The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1898-09-17
THE DALIES OREGON. SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER

comes to realize his dependence upO
the lowly creatures for the comfort
his everyday life. And again th
the exclusions of that narrow ide
which issolates man from the lowe
animals.
So in the birds of the air, the fishe
of the sea, the beasts of the field.
with man in the center he recognize
the one great whole. over which ma
holds dominion by Divine command.
He becomes concious of a heaven ap
pointed responsibility and the highes
sentiment of obedience and loyalty IL
his Heavenly Father glows in hi
heart when he comes to understand
the trust reposed in him by the grea
Ruler over all the earth.
Thus you see kindergarten is to tht
child a miniature world. Here the
family life is illustrated. With his
little companions the community life
is reality, which is national life in
miniature.
lie lives and moves as part of one
great whole, conscious of the existence
of every other creature about him,
each with rights he must respect with
his own. With constant appeals to
| his generous emotions which enkiudles
| in his heart that broad humanitarian
principle which raises man up out of
his own small self and fills his soul
with that Divine essence, brotherly
love, to the exclusion of the monster
selfishness, that makes human yultures
of US all when allowed to reign su-
Dreme in the heart.
Can any one doubt the benefits of
this early and symmetrical develop
ment? If so, let him consult the sta
tlstics of any city where kindergari en-
work has been done for a number of
years, especially in the poor districts.
In San Francisco, after the kindergar-
ten had been in operation in these dis
tricts for about twenty years, an in
vestigation was made, and it was found
that in these twenty years only two
arrests were made among those who
had had kindergarten training.
II the disposition to commit crime
can be almost overcome In one gener-
alton in isolated cases, what may not
be hoped for in the elevation Of the
human race in eedinggenerations,
when the kindergarten becomes uni
versal? What should be the sentiment
of the public mind towards this work,
which can in few years transform
poor, distorted moral monstrosities
into order-loving, law-abidlng men and
women?
When we look abroad over this poor
world teeming with vice and corrup.
tion in high places as well as low, it
would seem that the kindergarten is
the crying need of the hour. With
free schools within reach of almost
every one and literature of high Or
der, as well as other grades, scattered
broadcast over the land so inexpen-
sive that it can be had almost for the
gathering, does it not seem that the
minds of men would naturally rise out
of the low gutter of iniquity, where
ignorance once seemed to hold them
enthralled? Has diffusion of knowl-
edge ever accomplished this? Are we,
under our present system of instruc-
tion even approaching moral perfec-
tion? Why not? Is it not the duty of
the custodians of our public schools
in which the populace is taught to
study we'll the situation and endeavor
to ascertain the reasons why the pres
ent system is not doing all for human
ity that education should do? The
root of the evil lies not so much in the
imperfections of the system as in its
incompleteness. That it does not reach
into every recess of the mind and heart,
therefore leaving an uneven develop
ment, and the result ia man can not
stand erect in the majesty of perfect
manhood. but is swayed by the un-
natural elements that have been al
lowed to grow up within, is evident.
For this more perfect development,
we plead. That every child may, at
the most plastic age, be SO wrought
npon that every element God i'm
planted may be brought to its highest
state of perfection, and evil find no
place wherein to germinate. God, in
His all wise designing left no waste
place, but implanted in every part its
germ to be called into activity. What
is education if it is not this awaken
ing. and can it be complete If any part
is left dormsnt?
The vital Importance of this all
around education is most apparent
when the individual alone is con-
sidered, but with the broader idea that
the individual is part of the great
whole, which forms this structure, We
only be measured by what the want of
it costs the world. Every department.
of the state and nation bears evidence
of this want and the people suffer in
consequence of it.
We cali this good and glorious
nation, but with the lessons of the
late war before US, when the patriots
who flew to their country's service
were treated with neglect and were
made the victims of mercenary greed,
can we believe it to be as good as it
ought to be, ard if those who hold the
governing power abuse the sarced
trust and quench the fires of patriot
ism, will it long remain as glorious as
il is?
This debased manhood that has
brought such reproach upon the
nation proves all too plainly that
the educators of the past have put in
to this great structure imperfect
material which could not stand the
stress of the times. And with all our
boasted civilization we have proved
ourselves ca able of cruelty as gross
as that we went out to vindicate.
Ye builders of today, look well to.
your institutions of learning, seek
early to engraft into your public