The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-02-08

J6aCl0I uttS Un0 care OF Inc morals, DOu-
les and minds Of the pupils committed
to him. From homes of poverty and
crime, they come to the only place
where they are taught morality. This
is not true in all cases, but in our cities
and some villages too, among the poor
er classes it is certain that unless chill
dren are taught morality in school, they
will never learn it. It is a fact that in
a multitude of cases, the teacher has
more influence over the child than the
parent. An education in the funda-
mental branches can never affect the
morals, for men are often learned
scamps. Morality of the purest, high
est type should always be taught in the
school-room. This may be done.
Learning the catechisms Of all the
churches will not make scholars better.
Teaching creed is not necessarily teach
ing morality, nor does teaching morali-
ty require us to teach UNCONVENTIONAL
ism. The question is not so much BIZ
bic in school, or out Of it, as, are our
public schools making our children bet
ter or worse? Are we training up a
race Of burglars, thieves, counterfeit
ers, and pick-pockets? No teacher can
instruct day, if he does his duty,
without distinctly marking out the diff
ference between right and wrong. Our
country to-day calls for better men and
women. Honesty, for our nation, is
not a policy but a necessity. Without
! it We shall soon go the way of other ma
Itions-Whose epitaphs are written in
the words, '"They had not virtue enough
to save them" Better would it be for
our schools to teach only this, than
emitting this, teach everything else
The political excitement Of the last
presidential campaign has led many
papers to write strong and true words
on the necessity Of more virtue in the
republic. This is what one Of them
says:
"TO the ingenious youth who looks
forward to taking an active part in
the government Of his country, wheth-
er he aspire to be President Of the
United States, or village pound-keeper,
the present campaign is full of instruc-
ton. 1t should teach him that one of
the best and most indispensable quail
fcatiOnS for a political career is a good,
sound, healthy conscience. If his
education does not produce this, it is
worthless, no matter how costly. It is
of more importance for him to develop
strong moral character, than to make
himself familiar with the history of
political parties and the manipulations
of campaign machinery. It will not
answer to put on q mere external
probity, an upright manner, without a
real inward regard for the right. Under
the temptations of office, such an out
ward morality must soon give way.
There must be the root of honesty
within the man"
Just to the point were the words Of
1 Professor Huxley at the opening of the
John Hopkins University at Baltimore.
"Let me express my most strong con-
yiction that the key to success, the
essential condition to success, is one,
and one only; that it rests entirely
upon the intellectual clearness, and
upon the moral worth Of the individu-
al citizen. Education can not give
intellectual clearness. It con not give
moral worth, but it may cherish them,
and bring them to the front"
DR.. Holland, in Scrib9aer for Noven-
Der, breaches q good sermon on the
same text. He says, "Outside--reforms
are of wider Importance in educating
the people toward a higher standard Of
honor, Everything depends upon the
personal continuance Of 81 good man in
power. Tt is true, that whoever
cultivates in himself and in his neigh
keener and clearer moral senstiveness,
is, in fact, carrying on reform, net
only in the interest of spiritual and
eternal things, but in the interest Of
the commonwealth" Let us have
more of such lay preaching, and the
world will soon grow better-Natjonoz
Teachers Monthly.