The National tribune., 1897-10-21
TOPIC OF THE Day.
The Public School Viewed as a Training
School in Morals.

ly The Public School Viewed as a Trainir
it. School in Morals.
q, More and more, as the idea finds its WE
tx into the hearts of our educators. they unde
| stand that the function of the public scffoo
ID is not only to inculcate abstract knowleae,
nc but to lmplant the cardinal principles of vi
ia tue and patriotism, without which no peop
es is fit for sefgovernment The avidity wit
g which the average school boy or girl absorb
he and assmilates the great truth that he or sh
must study sell-development in order to b
Is an important factor for usefulness in society
the State, and the Nation, is proofin itself tina
k sound morals underlie all education worth
a the name.
@ One OF the most successful teachers Of tn
, new education the Principal of a buildin,
where there are 600 children divided up int
e Ia rooms Is governing the children of tina
school through the development of thei
z honor and personal responsibility.
t She has charge of one room herself, anG
: has her pupils 50 well developed in the funda
mental principles of the moral law that she
, can leave them for an hour at a time. while
she makes the rounds of the building return.
) ing to find that studies have been going on
} the same as when she was present. In that
school no honors are given, except for meri-
torious conduct.
Recognizing that God has more richly en-
lowed some than Others with the mental
qualities which lead TO high scholarship the
practice of pitting the strong against the
weak is never practieed there but instead
aii rewards and promotions are granted be-
cause OF merItorous conduct The children
In that school are not under the police espion-
age of teachers, either in coming in or going
out. Entering the school each goes Quietly
to his place, and going out all march to the
sound OF music, each seeking to equal the
other in good department
fr0ni beginning to end they are taught
that the Golden Rule underlies all good con-
dnct, and this is not to them a form of words
only, but something which becomes part of
their lives by daily practice. By daily COM
parIson they learn that honor, honesty, pur-
Ity, and love are the virtues which make
good pupils, and which are to develop them
| into good citizens. Editor Loyal Home
Workers
AS finite beings we are encircled, hemmed
In, by the line which bounds our view. Be-
yond that line we know positively but very
little, but by careful observation and com
pafison we arrive at certain conclusions. and
may speak, with some degree of accuracy.
concerning things which lie partly within
anu PATTY DcyOlQ our horizon.
Zach individual possesses certain traits
peculiar to himself, but he also possesses GER
tam characteristics which are common to the |
race. The same is true of our public schools. |
and 1t IS of these | would briefly refer keep |
ing within the circle of personal observation
and experience
IL IS true saying that no stream has ever
yet risen higher than its source; and it is
equally true that no school has ever vet
risen, nor can 1T hope to rise, higher than its
fountmn-head. The instructors byexan,ple.
precept, and personal bearing, shed around
them an influence which will lead, perhaps
unconsffously, their pupils one way or
anotier, according to the Influence that ia
given out.
The true teacher-and the teacher is the
school IN the sense of which [ speak here
may be compared to fountain, around
winch his pupils gather to receive that in
and training and development
winch shall enable them to continue the
Journey OF lie, htted to use their natural
powers to the best advantage possible How
important, then, that these fountains be not
only able but also willing to give forth
nat which Is moralizing, elevating and en-
lobiing
NO fountain can send forth that which II =
Ices not contain. In like manner. no teacher
an teach that which he does not know. or
impress others with that which he himself
Ices not feel
would that every teacher and every pub
lc school might be like an inexhaustibIe
Duntaln OF llmpld water located on the
lneciad hills of the Old Dominion. ATTRACTING
INTO himself the people of his locality. and
wing forth that which is enliyeninp and
levating.
But careful observation within the circle
my horizon leads me to conclude that there
re teachers in every walk of life who NAV
compared to ponds. They have succeeded
gathering IN a supply of surface water. ]
hich has not only become stale, but actually
ie with germs OF immortality, indifference.
ld SO on. Of course, these can "give out''
lch as they have, and only such.
Then, too, there are those who resemble -,
e machine; that is, they aim to nro. - -
Ice certain amount of work for a stinu- ID,
ted sum of money which the officials throw 10
to the g slot" r.
They are hired to teach certain branches ~ ra ~
"a they do not feel either bound or inclined
teach anything not prescribed by law =
nd there are hosts of this kind in our schools d
d elsewhere
we also have those who would teach if
ey could, though they cannot. Good teach.
) are born, not made, and one not adanted Il
teaching cannot in reality ever he
lcher, no matter how good his intentions Y
Looking over this motley crowd which
PRESENTS our public schools, what shall we az.
of them as educators in moralsn? Saw :,
lat you will, but from out the vast tbrono ~
ght be gathered an army of honest earn.
, capable, conscientious instructors who
earnestly striving to make the world wiser
bier, better.
10 all such let us extend fraternal hand i":
kindly greeting, assuring them that thew III
engaged in a noble work-the elevation al
mankind, the ennobling of the race.
Earring mother " and "home. no word
the language stands for SO much "a the =
I'd teaches" when used in its truest and
est sense No picture within the possi-
ty OF human imagination is more worthy 7
The gods than is the real teacher-hon-
earnest, competent-in u well-reeulated Isl
oolroom, enthroned in the hearts of his
Ills, and skillfully training and iashionine l.
minds and morals of the rising genera.
those who are soon to take charge of
affairs OF state and the Nation and fill Ma
various avenues of life.-L c. Cooper. -