The Lamar register., 1896-03-14
our Schools.

We ndNt DftI ItAAtEtSNA a
OF those present to publish the paper read
by Prof David Barnes at the last meet
ing Of the Teachers Association, because
OF its special applicability to the present
needs OF Prowers county schools:
The VALUE or CHRISTIAN MORALITY IN
THE PUBLIc Schools.
At birth the child is a rational being.
possessing mind and an immortal soul
with possibilities for development which
cannot be measured by the mind OF man.
The end sought in all education and
arninc is the leading OF the mind and
soul To the greatest degree Acknowledgement OF
OF which the natural life admits. IL is the
fitting OF the child not onl, for time but
for eternity. II is the estab ishing Of
character rather than the accumulation
of knowledge.
character established by the pursuing OF
any branch of study for intellectual pow
er. Culture without character does not
fit one for life. A man may have giant
intsl ec;. he may be yersed in all u G
kaex ledge OF the age, and be able to move
the world by his oratory; and yet without
character who will trust hims The race
but tolerates him while It fears him. He
can but reproduce monstrusities such as
hlNlrfAA- HtA1t 1A N1A1t -
that he may be used as an object lesson
by candid minds
The result OF christian morality to the
one possessing il is that il induces him
to search for the exact truth in rything
and leads him to look upon all education
and endeavor as but the means to an end,
and that end the understanding OF the
conditions which exist between him. his
feIlowmen and his Creator. and the fitting
L.. t..N 81 a
We say christian morality because IL is
the only morality worthy the considera-
tion OF a candid mind, since II has for It's
ideal the only perfect character pictured
in all history, so critics admit.
In justice person owes IL to himself
TO attain to the greatest degree OF devel-
opment OF which he is capable This Is
possible only by having a correct concep-
tion OF his duties and possibilities as en-
bodied in a perfect ideal. Educationally
speaking all agree that the higher the
standard OF right and excellence thogreat-
er the attainments- because one never ex-
cells his ideal but does attain toward it
This being fact how necessary il is that
the child get. early 10 life, correct con-
ception OF himself and the conditions un-
der which he lives as embodied in chris
tian morality that there may be no loss
OF time, opportunity or energy.
IL ia well known that in childhood the
mind is very susceptible, is capable OF
receiving and retaining any impression
1t is as pure white sheet OF paper upon
which you may place principles which
will elevate the soul, establish character
and be power for good that will be felt
throughout eternity; or that may be writ
ten and fostered which will peryert the
tendencies awaken desires. ambitions and
powers that will destroy every good thing
in the soul, be menace TO society and
even make the cheek of the basest man
turn pale as he contemplates the power
for evil
The soul is a garden OF most wonderful
fertility and is capable OF unlimited pro
duction in any direction. Foul weeds
may be rooted from il but at what ex-
pensel Time is lost, power is wasted.
beautiful plants are dwarfed and an in
delible scar remains.
Did we ever, whether christian or not.
discover an Questionable habit and en-
deavor to overcome it. Every civilized
human being has done so. How we
worked and thought and planned and
matched our strength as it were against
an invisible second person. And il hap
ply we succeeded, do we ever recognize
the imperfections which have been pro-
duced in our other habits and desires
whereby we crave the missing thing al
though it is poison to usg Do the wheels
OF progress ever founder in the old rnts
One unanimous plea made by the Ru-
thors OF our text books on the natural
sciences is that suck KNOWLEDGE broadens