The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-05-22
Education at its Sources.

!
youth, Yet, notwithstanding the atten-
tion which so important a subject receives,
and in spite Of the improvements in schools,
public and private, u considerable portion
Of the rising generation do not exhibit the
progress which the efforts in their behalf
should produce. There are exceptional
cases, in which pupils appear signally to
profit, and there are, on the other hand,
exceptionally bad and uncultivated youth.
upon whose minds and morals education
appears to make no good impression what
ever. There is hope, however, even for
these, as they grow older. And there may
be disappointment in regard to the after
lives of good pupils Unfortunately, there
are too many who seem to make only the
worst use Of what thoy have been taught,
and to become extra mischievous through
their very advantages.
There must be reason for this partial
failure Of education, since there are causes
for all things Education inside Of the
schooi-housc, however excellent the mode
in which it is impaired, occupies but
brief portion of the pupils time. For
many hours of every day, and for two
whole days out Of seven, the pupil is away
from the school room, and under other in
6ucnccs, which 60 long way towards
shaping his character for good or for evil,
and to educate" him for success in life
or for failure; for an honorable career, or
for one of idleness, and perhaps infamy.
Children are 'receptiyeness" personifed
always ready to take and to absorb what
ever may be nearest them. They are es-
pecially obedient to the influences which
habitually encircle them. They readily take
the tone and color the irsurroundings, and
their characters arc more dependent upon
their associations out of school than upon
anything which they acquire in what is
technically called edueation-whether Sc
cular or religious.
Children are everywhere. IL is seldom
that one can speak that young ears are
not open to hear, for children are listeners.
1t is seldom that one can move that young
eyes are not watching him, for children
are observers. As listeners they are most
earnest, as observers most diligent The
world and life are new to them, and they
take great interest in things Of which
their elders are weary, and to which men
pay little heed. To speak upon the paren-
tai charge is to enlarge upon theme the
Importance of which, though too much
neglected, is still never denied Another
aspect of the subject is quite as important
as the family relations, though less of)en
presented An old writer says ;-"Chil-
dren should be treated with the utmost
reverence" Not simply by parents, for
love rules or ought to rule in the family
relation, and reverence to parents in the
household has stronger claim than. rev.
erence for children. Even in the house
hold, however, the spirit of the maxim
holds good
But--out of doors, in the street, In the
places where children hang like fringe
upon their elders--and children, as above
said, are everywhere-that considerate
conduct to children and before children,
which is the basis Of the maxim, should
be observed. This is not because they
possess any claim to the qualities that u.s.
ually demand reverence, such as superior
wisdom or power or position; but because
of their innocence. For this they are to
be treated with Difference. If any human
creature has this claim to honor, it is the
little child And if the children have il
not, ii is because men and women have
despoiled them Of their best possession of
humanity. Profane and ribald talk before
little child is sacrilege against the inno-
cence of childhood. As bad deeds, prac-
tices and habits, indulged in before children
and youth, are acted blasphemy against
the innocence and purity which the child
should have, and would have, If he were
''simple concerning the evil
The profanity and obscenity which few
children wholly escape hearing, and the
intoxication and violence which must catch
their attention, are the causes of more
evil in youth than any ordinary deficiency
Of education eau be. Some children, hap.
PLY for them, are disguised into propriety
by Witnessing the evil of bad examples.
Such are the duh scholars above referred
to who turn out better than could have
been hoped. And some Of bright parts
and aptncss to learn turn their schooling
to bad account under the influence Of evil
example While dishonesty is tolerated
among men, IL only the rogue is successful
and eyades punishment, who can wonder
that accomplished and adroit young lads
turn forgers and defaulters ? Aud while
the tone of much that is printed and
spoken leads to low estimate Of vice, and
the details Of iniquity scattered broadcast
are the themes Of wit; and while the novel
and the drama in two many instances turn
for their interest upon crime, and for
their amusement upon sensuality, what
marvel is il that the shrine of youthful
purity is denied and that the education Of
example defeats the lessons of the school
rooms Age may or may not deserve
respect but for the hope of the future,
"children cannot be treated with too much
reverence :"--mcauing by this, that all
persons should be unusually considcrate
| af tha;r oonducf and of Thai. ,,orl. koc...