The Russellville Democrat., 1888-02-23


Wynn, Ph. d., Dean Of Midland Col
lege, Atchison, Kan, in the Februa-
ry issue OF the Homiletic Review,
page III, in an article on How may
the lack of Religion and Moral Gull
ture in our Public Schools be RENE
died." "Abstractly religious in
struction is fundamental to all other
instruction, and if no provision 10
made for 1t the schools, the inevita-
bic product OF q training purely in
tellectual, when il comes to be
thrown upon the world with cor
scIEscELEss habit, will be genera
ton of skilled adopts in schemes OF
selfishness and greed. There is no
risk in saying that purely intellect
ual training, the most thorough and
efficient in the world, is as likely 70
bring forth progeny of villains as
race of upright and order loving cit
housekeeping, perhaps, that =
general refining influence Is to be
credited always to intelligence as
against the coarseness end brutality
which ignorance implies. ;" In the
Senate Of the u. S. on Jan. 9th, the
noted Blair Educational Bill was
discussed. Senator Vest, in speech
opposing the Bill, speaking OF his
desire that every child In the U. 5.
should be able to read and write,
said: "But that is not all Of educa-
tion." In proof of my position that
purely intellectual education does
not "stop crime" l further quote
from the learned Senator. He draws
on the U. S. Census for 1880. Hear
him: "Of ten northern states that
lead in the matter OF common school
instruction, Wisconsin was the first
IN morality and eighth instruction.
In only three OF these states did the
statistics of crime coincide with
those OF iliteracy. AS to the south
ern states, South Carolina stood
first in morality and tenth In in.
struction, while Tennessee was tenth
in morality and first in instruction"
So you see that illiteracy and crime
do not necessarily go together.
The. moral difference between q
purely intellectual and an educa-
tion where morality and religion re-
ccives proper attention cannot be
seen we'll in this country, II at all,
because OF the general dissemination
of morality to a greater or less ex-
tent In every community, and the
prevalence OF morality in the school
| books, and the good moral character
OF the school teachers. 1t Is next to,
If not quite, impossible to divorce
all religion from our schools. While
this Is true, it is also lamentably
true that this most important part
OF education is fearfully neglected.
1t is solemn and deplorable fact
that many school children that are
carefully and religiously trained At
home learn so much Of i'll manners,
rudeuess and Irreligion at school As
to largely overcome the earnest and
prayeriul labors of parents.
| have not written any portion of
this article with any particular school
in mind. All have said has been In
general way. / think there is very
sore evil in our public school system at
this point. The legal exclusion of the
Bible and Its moral and religious teach
ing from our children at the very time
that they are most susceptible Of i'm
pressioDs and consequently the easiest
time to put them in the path of right
living, and thereby the more surely
make good citizens of them. is IN my
humble opinion a radical wrong. 1
would not have creeds, church govern
ment, &C., &C., taught by no means. l
would have children taught good man
ners, studious, industrious habits, and
the cardinal virtues. In word, The
Golden Rule and REVERENCE for the
Supreme Being.
/ would do the school teachers OF our
country an Injustice If 1 put all the
blame on them for the very meagre
moral and religious training of the
youth OF our land. | am very glad to
know that q great many teachers are
very careful at this point, doing all
they can TO impress moral obligation
upon the pupils mind, striving to de-
velop the whole man-the purely intel
lectual and moral-together. The
great trouble is really not at the
school-room, bnt at the home of the
child. Many, many parents, parents
too that claim to love God and believe
Ia future eternal rewards and punish.
ment, are criminally negligent in the
moral training of their children. Ifev-
cry reader of these lines, whether
teacher or parent will review his or
her own conduct and by Gods grace
strive to do better in the future with
the children Hnder their control,
shall be amply rewarded for my poor
efforts in behalf of the improvement In
the moral and religious culture Of the
young.
DOyer Ark Il 6 CJnwPp