The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-22
RIVER AT 8 A. NJ.
Danger Height
A DEFECTIVE EDUCATION.

II has 1lSNSI SCSLlSd pIdlhSI W 10
than it does today that the system Of
public education upon which we pride
ourselves so highly is lamentably and
fatally defective in that it provides
elements of morals. We believe that
the system will never justify itself or
fulfill the fond hopes of it's founders
until that serious omission has been
corrected. Indeed, but for the histori-
cal explanation Of it, it would be the
most astounding anomaly in our ma
tional life that we should have built
up a colossal system of free public
schools on the plea that education is
essential to good citizenship, and then
leave out of them that one item with
out which good citizenship is not pos
sible. The reason lies in the theory
so generally accepted a century ago
that religion and morality are insep-
arabic, and are really interconvertible
could not be good man, worthy citi-
zen, unless he entertained some par
ticular form of religious belief. Gwen
the blowing of the wicked is SIM was
built up. 1t followed, of course, that
where separation of church and state
had been decreed, religious instruction
must be excluded from public schools
nd in fha vic Of ho 40 he
ment of religious instruction meant the
impossibility of teaching a code of
morals. We know differently now.
Religious intolerance has yielded WON
derfully to the spirit of the age. The
devout brother of one church does not
believe that his equally devout h~Other
of a slightly differing faith is bound
for the lake of fire and birthstone. You
will find it difficult to discover even the
most orthodox clergyman who will tell
you that d man who does not believe
In any church, subscribe to any written
creed or profess any deep experiences,
but who has been all his life true to
his duty Ia the family and the state,
will be doomed to everlasting punish
ment
Along with this breaking down Of
barriers has come. as a part Of it, the
creation of a sort of neutral common
ground for people of all faiths and of
none. This is the field of knowledge
and duty. To it belong the details of
n1ain nUnrXv-6ou
commandments are written large upon
its face. The virtues of courage. truth
fulnoss, charity and. at last, helpful
ness, are universally conceded to be es-
seRtial to worthy human character.
No creed bans them, and no devotee
of the straitest sect would be offend
ed by having his child taught that 1t
is wicked and degrading to lie, to steal.
to break a promise, to oppose strength
to weakness. or to fail in any of the
particulars that go, by common con-
sent, to the making of a good citizen
and a good man. Instruction Of this
sort ought to be and must be the
groundwork of all education in the fu-
itself long against the assaults of time
and human degeneracy. The old idea
that mere brain education would make
a man observant Of the law and eager
in his choice of the best man to rule
is utterly exploded. 1t has been dem
onstrated that there is no relation OF
cause and effect between illiteracy and
crime. Given a perverted disposition
and education simply makes q more
notorious desperate and increases the
danger to society. We are coming to
learn by some pretty serious lessons
that character stands above intelli-
gence. We have to remember that q
good man is a rarer, as well as a more
desirable product than an able man
and we are finding out, through the
processes Of the evolution Of our gov
eminent, and by the revelations Of our
electoral system, that the public school
as 1T exists today, is not an ADEQUATE
preparation for citizenship, or an effec-
tive safeguard against those very ills
which it was created to foresfaU
We need to point to but one practica
instance. We do not find, in the last
election. that what is called the zig
norant voter" was the most dangerous
element Tai s92SStsSe pf &C educ ted
vote without strength Of character be