The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-10-23
Music IN scHooLs.-If new machine

Music IN ScHooLs.-Ifa new machine
| is invested the first question a practical
man asks is: Will it accomplish what
| is claimed for iti Anything is good
and useful that is adapted to the end
| had in view. For music it is claimed
that it is zone of the most important
and influential means of moral eleva-
ton. 1t elevates and refines the soul as
we'll as the taste, and if begun in child
hood is ever after source of enjoyment
aud shield against temptations which
drag our young men dewn to ruin and
degradation" 1t is claimed for music
in the school room that, aside from its
great moral influence, it is a material
aid to the teacher in discipline, and that
a school in which music is used as lu-
bricator, runs far more easily, smoothly
and quietly than one where its influence
is not felt at all.
Now to the practical question. Does
music parform what is claimed for it'll
We answer without hesitation that 1t
does and we do not, if people would
open their eyes to results, see the ne
cessity of very much argument to prove
the truth of the assertion.
A beautiful and attractive home is o
blessed place, and what throws stronger
charm around it than music, in which
parents and children unite. If then it
is desirable to have children sing in the
family circle, in the Sunday school; II
good music in the church is a desirable
thing, instruction is necessary, and IN
no place can it be better or more easily
given than in the common schools, and
its good influence upon the school itself
is beyond doubt.
eve compel our children" says the
report of the Secretary of the Board OF
Education of Massachusetts, "to spend
largo part of their young lives in the
vain endeavor to comprehend the para
doxes of the grammars-in trying to re-
member the names of places Of equal
Importance with the solution of the
much mooted question, who struck
Billy Pattersoni PIN learning to repeat
the name and length of rivers they will
never see; the length and breadth OF
oceans, on whose bosoms they will never
sail; and the hight of mountains they
will never Chamber up; and yet we al
most entirely ignore the Importance of
teaching the simple art of singing, which
may and should be joy in their child
hood and q pleasure and consolation
in every vicissitude, and through every |
period of their lives. am not dissuad-
ing from the study of geography, but
pointing out our Inconsistency in spend
ing so much time in that study to the
almost entire neglect of one which en-
ters so closely into our daily life, and
has so important an influence in refill
ing, enrolling and moulding the char
acter of our children. Music is not, as
some suppose, mere luxury, but ne
cessity. It's germ is implanted in every
human soul, and it is as much nccessi-
ty to give outward expression to it as 1t
is to laugh when we are pleased, or to
weep when we are in sorrow. Every
thing about is vocal with music. Let
our children be taught to sing. Let
them sing glad songs when their souls
are happy. ct them sing as they grow
n years and feel, as they will, 'life's
,ares and sorrows press heavily for,
hough it may not remove the burden,
t will strengthen the soul TO stand up
lnder it,"