American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-20
NUMBER 81.

whole generation of rude, impudent and
il[behaved children. And is it any won-
der? when their rude behavior and dn:
civil answers, are praised and admired by
their ignorant parents and shown off to
visitors as smartness Is it any wonder
they pay no respect to age or station when
they are allowed to contradict and insult
their own father and mother2 Father,
and mother? Young America uses no
such terms He calls his parents, e the
old man." and q the old ,eoman" 1t isa
burning shame, that the children of re-
spectacle and religious people, give no
higher title to the authors of their exist
ence If the teacher make aIy effort to
cultivate good manners in his pupils you
as parent can cooperate with him, by
using your instruction, your authority and
your example in training your childrent to
decency and good behavior
The teacher is expected to exercise
watchful care over the morals of his pu-
pills. Here, again, parental cooperation
is indispensable. The influence of the
parent, in this respect, is far greater than
that Of the teacher. Children do not
come under the influence of the teacher,
until they have already acquired some
degree of character. They are under his
care, only for limited time and for linn
tied purpose. Teachers are often chang
ed hence their influence is transient and
temporary. But that of the parent com
mences at the first moment Of the child's
existence, and continues till the charac-
ter is formed. 1t is constant and pcrma.
nent 1t extends to every department Of
life, and moulds the character in all of
them. If the moral influence of the
teacher is great, that Of the parent Is M
estimaJle.
Our Legislators have taken great pains
to prevent immoral persons from becom-
ing teachers in the public schools. A
good moral character is an essential re-
quisite to certificate, without which no
person can be employed as public school
should prove to be immoral, the Superin.
tendent can prevent him from teaching by
annulling his certificate. And lest i'm
moral conduct In the teacher should es-
cape the notice Of the Superintendent, the
local Boards of Directors have power to
remove teacher, at any time, for immo-
rality.
We do not complain of these restric-
tiens. They are wise and just But is
it not strange, that, while our Legislators
have thrown so many safeguards around
the responsible Office of teacher, they have
neglected to place any at all around the
still more responsible Office Of pdrent?--
To enter that Office, no qualifications, eth
er moral or intellectual, are required. =
The most ignorant, worthless and vicious
persons may contract marriage, and thus
legally assume the parental office, and
neither any law of the State, nor any rule
of the church will hinder them. The
State recognizes the contract-the minis
ters of religion solemnze it, aud with up.
lifted hands invoke the blessing of God
on the union--a union resulting in fam
lily of profigates and pests to society.
Great efforts have been made to raise
the standard of the teachers qualifca-
tions Associations have been formed for
mutual improvement; lectures have been
delivered, and volumes have been written
on the subject. But no efforts are made
to raise the standard of parental qualif-
cations. There are no parents institutes;
(why shouldn't there be y no books are
written, nor lectures delivered on parcn-
tai duties. Even the pulpit is silent on
this subject. You do not hear sermon
on the training Of children once in seven
years In some churches, on baptismal
occasions, kind of formal lecture is read
to the parents, the burden of which iss'
'Be careful to make your children COM
NIT to memory the shorter catechism,"
even if they do not understand word Of
it. But, instruction in that training,
which parents should give their children,
to fit them for the ordinary duties Of life,
is practically ignored. In this respect,
the ministers Of our land are guilty Of
gross and criminal negligence, for which
they must answer at the bar Of God.
Since, then, parents are neglected alike
by Church and State, how important isit
that every one should make an effort for
himself, to give good moral instruction
and present good example to his chill
dren. What singing reproach to a pa
rent, that the hired teacher of his chill
dren exerts better moral influence on
than, than does he their haavan.anno;nt