The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-01-13


made a little lower than the angels and
crowned with glory and honor was the
last and best Of the Creators physical
works
Mah was made erect, and his tendency
to physical degeneracy is not so manifest
in very early childhood. When the
years are light upon his shoulders he
generally stands erect, walks erect, and
IL he would continue thus TO stand, as
accumulating years press upon him, he
would not be made TO bend under the
weight Of three score years and ten.
More than any other people, ours Is r.
mixture or combination Of nationalities
Like the disintegr rated material Of an
cient continents flowing down to ancient
seas commingling. settling, as3imilating
raised up by internal forces, presenting a
new world better than the former. so
these vast streams of population flowing
in from all the nations Of the east, con-
trolled in their combinations by the
moral repulsions and attractions may
form a new and better type Of man. But
the end is not yet; and il will require
&c ne. ations to develop the perfect race.
But no fitful effort in some single city,
no dress parade of the boys IN Boston
high school, no single transformation Of
crooked young men into straight sol
diers by the military appliances at West
Point will accomplish this. Nor will il
ever be accomplished until physical cul-
tire becomes the habit Of the nation.
In a small state like that Of ancient
Greece the government can comiLand
certain practices which in less than one
generation consolidate into national
habits but in q state like ours covering
half continent, the task is no easy one
For the accomplishment Of this directly
the government with all its power is i'm
potent. But the public schools permeat-
ing all grades Of society, cherished alike
even by contending sections, operating
at the very base and fountain OF society,
is the only agency through which this
work may be done.
But the state demands from the public
schools habits of good morals as a basis
of perfect physical and mental character
The perfect physical man cannot grow
out Of a corrupt heart and debauched
nature This moral purity is necessary
also as a guide to correct political action;
and there can be no matter of greater
importance than this, none in which the
state is more interested whether she
recognize il or not. There is a single
manifestation OF good morals, concerning
the value Of which there can be no diff.
ference Of opinion. ! refer to that Of
politeness Many Americans are polite.
but am not aware that Americans are
known in foreign lands by this charac-
teristic, and yet it is an important sign
of greater good within. But the sign
may exist without the thing signified.
"A man may smile and smile and be a
villain" Hence moral instruction should
60 deeper than this.
Ii is claimed that the public school is
organized and established for the sole
purpose OF instruction in the elements Of
science and letters, that IL differs in no
respect from commercial schools, schools
of law, and other professional establish
ments save in the kind Of instruction.
No greater mistake has ever been
made and il would seem that no man
who has spent a single year Of his life, or
a single month OF his life even in n pri-
mary school where, descending from the
ragged nights of sterner manhood, his
own heart has beat in sympathy with the
heart of childhood, where he has seen
the plastic being immortal passed over
to him to be moulded as clay in the
hands Of the potter, where many a time
he has been forced TO contemplate its
infinite possibilities and unending des-
tiny, would come to such a conclusion as
this.
We know what professional schools
are established for. But can we tell the
particular object aimed at in the com.
mon school3 Is il the acquisition OF
facts, o. is il mental discipline, or is Il
both2 If it is the requirement of facts
merely, what is to be the application Of
these facts2 What is their object Ger
tainly for the most part discipline. Why
require the teacher OF the public school
to be a man Of good Liofal character
Why does the state require this? Why
discuss methods of instruction, or at
tempt TO arrange courses OF study TO cor
respond with the order Of me eltal deyel-
opment? Why discuss matter Of govern
mcnt and discipline at all Why not
govern by the stern, inexorable rod, OF
why talk about the moral power Of the
teacher in the government Of the school
OF attempt the control Of scholars by AL
appeal to their higher nature. In a word
why does the state recognize the princi-
pie "H loco pare,itss' end why should the
teacher try at all to make he hayward
child better or TO put the banner excel
sior into the hand Of the yoIng moral
hero.
The young blacksmith makes a nail,
not that he may be better prepared TO
a steam engine, bpt that he
may shoe a horse. The young student
1t law reads Blackstone. not that he may
count the stars or weigh distant suns in
balances, but that in courts Of law he
may claim justice for those who may de
mand il at his hands. The pupil in the
Drogressions. equations. To what prac-
teal use will he apply this knowledge i'm
my Of the ordinary transactions Of bust
ness or in any of the learned professions?
Each professional school, or school Of
art, is organized to prepare young men
md women for that particular calling
Dr. art. But the common school differing
rom all, and in this regard higher than
Nj is made TO prepare children to be
men, men for this world il is true, but
men in the highest sense. possessing all
hose elements essential to true manhood.
md they must do all for them that i
necessary to make them men, the con
sciences Of individuals or Of sects to the I
,ohtrary Notwithstanding.
The school is not for the individual .
Tor for the sect. 1t is for the State IL
5 the States great laboratory for gener- /
ting men Here all essential elements I
must continue in such just proportions /.
IS shall crystalize into perfect manhood |
5 man a moral and religious being I.
Does he need for his most perfect devel- /
,pment and self control knowledge Of
iod, of his own origin and destiny. of the /
of the human soul beyond I
he horizon Of mortal life? Is IL better I
or his highest attainment that he recog- I
lize his obligations TO love and obey this 1
upreme power Of the uniyerse2 then /
hese things may be taught in the public /
chools And the Bible, the source Of all .
his true knowledge, may be used to en-
orce it. And all this may be done be il .
a.. 4 1901 I,,,,,an fIa Gtafa rn.Ig s,at E