The times., 1894-02-09
MORALS AS TAUGHT FROM OUR TEXT
BOOKS.

"A popOi IOou Wy hioo alma Ddi ClClh
at the Owosso City Teachers Meeting,
January II.
Figures won't lie
We will draw our first lesson from
branch that is taught i'll all grades
namely, arithmetic. In this study or
any other branch of mathematics we
must know the exact relations existing
between quantities or magnitudes and
the methods by which the result sought
may be obtained.
While different classes of problems
require different methods, yet in all we
use the same elementary principles and
should we deviate one iota from these
principles our result will be incorrect.
So all lives differ, yet the same funda-
mental law of truth should be the guild
ing star of each. With truth as our
foundation principle, shall we not have
more righteous, educated citizens?
Let us impress upon ourpupils the fact
that only straight life pays Read from
the daily papers the qualifications re-
quired in all applicants for positions
in our great mercantile houses. Show
that one figure may make the whole
problem wrong; tho man may be all
and more than is required in education,
if dishonest he isn't wanted; though he
may be honest in all other things, and
yet be lacking in veracity he isn't
wanted; and though he may be honest
and truthful but Incorporate, profane
or licentious, or given to slang, his SER
vices are not desirable.
Our text book on physiology can be
powerful ally in illustrating the re-
suits of uncleanness, both physically
and morally. Arithmetic teaches us
that true courtesy and cheerful coun-
tenance pay in the bank as well as in
the drawing-room. The subject of gram
mar may afford us the means of PROV
ing that beauty, elegance, force or
euphony may be acquired by using only
the pure Anglo-Saxon. Let us clinch
the nail we're driving at by studying
speeches made by such men as Patrick
Henry, VIM. Pitt, Daniel Webster,
Abraham Lincoln or VIM. Gladstone.
In all these impassioned utterances,
we find no obscenity, no profanity, no
slang. We do not believe that person
can habitually use impure language
and think pure thoughts. Gas man
thinketh so is he mentally, morally
and physically" has been so clearly
demonstrated recently that nothing
further need be said to convince you.
Are we teachers touching the great
question of indecent languagep Our
advanced readers contain some of the
speeches referred to above. Patriotism
and loyalty to truth breathe in every
line. Besides these are parts of the
best books that have been written in
prose or poetry. What does Milton say
about a good book? Listenl at is
the precious life-blOod of a master-spir-
it. embalmed and treasured up for life
beyond life" Those Resolutions of
Jonathan Edwards" show that he
thought it wise to learn as if he were to
live forever and live as If he were to
die tomorrow.
Reading plays so largely in the char
acter of men and women, our use of
such text book is a vast responsible
| ty. So wise teacher will create and
develop love of the best literature.
For good reader has in his possession
a key that will unlock the door to the
secrets of the universe.
Geography may be made so charming
that the pupil will not realize that he
| is becoming cultured. A great fact has
been taught when the pupil compre-
ntuuS Cndt geography is UIrtt-lOuTJflS
| of military science, but such facts are
| only as drops in the bucket.
Do you not agree with me that the
lesson or object which appeals to a
childs sense of beauty makes the most
lasting impression? You do, because
no man receives the true culture of a
man in whom the sensibility to the
beautiful is not cherished There is
something about the beauty of the out
ward creation which is intimately re-
lated to the lovely, interesting attri-
butes of the soul. TO illustrate: Take
your pupils to Niagara. Stand with
them on Prospect Point. Picture to
them the mighty fall of water on your
left, the foam crested river, spanned by
a rainbow and the audacious little
steamer, "Maid of the Mist riding the
waves in the midst of the boiling foam
under the horseshoe. Here you under.
stand in some degree your own little
ness Your eyes fill with tears of emo
tion, your nerves thrill. Are such feel
ings contagious? Certainly. Sublime