Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-02-17
GhutntiunuI Depurtmfnt.

Coon EpucArroN.-There is mucn good
sense in the article quoted below which we
dnd without credit in one of our exchanges.
The conversations of adults in the presence
of children has much influence upon the latter
IN school, sometimes exercising most pahe-
full and destructive influence. We often near
adults boa:ting of certain smart mischlesous
acts of their school days, in the presence OF
children, who are apt to take 1t for grahteo
that it is something worthy to be boasteo o.
For the most part these smart things are coin
ed fabrication-not word of truth IN them
yet they may influence the child hearing them
TO a course of action which will do lifelong
injury. Such foIlies should be corrected, and
every sensible person should rebuke them
whenever opportunity offers. But read the
following:
oParents generally are desrous of securing
for their children what they call "good edu-
cation" This is commendable manifesto
tion of parental effection. 1t still would De
more so, however, if the motires urging them
to provide a good education for their children
were somewhat more elevated than they usu-
ally are A good education is too often sought,
merely or chiefly as astepping- stone to wealth
or rank, or respectability in the world. There
are considerations rendering good education
desirable, of a much higher and more COM
mendable nature than this. Need we name
them? For the the present we will leave them
to be presented by the conscience and good
sense of our readers, while We proceed to say
that which we intend to say.
1t is this: Parents, in desiring good ed
ucation for their children too commonly in
dulge in very narrow and inadequate concep-
tion of what constitutes really valuable or
good education, and also of what influence a
child must be brought under in order to Sc
cure it. Do not too many regard good
school, teacher well versed in the usual
branches and apt to teach, with approved text
books about all that is necessary in order to
secure the good education which they contem-
plate for their children? Is it not too gener-
ally and too much forgotten, that every con-
yersation which they hear from the lips of
their parents and every action of their lives,
which manifests either low or lofty character,
either worthy or unworthy principles, are a
part of the education, good or bad, of their
children7 2 Is it not too generally forgotten
that every word and every deed Of the COM
panions and associates of your children has
something to do in making their education,
either good or bad I? Is it not generally for
COTTON that the temper, the taste, the habits
of their parents, and, indeed, of all with whom
they come in contact, have powerful inau-
ence in making the education of children.
either good or bad, according as these are OF
happy or unhappy characters Let our chill
dren see their parents, and all received
to their intimacy, living for high, noble, Hea
ven-approved ends and objects-such appear
ing plainly in all conversation and conduct a.
the ruling purpose of life-and they will he'
be receiving what constitutes the most essen
tial part of what may truly be called A Gool
EDUCATION"