The record-union., 1894-11-30

until 1t affects many. Very likely chill
dren ought to do their best because it is
right, regardless of affection or dislike
but doubt whether the most conscien-
tlous teacher before me ever accomplished
| so much or worked so joyously when as
| sociated with an unSympathetic teacher
as when cordial and friendly relations
existed. Let US remember that children
now are just about as human as we were.
/ Like every good rule, this one has a re-
lex action, and if by interest and SYM
/ pathy we can establish good feeling i'll
| our classes, we have accomplished much
! Iof ourselves as we'll as our pupils. Some
teachers succeed in holding their pupils
! with almost unbroken ranks throughout
a WhoIe year, sending them on with all
| the weight of words and wishes and sim
! cere belief thrown in favor of a more
! complete education, and such warm
| hearted, earnest men aud women are
ually DONG much to solve our difficult
| problem.
L nave mentioned many reasons why
the boys become restless and dissatisfied
with school life. Underlying several of
! these, there is one fault OF the age which
| requires every effort that can be made to
lessen its growth.
We have read that "the love of money
is the root of all evil" and the statement
has lost none of its force.
All around them the boys see success
| measured by dollars and cents. and by
that standard alone. The Importance of
wealth, the acquisition Of wealth, the in
| fiuence OF wealth, are all dwelt upon un-
I'll 1t Is not strange that a boy should ieel
eager to begin the great work of earning
money" believing, as he does, that by
gong 10 work, instead of wasting his
time in school, be Will become that VEN
Grated being, rich man, a few years
sooner than he could otherwise hope 10
reach that much-desired position.
That moderate amount OF money is
an excellent thing, probably none Of US
| VIII attempt to ga!uSay. That This inOr-
| dlnate greed OF gain Is ruinOus TO every
noble impulse is equally incontroverli-
! BILE.
Hore, again, l believe we can accom-
| pllsh much if we do not postpone action
until the hour-or the boy has passed be-
yond our reach. 1t was once said TO me-
| IL people could be given something else
! 10 think about-lf something else could
/ be made more important in their eyes
| the desire TO accumulate immense for
! tunes would grow gradually less" Can
| we not give the children something else
to think about?' Can we not from the
very lowest grade make a special and
| systematic effort to snow them the i'm
portance, the personal benefit, the per-
! sonai pleasure, the advantage to others
secured by the possession OF the treas
| uEGS Ol knOWiDCs0
Show them, BEFORE their eyes have been
darkened, that the great masbes Of
/ wealth III our country have brought
neither happiness TO their owners nor
! benefit to the natiOn-that ar the present
! time they constitute the greatest possible
menace To honest voting, TO pure legisla-
| ton and 10 the enforcement of law for
rich and poor alike.
Help them TO grow up with q sympathy
| with all who suffer, with an earnest de-
sire TO Improve themselves, that SO they
may be better able to improve the condI-
ton OF those whose burdens are too
heavy for them either to bear or 10 cast
! off.
Help them to see that the happiest
lives are found among those who possess
! neither poverty nor ricneS,' but who,
using we'll the opportunities afforded
! them in youth, bring to the selection of
their LIE work the training and judg-
! ment enabling them 10 choose wisely the
| occupation best calculated to afford
| scope Tor that exercise of cultivated
| faculties which is in itself source of the
| purest pleasure and satisfaction. Life
| Will be hard enough and sOrdid enough
| IN spite OF all our efforts. Let us labor TO
keep the children from meeting is
temptations ana troubles before they can
possibly have acquired the physical,
mental and moral strength to meet those
temptations as a conqueror meets his
| foes, or endure those troubles with the
unt1inching fortitude which gives to the
casual observer no hint of their existence