Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-13
THE PURPOSE OF THE SCHOOL.

Rrcsidcnt Hsrrison's Remarks 60 the Ns-
tioaai Educstionai Association.
President Harrison spoke NJ follows 10 the
National Educational Association st Saratoga
yesterday;
''Mr. President. ladies and ecntlemen-nu
IL more bles, 20 give than to receive this ID
blessed audience daughter and spplausel, for
do not know Of any class Of our people who
give 90 largely in excess OF their receipts laugh
teri as instructors Of the young. and especially
female teachers Laughter and appAusel. 70
give me great pleasure TO stand for few mo-
ments in your presence and 10 receive this cordial
expression Of your respect and interest. II lis
quite as appropriate. I think. that the Prcsi-
dent of the United States should review the
teachers Of the land as that he should review
its army or its militia lApplause.l For. after
all, the strength and defense Of institutions,
not only in peace. but in war. is 60 be found in
the young Of the land who have received from
the hips OF patriotic teachers the story
of the sacrifice which our fathers recorded to
establish our civil institutions and which their
sons have repeated on hundreds OF bsttlehelds
The organized army Of the United States. IL
we include the militia OF the states. IL 81 in
significant proportion when put in contrast
with the armies of the other great powers Of
the world. Our strength IL not in these; IL 10
IN that great reserve 10 be found in the in-
structed young OF oar hand. who come 90 its
defense in the time Of peril. IApplause.l 10
was not Of the brawlers. IL was not Of the fire.
quenters Of the tavern OF which our army in
the civil war was made or Of which our army
must be made II any great emergency Of war
again confronts us.
Il recall battle scene. The line was advance
| ing against the intrenched enemy: from be-
hind strong parapets great double-shotted guns
hurled their missiles OF death into the advancing
line; there was pause shat threatened an in
slant retreat when STRIPPING soldier. n mothers
boy. stepped 20 the front with his cap in the
AR and cheered the line on to victory. lGrcat
applause. The instinct of patriotism or moral
courage was triumphant over mere physical
daring in that hour and it will always be.
lApplause.l a
that comes from education, but TO give
its safe direction. that schools are established
He Is not benefactor of his race who develops
or misdirects power. Therefore We must insist
that in all our schools the morality OF the Ten
Commandments shall be instilled lapplau-el;
that lessons OF due subordination TO authority
shall be taught. lApplause.l The family and
the school are the beginning OF the fundamental
element Of good citizenship and obedience 20
law lspplausel. respectful Difference 20
public authority. a self-sacrifcing purpose to
stand by established aud orderly administration
of the government. tApplause.l Irejoice in
nothing more than in this movement. recently
so prominently developed. Of placing the starry
banner above every school house. tApplause.l
/ have been charged with too sentimental an
| appreciation Of the flag. / will not enter upon
any defense. God pity the American citizen
who does not love il, who does not see
in il the story Of great free institutions and
the hope Of the home well Of the nation
Ilong-continued applausel, and think. notwith-
standing perhaps a little too much tendency TO
rote in our public schools. that il is still true
that our teachers. and especially the women
llaughterl, are not without sentiment am
not here 70 instruct this convention Of in
structors. GIaughter.l As I have Just init
mated, il has seemed 10 me that we are taking
on in education some OF the Developments
which characterized the mechanic arts. No
workman produces a finished product He
gives il a little touch and passes il on TO some
one else. i sometimes regretfully recall the
DAYS when the teacher left his strong impression
upon the pupil [laughterl, by reason OF long
years OF personal intercourse and instruction
llaughterl. universities where the professor
knew the members Of his class [laughterl and
could detect the fraud when dummy was sub
stituted. laughter Now we have the little
one for few months in the kindergarten. then
pass him on 10 the primary and the graded sys-
| TEN catches him. much as q moving belt In .
machine shop, and il carries him on until he 10
dumped from one Of these great universities -
a finished product" Laughter and APP
plause.l