Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-11-23
Qua PusLIc SCHOOLS.

Editor Dsm0crat
The article which you published one
week ago on home" education and lis
importance 70 the public schools must
have met the appreciation Of all our law
abiding citizens. II Is important that
education and discipline shall begin az
home. The mental, moral, soeisl and
spiritual well-being Of our day, school
is sll largely dependent upon the foun-
datiOn work which has been laid Al
home.
Our public school teachers, IS well as
our teachers in the several Sunday
schools, have experienced difficulties IN
their work for some time, TO obtain a
well grounded respect and love for law
and order. To admit this Is 10 divGlge
no secret. IL education does not mean
simply to draw out. hu; 20 IN P-then
IL cannot De commenced TOO early In the
life Of a child.
We think that the teachers which are
selected for our schools would make no
improper exactiOns from their pupils,
and in their effort 10 secure the law OF
hesyen-order-Snd discipline they
should have the hearty cooperation OF
sll our eitizens-exCeptiDg OF course,
those wfO NAV net believe in the law OF
heaven-or any other law that tends To
the uplifting of human lite-and OF
these, thank God, there are comparative
Nv few among u. The cooperation of
fathers and mothers and the support oil
a strong public sentiment in favor OF
order are eSssHtidl 10 the well being OF
our public schools.
Some time since, before the faculty
and students OF Princeton, IL WAS stated
thSt Of l,l20 conyicts in Michigan, IN
four years 81. came from homes where
one or both Of the parents were profess
edly religious That is something 70
think over very seriously, because u re-
yesls a story of parental indulgence and
neglect. Our state prisons are compel
led first Of all To insist upon obedience,
and We are told for the reason that IN
the homes FROM which the criminals
came, obedience had not been taught.
IL was Julia Ward Howe wo said: III
il is right for the parents 10 ask the
teacher, How have you educated my
ehild:' IL ia also right for the teacher 20
ask the parents, How have you bred
them"
What the men and women Of to-mor-
row will be depends upon what kind OF
boys snd girls they are to-day. lt Is be-
ing realized more generally than ever
before that the future Of our great and
diyinely favored republic will depend
upon the character OF lis citizens, just as
il does to-day, and that 20 get good char
acter you must lay solid foundations. IL
is familiar saying The child OF to-day
is the citizen Of tomorrow" How much
we realize il may be judged from the lack
OF respect, the absence of veneration Tor
divine aod sacred things, the dislike OF
discipline, and the love OF lawlessness
which prevail in so many youthful minds
Of the present times.
One OF the most essential things for a
child TO learn and learn at the very in-
cipieney of his life almost Is obedience.
We leave il TO the readers Of the Demo.
crst 20 say whether in the majority OF
New England homes obedience Is taught
Sacred history records that Eli was pun
ished for the very reason that his sons
made themselves vile. and he restrained
them not In seversl Of our states there
IL the curfew law, such As Ia being sgi-
tated In New York city, which provides
that all children endsr sixteen years Of
age shall be indoors by 8 O'Clock In win
ter and 3 Ia summer. Such an ordinance
has proved exceedingly beneficial In
many towns. Suppose we try how 1t
would work in South Paris. And sug-
gest, Mr.. Editor, that permission be
granted from the proper authorities to
use the high school bell for that pur-
pose: Just fancy the dear old school
bell ringing vigorously at ! in winter
and In summer, and the little urchins
scootirg of the streets to evade the
clutches Of our esteemed friend, the
truant officer, whom | suggest a. q can
didate for that position because Of his
marked ability to bring the young Offend
ers ssinto line"
Yours In behalf Of Law and order,
r.. n.