The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-09-11
KO-a Traiallg in Common Schools.


1t must be acknowledged that on
one side Of our systems Of education,
public and private, are open to just
criticism. They deal too exclusively
With the intellect, and neglect the at
fections ana the will-the sources Of
moral life and christian manhood and
wJmanhood. But it is also right that
the people should understand where
lies the blame for this omission. 1t
d res not fairly lie at the doors Of the
teachers Of our private or public
schools. We honestly believe, as the
result Of years Of observation, in. all
parts of our country, that no class Of
people, not excepting the clergy
themselves, are doing 50 much for the
morals of the children and youth Of
the United States as the teachers.
Think Of the multitudes of incompe-
tent, wicked, foolish parents, and see
what work they make III the training
OF their children. Go through a street
in New York inhabited by the lower
grade Of its population. and see the
homeInhuences about the little ones
Then drop into a New York public
school, and see how the same children
are cared for there,and the sort Of peo-
pie who have them in charge and
you will apprehend what we mean.
Our teachers often make mistakes and
are human like the rest Of US but
how many fathers and mothers, Of
any class, are as C nscientious and sue
cessful in the training Of their boys
and girls as the thousands Of noble
men and women who are toiling for a
small compensation than any profes-
sional class to overcome the mistakes
Of home neglect.
We visited a great school in n New
England city, few years ago, which
was largely filled with children who
came to it as their only home. There
were orphans, sent there by their
guardians the children Of people who
had fallen out with the world Of Off
GERS OF the army and navy Of men Of
business, who were living in the half
civilized communities ofthe far West !;
sometimes Of fashionable women, who
were dawdling away life IN Europe.
Think Of the work and responsibility
cast Oh half a dozen teachers by the
parents of these FIVE hundred children !
Think Of what you do when you ask a
College president and faculty to b. not
only the teachers, but to stand in tie
place of parents to your son, for the
few most impossible years Of his life
We, parents, also make Il great
mistake when we abdicate the sacred
position Of moral guides to our chill
dren, in behalf of any teacher Null
titudes Of parents live in the fatal de
fusion that, because their children may
be gifted with some little natural su-
periority or enjoy superior advantages
Of education to themselves, their occu-
patton, as guides Of their character and
conduct, is over,
They permit their children to take
on dangerous associations; TO form per-
ilous habits; to 90 Their own way in
the very years where loving restraint
and firm guidance are indispensable to
every child. But no superiority of nat
ural power or opportunity can take
/ the place Of the experience Of life and
steadiness Of character which any good
man or woman can bring to the moral
training Of youth. Your children need
just what you can give, all the more
/ by reason of their superiority, if they
have it; need it, especially, to keep a
rein on the conceits and insanities that
beset American childhood in this-revo
lutionary age.-New England Journal
OF Education.