The Republican journal., 1892-12-15

which rise spontaneously in the cultivat-
ed soul In mathematics we have two
objects. culture and utility. Wherever a
rule will increase our progress we should
use it, but in most cases it is hinderance
and should be discarded. The pith of
mathematics lies in the nature of numbers
and their relations. If a boy writes leg
IDLY, why should he spend his time on or
namental penmanship when he does not
know the origin of civilization OF the rea-
son why he must breathe every moment
of his life?
The reason why public sentiment has
oscillated from one extreme of utility to
the other is plain. The work essential to
our highest success is irksome and the
average mind evades the effort Time
was when it was thought proper for every
man to drink what he pleased Expert
ence proved that strong drink was pro
ductive OF more misery than happiness in
the world and that the curse often fell up
on innocent victims. The idea dawned
upon the world that government had a
right to protect the general interests and
this idea is gaining force every year.
Time was when it was thought right for
the government to care for the spiritual
interests of its citizens But experience
proved that the development Of the spirit
ual nature is subject to the individual will
and cannot be perfected by mechanical
processes. The religious world has oscil-
| lated from one extreme to the other. We
have seen men serving God by forms in
which there seemed to be little thought
or reverence We have seen them cherish
ing pure and holy thoughts without any
FORMS Pride and Incidence are sustained
by money at every stage of civilized soci-
ETY.. There are constantly evil tendencies
maturing beneath the surface of the most
refined society. These should be sought
out and destroyed as weeds before they
multiply and overrun the nation.
1t is not many years since the existence
Of an opinion held by a large part Of the
American people was the cause of the de-
struction of millions of property and a
million human lives The fact that Amer
leans would not submit to oppression
brought on struggle in which our fore
fathers displayed their valor and gave
birth to a new nation. The ancient Ro-
mans cherished false principles Which
|
ing in the present age which is liable to
recoil to the injury of the American peo-
pie? Is there no tendency to poverty.
caused by each man wing with his neigh
Dor and striving to outdo him in the
splendor and luNuliance of his living? Is
not the religious world depending upon
Mediator to save them without the aid of
| individual effort? Would not more work
and less show tend to security?
The educational conditions We're briefly
stated in the journal of June Ii. where
Pres. Elliot. of Harvard. says: "There is
not nation in the north Of Europe that
has not better school system than we
extreme in requiring much work of the
pupils in her schools that hundreds of
children are ruined by the severity of
school regulations, America has gone to
the opposite extreme and made popular
school work SO natural, easy and childlike
that the American schoolboy does not
have to make half the mental effort that
he would to amuse himself at the various
childish sports amid the scenes of nature,
The American child has been petted until
he is practically the manager of our school
system. In determining the value Of the
various methods. the question is never
asked. ''What will be the effect of such
course upon the intellect. but this is the
all-important question. Twill it be pleas
inc to the chid?''
Though we hear very little said about
it, the teaching profession are dav re-
sorting to as many schemes as the willy
politician to secure positions. A fireman
on a steamer running on the Willamette
river told me a story last spring that IL
illustrates what is taking place in meas
ure all over the country He said he was
visiting one of the lower departments of
a graded school when one of the pupils
being guilty of misconduct the principal
was sent for: but before he arrived the
culprit disappeared. In private CONVEX
sation the principal acknowledged him
self powerless to deal out Justice because
the offender was the son of the most in
tiuential man on the school board The
teachers position depends upon his abil-
ity to please the children, but more es-
pecially the children of the school board.
In this sense children are raised to the
position of supreme Judges. Parents as
rule base their Judgment of schools upon
the Judgment of their children. School
officers of every grade base their judg-
ment upon the judgment of parents, be-
cause their position depends upon it, This
is an error fatal to our school system.
Children are apt to like school if theY
are we'll entertained and Go not have to
make much mental effort .Tnetlucated
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