Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-01-15
To Parents---Facts Worthy of your At
tention.

tains several important facts that
ought not to escape the attention OF
all parents. In these days of idle
ness, and loafing, when work is too
frequently deemed dishonorable, and
learning trades thought to be out OF
style, surely something should be
done to put parents and their sons on
the only sure track to safety. Mr..
Cordier says that of 226 convicts re-
ceived during the past three years,
only four per cent, have been skilled
mechanics, and not more than
ten per cent. had even the rudiments
of trade-thus establishing the
truth of that oil adago, can idle
head is the dovil's workshop" Says
the Commissioner, give the vigo-
rous person with an active brain plen-
ty OF work to do and some learning,
and he will not be found in the state
prison" The report shows that but
few tradesmen and tewyr farmers re
sort to rascality, whilst those who
went to school from five to twenty
furnish mainly the convicts. 1t is
also presumable that, OF the smaller
criminals let off on light punishment,
nine-tenths are of the same class of
idlers aud loafers without trades
set adritt in the world at twenty by
ignorant or oyer fond parents.
Clcrgymen and school teachers
should turn their attention to this
subject. Teachers especially must
know that sending boys to school
continually from five to seventeen
insures their general worthlessness,
however subsequently managed
Clergymen must know that, by deal
ing to boy run OF mental disci~
pline greatly out Of proportion to
what orderly, physical culture he
may receive-so to speak, making
him all head and no back bone, ham
or gizzard, his vitality very soon
burns out, his mind becomes q prey
to passion, and his soul sinks in pol.
luton. The subject is not inappro.
pirate for the evening lecture. 1t
ought to be held up along with other
subjects deserving Of christian atten-
ton.
Every Village has its ten, twenty,
fifty boys being cultured for the state
Prison or one of the Asylums. How
is this? The ansWer is simple; these
boys have kind parents, whose
grandest idea of family fame and
glory is in and through the educa-
ton of their children. Their boys
are sent to school from the time they
are little five year old shavers till
seventeen to twenty, when such com
binatioIs Of circumstances arise as
forbid their longer going to school.
They have not leareed trades. The
mothers or fathers opposed their go
ing to trades at fifteen or sixteen.
There were hopes of their securing
places as clerks, or something else as
promising of fame and bankruptcy.
There is now nothing left for them
but teaching school, selling pictures,
maps and books or dealing in patent
rights. A family council is held and
the big, lubberly boy-mother's
twenty year old pet, must leave
home fathers income is inadequate
for supporting SO big faraily. Very
well, the boy now feels serious and
may soliloquize "there, these dozen
years I've been reading in old Ben
Franklin and the newspapers that
every boy should have trade; but
mother said no better 90 10 school,
Now, I've nothing but schooling and
am told TO 90 out and seek employ
ment and get money-honestly if |
can, but, get money. There's teach
ing-I'm tired Of the school room.
There's The map and picture ped
ding, the book agency, insuring
lives and property-tact is, there's a
deal Of harder work in any of these
than I've been used to. Saving
wood at dollar day-no, I'll beg
first, clerk in d tin alley, tend bar,
sell whisl<ey !
Now, nine cases in ten, cuoh is .
true record SO far We had rather
not lift the curtain that is to reveal
the next scene in the life OF boys
that grow up in the school room
without trades or Industrial culture.
The police records and reports of
Prison commissioners save us the
trouble ofany further allusion to the
future Of most boys who grow up
without trades or other orderly phys
zeal training. Indeed, next to the
boys that grow up 81 9chool and
without physical training to CORES
pond with the mental, there is but
one other class chat are more worth
less-those who are neither schooled
nor made to work when boys. 1t Is
far better, should it be necessary to
neglect either physical or mental
training, that the mental should be
left out in the raising Of boys. Bet
ter that any boy should not learn to
read than that he should not learn 10
work for with the habits OF INDUS
try he is tolerably sure to make a
tair living and enjoy home, happiness
and old aye, any or all OF which are
quite impossible with boys who Sc
cure but only mental training. We
take into account society as at pres
ont constituted, for it was not 50 in
the aye that has gone by. In our
day, ly means of false literature,
and such a boiling of the passions as
every boy must endure, the young