Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-12-09
Correspondence.
The Teacher and she Citizen.
PENoBscoT, Dec. l, 1897.

The subject opens so broad field for
thought and discussion, that | can only
hope, in this brief paper, TO touch upon
few central thoughts. There is no OF her
question that touches the social. moral
and intellectual life OF the people, as
public education and yet there is no
other OF which the general public is SO
sadly indifferent and negligent.
The people are drifting away from the
public schools. The struggles for existence
among the poorer classes are so intense
and the competition for positions of
power and honor and wealth and intel
lectusl greediness is so close among the
more favored classes, that the tendency
to relegste I ne publ duties OF the citizen
to the few W no seek to direct, to dictste
and to organize, is ever increasing, Our
state constitution enioins that ideal
and prsctic citizenship shall be taught
in our pu hlic schools. But what svsils il
our educators themselves are not the
most exemplsryGcitizens in the broadest
and best sense OF the term? W bat awaits
the teaching of civics in our public
schools so long as scholarship feebly as
serts itself in the great political move
ments of the day, and the running of the
government is practically abandoned to
class OF cheap politicians?
Let the common schools and the higher
schools and colleges keep in close touch
with the great political problems and
movements that affect the nations life.
II the professor has no broader concep-
ton of his public duties than to serve his
classes, then the world OF letters loses its
significance in the broader world OF civil
lization.
The teacher should be the living en-
bodiment of the highe and best type OF
citizenship; he should be he most COM
prehensive patriot in existence, seeing
more of truth and penetrating farther
into the relations fittings han the mass
of his fellowmen. His influence should
reach out fart her and stronger; no public
concern should escape his attention. Is
municipal reform needed He should be
the first to lead the way by intelligent
and well-directed methods. Are public
improvements needed? He should be the
first TO observe and outline them. In the
starting OF new enterprises, and in the
revival OF old ones, in the suppression
OF social evils, in the enactment of whole
some laws, in the trivial OF civic virtue
and enlightened patriotism among the
masses. he should be a leader among men.
The teacher was formerly reference
book for universal wlsdom; he WAS the
peoples tribune. He was looked up to a.
being of superior intelligence, having
authority to lit the hazy veil from the
mysteries that hung before the visions OF
ordinary men, to dissolve superstition,
and scatter ignorance Now he is re-
garded as a bit OF polished mart bic from
the common quarry
The world is growing deeper and
stronger in its admiration for those tai
ents which contribute to material advan
tage and success. Native shrewduess has
so often outwitted the wisdom of learn
ing that scholarship is at a discount
among the masses. 1fhe public is demand
ing change in the Oh time theoretic ed
ucatlon II no longer worst hips at the
shrine of intellectual idealism; 1t has
learned to distrust merely scientific theo-
rles ouilt upon scientific propositions and
conclusions; it is coming more and more
in sympathy with philosophy that ca n
reduce itself to practical standards. The
world is calling for fewer intellectual
giants, and more business engines.
This Is emphaticslly business age-it
ferments with the instinct Of self inter-
est-the higher elements lie dormant in
the shrout OF materialism. Men find their
ideals walking the earth, and not skim
ming the heavens, or floating in remote
and mystic history. The man who is for
tunate enough 10 turn his education into
dollars and cents, or stamp his intellect
on marble or wood is lionized. 1t is diff
cult to tell who will survive longer the
wreck OF time, james &. Blaine or John
Sullivan.
1t is strange " hat a crowd of admiring
msniscs this rage for physical culture has
produced. Our schools and colleges are
dipped in anmalism. The athenisn
spendor Is fading from our institutions
of learning; the people are crying for
gods made OF wood and stone.
There must be a revival of the intelIec
tual and soul life OF the people. The
Imagination as well as the eye must BE-
trained 10 finer snd crander views of
things. Man should take del ghi in di--
covering the hsrmonies OF humanity; To
crush out vice sud level up the race; his
moral symLeth3,s should wiGen ana
deepen; he must pour lis lie into he ii'e
OF the race srd fird his richest ro'u-rs -,
the grateful joys OF hose v HON he has
blessed; be should find joy in the discov-
cry OF truth, and III intelIe ctual expAn-
sion; goodness and greatness should be
equally mixtc; iove should crown reason
Win a disdem, and hope should encircir
charity with celestial right
Let Us study the ststtsct thoughts OF