The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1893-10-12
Who Shall Teach Our Childreng

when it was found that over 80 per
cent Of the number were suffering
from physical or mental effects, attrib-
utable mainly to the drinking habits
of their parents. If similar exami
nation We're to be made among the
many thousands who attend our pub.
lie schools, probably the same percen-
tage would be found to exist.
The immoral habits, the vices ana
Gins of fathers, as in oldentlme, are
produced and visited "upon the chill
dren to the third and fourth genera
ton" From this we may learn that
the laws of heredity should never be
ignored, as they can not be radically
changed.
AS the future voters who will con-
troll the destiny of our Republic are
now in the public schools, do we not
realize the transcendent importance
of moral education in these schools
that we may, If possible, neutralze
the vicious tendencies of heredity and
the debasing influences OF immoral
homes?
The old adageis still true, GAS is the
teacher so is the SCHOOL," The teach
er is the WILL of the school the school
is the body which that will moves.
Now if the teacher, through igno-
rance, touches the wrong key in this
sharp of thousand strings" will not
the result be discord, confusion and
crime?
Surely it will not be denied that a
workman should understand TWO
things in regard to the subject--matter
of his work First, its natural prop
critics, qualities and powers; and,
Secondly, the means of modifying and
regulating them with a view ~ i'm
provement. In relation to the me.
chanic arts this is admitted by all. |
Every body knows that the stre ngth OF
the blow must be adjusted 10 the NAL
Liability OF the metal, 1t will not do
to strike glass and flint. elmer with
the same force or with the same i'm
plements and the proper instrument
will never be selected by person ig-
norant Of the purpose to be effected by
its use. And so if a teacher supposes
a child to have but one tendency and
one adaptation when he has many
if teacher treats child as though
his nature were wholly animal, or
wholly intellectual, or wholly moral
and religious, he disfgures and de-
forms his nature.
The child is more complex and di.
versifed in constitution and more va
riously endowed in faculties, than any
other earthly work OF the Creator.
The conclusion then is irresistible that
he who plays upon this wondrous in.
strument should be the most skilled Of
artisans.
ooh woe to those who trample on the mind,
That deathless thing; they know not what
they do
Nor what they deal with. Man, perchance,
NAV bind
The flower his step hath bruised; or light
anew
The torch he quenches or to music wind
Again the lyIe-string from his touch that few
But fer the soul, O b, tremble and beware
To lay rude hands on Gods mysteries there!"
While the list OF millionaires is
steadily increasing; great and costly |
enterprises undertaken, and fortunes
lavished upon the "higher education"
Of the favored few, the welfare of the
whole community may be endangered
by the indifference of public officials
to the necessity of the moral education
OF the masses.
A party politician may, by his own
maneuvers or the influence of his
friends, be elected to the Board OF Di.
rectors, while philanthropist, willing
to aid any effort TO raise the standard |
Of morality when and where it is most4
needed, does not receive the support
his unselfsh aims deserve.
It is fact well ascertained that the