Graham guardian., 1896-01-17
A PAPER.
On Schools and Teachers, by Thomas e.
Williams.


Williams.
EDITOR GUARDIAN. - Having
heard a great deal about the schools
and school teaching of late, and
having had some considerable ex-
perience in the school room, and
made the profession a study for
several years, l wish to give a few
of my views and ideas through
your paper, on this subject that is
agitating the tranquility of our
county just now.
The subject of "morals in the
school" seems to have been brought
up by the revoking of a certificate
by our county Board of Exami-
ners, for immoral conduct; and 1
hope the subject will be discussed
considerable before an equipoise
has again been reached, for it is a
subject of vital Importance to our
people who are in the background,
as it were, on educational lines.
Our Territorial Superintendent,
Prof. +. j. Netherton, in his address
to the teachers of Maricopa Coun-
ty recently, has this to say on this
subject:
Morally, the teacher should set
an example worthy of imitation
by the susceptible nature of the
child, for in the eyes of the little
ones the teacher is an all-wise and
uncrowned monarch, whose advice
and actions are sufficient arguments
in his estimation to floor the most
learned debaters of the day."
This is very true, as we all know,
therefore, teachers who are in the
habit of drinking, gambling or u.s.
ing profane language should not
be employed in the schools to
teach the children, and train them
by their example, at least, to fol-
low in their footsteps.
Our young men, five expect
them to grow to be loyal and pa
triotic citizens of the United States
should have a thorough moral
training in their early school days,
for moral lessons, taught in antic-
ipation of temptation, are more
profitable than those which follow
the commission of crimes, espec-
tally when those of the latter are
at the expense of our County in
the shape of trials, convictions and
punishment, which is extremely
expensive to the County and of
but little benefit to the majority of
criminals.
There is an old proverb which
says: "train up child in the way
he should go; and, when he is old,
he will not depart from it," If
this be the case, as ] firmly believe,
then moral instruction should be
given as regularly, systematically
and practically as instruction in
any other department of science.
Our schools should be place of
refinement and elegant culture, and
where they are not, they must be
nurseries of vulgarity.
We have in our county, various
classes of society, but we cannot
expect one law for one class and
another for another, but all must
come under the same rule and
work for the same point.
1t is not the ignorant classes
who commit the great crimes in
the world, but, as rule, those who
have received an education with
out proper moral training in their
younger school days,
Not long ago heard a gentle
man say that it was necessary fol
teacher to use quirt to do any
good in certain school in this
county; "for without it" says he; "he
would do more harm than good
If such conditions do exist in this
county or this Territory the schooI
officers ought to be looking into
the matter and find out what is the
matter, for there is surely some
thing going wrong:
A teacher who can govern by
love and show by his acts, his de
pertinent and his careful mora
training that such state of affairs
is a disgrace to our community
should be sought for and employed
fer that school to make a reforma
tion.
A good school, well equipped
with teacher of good moral anC
didactic qualities is but state il
miniature, and the selfcontrol nee
essary for the good citizen mus
be bcsed upon the principles anc
practice of such schools.
THos E. WILLIAMS.
| Thotohar Ui Ton 7 1909