests of any Individual or class.
If il is right to make laws to uphold aud
sustain our free institutions,--a fact that
none will deny,-it would surely be no
.ransgression Of right If those principles
upon Yhich are based the perpetuity and
future glory Of our country, should be in
forced and sustained by !egol authority
Now We contented 10 our first article that
the principles of correct morality were alone
calculated to do thid. Therefore, il our
promises are right, the Conclusion to which
we have arrived is evidently just. We
deem il, then to be truth beyond contra.
diction, that they, who are following the
occupation of public teaching, should be
deeply impressed with their duty in this
respect, as above all others, they are WELD.
ing the greatest influence in moulding aud
shaping the future course Eof our children,
and controlling the destiny of our country
Let them once feel tho importance Of their
situation, that to them for the time being
is entrusted the character shat future so.
ciety shall assume, and the form that the
institutions Of our land shall take, and it
will be but an easy matter to arouse them
to the performance OF the task imposed up.
on them.
In addition to tho manner 10 which pub
lie instruction should be pursued to bring
about a moral renovation, we must add that
OF a correct home education. What we re-
quire of our public instructors must be
faithfully and pe,severingly carried out by
the authority Of the private and family
circles. In the first place children should
be taught that which is right and that only
They are reasonable beings, and can very
soon be made to distinguish between that
which is proper for them to do. and thai
which 10 not. We are too apt to place
erroneous estimate upon their abilities, and
therefore we can never adapt our instIuc.
tions to them. Some suppose that they are
capable of performing great deal more
than should be expected; while others
think them Incapable Of anything. Either
Of these will be apt TO 60 wrong. The
former may attempt too much, and the lat
ter may do nothing. The proper way ia to
End out their ability, and then adapt our
rules and precepts to it, This any indi-
vdual may easily do, if they are careful in (
watching the progress Of Improvement and |
expansion in power that is continually 90.
ing fr~ard in the juvenile mind. True
the perception OF right and wrong may be
more powerful in ons case than in another,
and what would be correct !ule of right
to the one, would BE radically wrong in
respect TO the other.
Who ever thought Of binding ths idiot
with the snme vlgor as the man of same
mind. TIE insane or idiotic person may
perform deeds, which would be crimes of
malignant dye. il performed by the indi.
s'daal OF sound reason, aud yet have no
guilt or blame attached to him The an.
siogy holds good, in a ce,tain degree, when !
applied TO minds of different powers of con-
ception. What would bs correct discipline
'or one fails when applied to others. This
capacity should be inquired into and the l
'ules be adapted to The power OF percep- c
lion ia the choice Of righ, and wrong y
manifested by the youthful mind. When =
we do this we shall not be often found
istray.