The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1885-08-14
noRAL TRAINING N FUnIIC aCuoeAs

aud culture IN our public SCHOOLS. Ihere
has long been feeling among our best
aud far-seeing educators and statesmen
that our public school work does not
produce the beat results, that now, at
least, it fails to keep pace with the
times in this, that while the mental
training is as satisfactory, or nearly 80,
as could be reasonably hoped for, that
while the minds of the youth who attend
upon pubic schools ara being as rapidly
aud AZ we'll developed as the times de-
mAnd, still, the far more important
work Of developing, educating and
training the moral natures Of the youth
of the country is sadly neglected. This
is easily acco1nted for by those who
have been connected with public school
work for any considerable length OF
time. Many, very many of our teachers,
themselves, were trained and taught az
they now train and teach those who are
placed in their care. The young teach
o., who, during all the years he labored
in school, as pupil, was called upon
for tho development Of bis mind only,
will, Moe times out of ten, teach as he
was taught. He will develop and train
the power Of mind aud thought, aud
neglect the wsightieE matter of the de-
vslopmeut aud training Of the powers
and capabilities of the moral mature.
1t is only in she development Of the
moral nature Of youth that the best
results can be secured through the medi-
um ofo common schools. A boy may
become proficient in ell the branches
taught in our common schools. He
may become n mathematician of note.
He may talk and converse Of historical
events as though ne were present at the
time and place when :hey occurred. He
may become literary critic in fact, but
all these requirements may proys only
IN auxiliary to his capacity and purpose
to do evil. So, to this extent, his edu-
cation is a failure. No education 10 Q
success that does not make the young
morally, AZ well as intellectually, strong
or. The public schools are an ins:itu'
tion of the state. The state seeks the
highest development of good citizenship
It organizes public achools to attain
that end. Experience and reason both
teach that that end can be Attained only
through moral and intellectual educa-
tion. The state, therefore, has an in.
tsreSt, lasting, abiding interest in the
manner in which the youth Of the state
are educated. These public schools a.e
maintained and supported by funds oi
the state. Hence the state has q right
to insist that the best results must cVms
from these large expenditures Of public
funds. The state does NOT seek to edu.
cate and qualify men primarily to fill
public stations In life, but to develop
the highest possibilities of good citizen.
ship in the greatest sumbsr of those tC
be educated. Hence, as We have seen
that education, or system Of education,
which ignores the development and
strengthening Of the moral capabilities o
the child is very faulty and deficient
and should be dsplored and cried out
against by every one who feels that th,
citizenship Of the state should be raised
to . higher plane than now exists
What profit is it 20 the state if younf
man be we'll educated iuts, l-ctuAlly, i
be Is dishonest and untrustwoTthy
How does it benefit the state, or tn,
people Of the state, if young naD
whom the state has educated de
votes his life to gambling, swindIing
rbiSviDg, robbiDg and mdrdering? Th,
teacher who nsglects Or refuses to teaci
moral lsssons overy day both by pre-
capt and example, falls far short of th,
requirements Of his calling. The stat,
seeks not to educate q young man OF
youag women, for his or her benefit, but
for the resultant effect which such sdu'
cation shall have upon Socioty. A
pfoler education Of young wsn will
make him . better citizen. Ills ex
ample and inf.ence will make better
citizens Of many others. Every teach
or, whether be teaches in the hear
OF the city, the country village, or ia
ths woods and forests along the borders
OF civilization, shouid c3nstantly bear
10 mind, that. day by dav, be is foim
ing and monlding the charAoters oI
citizens of great republic. That he Il
giving character to set Of men who By
their conduct will strengthen or weaker
the hold Of good government or gooc
citizsnsbiP.
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CHANGED HANDS
The Mountain Sentinel heretofor