Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-10-03
A STRIKING DISCOURSE

in history of system of public schools.
was wise and good king who instituted
Jehosaphat had hardly been three
allied the need of some systematic in
ruction of the people. The record indi-
ties the chief features of his plan. We
0 not know how much he needed to spend
n school houses, but the narrative shows
lat he chose princes for superintendents
{ tho public instruction. The names of
We principal men have been preserved,
ven Benhail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah.
Micaiah, whom he sent to teach
q all the cities of Judah. And the names
f several Levites also, who were appointed
Inder these head masters, have been PIE
erved in the record; and they went abo1t |
throughout all the cities of Judah and |
Imong the people. Their teaching was re-
igious instructions; we read that they |
aught in Judah, having the book Of the |
aw of the Lord with them; but the reli- |
,ious teaching of that time involved the |
principles essential to good citizenship,
just relations and personal integrity.
This scripture, which shows how one of
Israel's most successful kings provided for
and honored good system of popular
q sermon appropriate to the pres
ent beginning of another school
year. The question of schools and
teachers and studies is at this time prom
inent one in the arrangements of the fam
lily life; our own children are at school
again, at home or abroad, and the youth
from other homes are again welcomed to
our city. This autumnal gathering of the
children in the schools, this meeting of
youth for common pursuits, is one of the
most inspiriting, and also, when we stop
to think of it, one of the most solemn
spectacles of the year. The meetings of
of men, the marching of vet
Grams, the platforms where questions of
industrial or religious moment awaken
earnest discussion, may disclose what
GUS conflicts of our national life; but in
the schools are the issues of the future.
The remark of the duke of Wellington
when he saw the boys at their sports in
Eaton bears repeated quotation. cit was
there" said the Iron Duke, s'that the bat
tie of Waterloo was won." The issues of
what battles in our American life are al
ready being determined in our schools and
colleges! The older man who would have
some prophetic sense of the century about
to break must keep heart aud mind in
touch with the life that is now at school,
In the darby understood impulses and
purposes of young men, in the ideas waiting
to spring from the sub-consciousness of
lie the future struggles and destinies of
our country.
AS we watch again the happy, solemn
spectacle of the gathering of youth at
school for life and Immortality, one of the
first thoughts which we cannot put away
comes from our knowledge of the tempta.
tions to Which this eager Uniformed life
will be exposed; and one of the questions
ever with us relates to the nature OF
amount of helpful restraint which may be
IS;a by law f. or T custom 4a around
of youth are gross, and also re-
Temptations to ways which
openly lead to death, and subtle tempta
tions also to habits which may eventually
rob promise of success, If they do not ul
timately disintegrate manhood. Almost
| from the door out of the nursery up to thu
gate into manhood the wisdom of parenta
| discipline and educational control is bur
dened with the question Of proportion be
tween the necessity of outward constrain
and the vital law of freedom in the devel
| opment of good character. It woult
seem, however, that at present the ele
ments of restraint in our educational for
mulas are not in danger of being mixet
with healthful freedom in too large pro
portions. What we may hope to accom-
plish by rules and laws for all this Uniform
ed life of youth capable of great things
and exposed likewise to deadly perils, is
distinct and always urgent question. O
the one hand we find an often exaggerate
idea of what may be accomplishe
by law in removing gross temptation an
making people in general moral, accomps
MED sometimes with disposition to b1in
railing accusations against all who ar
charged with the administration of th
laws; while, OF the other hand, we find
depreciation of the good offices of the la
to the lowest terms of the preservation c
order and a semblance of decency, accom-
panied often by chronic indispositio
towards any agitation for reform.
But between these two extremes-the 81
treme of impracticable fanaticism, and til
extreme of pessimistic Indifference
may not be impossible to gain sobe
| estimate of the services which the law ma
render to the public morals. and especial
in protecting minors in school and COLES
from those professional enemies of all tt
social virtues who lie in wait in our street
for the morally verdant And to q sobt
and practical judgment of what law ma
do in restraining certain evils, thoi
charged with its execution may be bel
alike by their own Official oaths, and by
vigilant and determined public sentimen
This is particularly important in city
whose reasonable sanitary and NOR
, measures is entrusted the safe keeping
so much young life that is precious
other homes, as well as SO many interes
, of our own. Some things, it seems reaso,
able to insist may be done; some thing
. the churches. in order that they may hay
work, should take some interest in seem
DONE We may agree perhaps that thel
are social evils too deep, too grave, tc
involved in the Satanic curse which ca
only be removed by q divine redemption
for any legislation of ours to eradicate then
or for our civilization to be swept entirel
clean of them by any police.
But there are some evils which lie plail
| " within the reach of wise laws in pul
hands, unsullied by brides. Those law
for example, which on all hands are a.
mitted to be wise, for preventing tho birt
of ill-omen from sweeping down throue
our streets upon the defenceless heads
minors, should be impartially and vigo
ously enforced without any distinction
between young men in our stores, OF
workshops, or our schools. There may
. a difference of opinion as to how Fl
sumptuary laws may go in preventir
grown men from falling, if they will, in
the snare of the gambler, or from recei
| ing in tippling houses the mark of IL
beast; but good laws may reasonably
expected to deliver callow youth from IL
hand of the fowler. With the beginniI
of every school and college year d.
notice ought to be served on all publ
drinking places that the law against tt
| sale of iqnors to minors will be enfoIce
and that no exception will be made
places frequented by students who a
under age. The suppression of son
such nurseries Of folly among minors
this vicinity is something which a gre
many homes outside of New Haven hs
a right to demand of our good citize
ship. And with such places would
the possibilities of some future tragedie
In this connection another remark ne
not be suppressed as pass on. The pu
= lie good nature may allow much to ebu
tions of youthful spirits, and. even to occ
sional adventurous wit; but we owe SON
thing to our own homes and the innoce
slumbers of our children in not tolerate
much more of the drunken vulgarity wi
| which too often the night is made hideo
by small class who have been allow
altogether too much liberty to Disgrace
our streets and in our public halls
great body of sober-minded young me
among whom by some mysterious aoaden
providence their names are permitted
remain enrolled.
There aretwo peculiar institutions viii
o11o-a1 tn fhrivo in al