The record-union., 1894-10-06
cIvIcs IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Professor Theo. j. Wool, in the Ameri-
can Journal Of Politics, treating with
other educators of the question of ''Civics
in Schools" well says the teacher can do
much to elevate the tone of our youth and
give proper ideas of citizenship to it as
well as Of manhood. He holds that if the
teacher is patriotic, band of young
patriots will issue from under his or her
care. to take their places in their country's
service, whatever that service may be-
This is solemn, undeniable truth, and for
maintaining it recently the RECORD
UNION was made the object of assault by
a lot of people whose ideas Of personal
liberty and individual freedom are so
Etayed and lop-eared that they resemble
more the doubts and suspicious and jeal-
ousies of ancient prejudice and senile dis
appointment, than the ideas, aspirations
and hopes of loyal citizens of free govern
ment and a favored republic.
1t what Professor Wool says is true,
so. too, its converse, and therefore the
teacher whose loyalty and love of coun-
try are not whole-hearted. absolute and
unconfned will grow up body of young
dOubters, nose-tilters and sueerwells,
who will exalt individual liberty into
lawlessness and false ideas Of freedom
into the recklessness of license and nom
restraint. And without entertaining the
slightest fear of inability to prove our
assertion, we allege that in California, at
least, we have had evidences patent and
incontroTertible that our youth has been
largely influenced thus unpatriotically by
those assuming the office of teacher.
1t is simply idiotic to close our eyes to
this important fact. The right thing
to do is to look the evil in the face and
administer the antidote for its poison.
Professor g. II. Laughlin we'll says that
children are to certain extent capable
of self-government, and that their wills
may be brought into subjection to the
will of the teacher; that when a pupils
will is thus brought into subjection from
a sense of right and pleasure, the pupil is
obedient; that obedience is the school OF
command that obedience is the ultimate
product of discipline, and that discipline
Is perfected liberty or moral emancipa-
ticn.
1t follows. then, that where the teacher
permits, by his expression or his acts,
the impression to be made upon the
pupils mind that the law of the land is
not wholly, fully and absolutely binding
upon the citizen; that duty to uphold the
administrative and executive arms may
be avoided justifably; that within the
power opposed to the exercise of its
legitimate functions, and that such oppo-
sition is commendable though not pursu-
ing lawful paths to reformation of and
change in the Government, that teacher
is disloyal to his country and to his pupil
and influences the latter for evil.
DR.. w. L. Harris, distinguished edu-
Gator, holds that in our schools we must
educate to good citizenship" truth nc
patriotic citizen questions. tits not neces-
sary that this be systematic, nor that it
be based upon textbook lines, nor be
followed along the course of set lessons
but it is essential that it infect the whole
atmosphere of the schoolroom, and that
the infection proceed from the teacher.
He or she should exhale constantly the
doctrine that obedience is the corner
stone of good citizenship, that good citi-
zenship is the keystone of liberty among
a free people, and that liberty does moi
mean unrestrained freedom, but, on
the contrary, does mean restraint and
limitation by law. to the end that liberty
pas,y be secured and preserved.
Professor Morse of the Sherman School
Boston. declares that, whether he will OF
not the character of the school teacher is
the most powerful force we have in the
education of our youth in the subject o.
ethics. This force may be silent, and un'
consciously exercised, bat is none the
less potent, and he adds:
Boys are always interested in politics. 1t Il