The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-01-02
PORTSMOUTFIDJEWS
THE INFLUENCE OF EDUCATION.

THE INFLUENCE OF EDUCATION.
Inc raise and True NIethods-What the
Proper System Should Be.
III Portsmouthssva., Dec. 81, 1897.
Editor Norfolk Virginian:
| am glad to see your interest In the
questlon, Does Education Increase
!Crime?" I have. seen no discussion of
tne question from an educational stand
point: All that our lay brethren have
SAID Is correct, but the arguments are
all on the surface.
because the so-called educated COM
init more crimes than the ignorant. de-
stroy your schools and enjoy the bliss
VI ignorance, Is an argument paralleled
ny mat view OF society which would
,eau us to destroy all of our hospitals
because the inmates are only cares for
'he Dody polite. Permit me to briefly
enumerate some of the points underly-
ing the discussion
10 educate, i'll the common accepta-
non OF that term. an immoral being
ehiarges his scope for doing evil. There
can be no question here.
we nave. SO to speak, highly educat ted
men who are gamblers. rorgers and all
KINGS OF criminals. But, sir, is this
education? Is purely intellectual devel-
opment that does not touch the moral
nature to be denomlnated education?
II So then, education is a failure, and
crime IS increased by 1t. No educat ton
IS worthy the name that does not touch
the moral nature. Our system OF cdu-
catioh mas been for years q cram of
Dook knowledge. We have looked upon
schoelinS as preparation for life, and
uNeflooked the fact that 1t is life itself
me fault is to be credited TO be false
lnethoaS IN vogue in our schools and
coi!eEes Our teachers are not trained
educators. They deal with the surface
OF things and overlook the weirhtier
matters OF the law. May this discus
SION arouse parents and school officers
10 see the necessity of normal training
Alay the public at large learn that any
schooling, dealing with the intellect ex-
SiuSiSeiy ana cultivating selfshneSs, is
paheiul in the extreme. The altelistic
the moral, the education which grows
out of that great doctrine of Christian
!ty, the brotherhood of man, Is the ONLY
ducation which should be countenanced
IN SCHOOLS or colleges. and when we
nave nothing but normal trained teach
ers, who understand the great underly-
ing principles of education in our
schools, great stride will be made to-
ward decreasing crime by education.
1t would be a great pleasure to noInt
out the moral tendency of every branch
or school work, but space does not per
NIT.
1t is interesting to ask, Why. if our
educational facilities have been so mis-
directed, if we have been so much given
TO cultivating the intellect and lie the
cultivation of the intellect withou,
touching the moral nature, enlarges the
scope Tor the commission of crime, why
then have not our schools and colleges
deluEcd the country with criminals in
steau OIL producing the results we now
see? But for the home, the church and
public opinion such would have. been
the result
There are four factors in the educa-
tlon OF mantle home. the school.
me church and contact with the world
When these four Influences are at work
upon the moral nature OF man, working
IN harmony to build up an altrustic
liie then no more ja!ls, no more tramps.
no more crime
The home first and foremost, incul-
eating Its pure life in the child while
AT It's mothers knee; the school taking
up lhe refining influences or the home,
rejecting, as it does. either reverence
Tor Childhood or n tyranny over it's
WeaEneSS; the church devoted to the
higher life of man. and harmonizing the
world and his religious being as the
school harmonizes the world and its
moral being. all leading up to the for
',i"t.vh Oh u society where we shall
GWei! together in unity Of spirit, every
man doing his part in the world and
expanding surplus OF energy for the
uplifting of his fellow man. This is
education, and this alone And cduca-
ton will decrease crime when you make
education and educators what they
should be, and augment its influence
ny that OF home and the church Shall
va not be stirred 10 more persistent
q I. ip
what II ought, In making education uni
Nersal. in bringing our schools in line
with the New Education rather than
spend our time In bemoaning the sad
result of question and answer teach
Ing? WILLIS a. JENKINS.