Mower County transcript., 1898-12-21
Child Study Club.

The club had an unusually profit.
able meeting 90 Mooday Dec. IT, at
which time the subject of the child's
moras IL te was present. Ted and discussed.
Rev. T.. +. Wheeler spoke on the
Drig!a OF Moral Ideas. He spoke for
ABOUT twenty minutes and gave
clear, logical presentation of the
theme, and introduced many incid-
-sents Of a practical! nature.
Our knowledge and experiences
afford the basis for the expressing of
moral Judgments These judg-
*menJs show themselves early in child
life. AS soon as he can say "This is
the bigger piece Of rie' and desires it
In preference to having his brother or
sister enjoy it, he has made moral
judgment and we may say that his
moral nature has expressed itself.
The capacity for moral judgments
as innate born of God; yet the validity
sof these Judgments depends on, not
sonly the health OF the conscience,
but also on the intellectual ideas and
knowledge OF the individual; hence
the Importance OF teaching truth and
setting up correct standards.
Te great extent parents originate
these standards; hence the environ
ment of the child determines largely
the direction of his moral ideas.
The waif, who has been taught to
steal; at the same time blesses the
hand that gives him food and picks
the pockets Of the donor, without
scompunction ot conscience.
ca ,cience, therefore, is not a per-
Sect guide. 1t stands in Judgment
sover conduct aud prOuouuces acts
aElght or wrong, in accordance with
"currectness Of It's standard.
A com mon error Of conscience is to
offer as a valid excuse for an omission
OF some prescribed duty or the COM
mission of some overt act, II forgot,
1 did not think" The parent who
Ebeaches his children that it is wicked
ITO forget. because of the consequences,
has done an Important service in
developing the moral nature of his
child.
Miss Joanna 1. Scott then took up
the subject Of The Development vi
the Child's Moral Nature, discussing
chiefly the relation Of the school work
land discipline as related to the sub
ject.
What is done for the child in the
way of 6xing his moral nature and
:staadards must usually be done before
he is twelve years old. She took up
the matter OF historical studies ana
showed how the child is lead to pass
and 50 avoid errors or be inspired by
virtues. Here he sees the doctrine OF
respOnsib bility for others, devotion to
duty, the pleasure Of virtue etc.
In the same manner it was shown
nov the study of literature gives high
ideas and food for the moral nature.
The place Of nature study and science
Was we'll expounded. We study science
not only for the useful Inform ation or
dts commercial value. but also for its
ethical value. The wonders Of nature,
the evident purpose aud plan in all
ats parts, the adoption Of part to part
and AL for mans use and happiness,
surely ought to speak Of wise and
ACvlng God. This is just the result,
when properly taught. Superstitious
ideas are displaced by logical deduc-
tiOns.
The Child gets his ideas of the
dignity nf abor as em bodied in the
AiYes OF great men
The influence and example Of the
1teacher is most potent in shaping the
>:child's character.
The discussion brought out other
practical teachings from the school
life.
Punctuality, neatness, thorough.
rness, self control, obedience, respect
for others rights etc, were each touch
Led upon.
The subject was 50 fruitful that the
irregular program for January meeting
was set aside and the continuance OF
'dhis subject was decided upon for
that meeting
There was an unusually large num-
Der Of parents present and still there
tis room for a host Of parents who
ought to be interested in the welfare
of their children. All such are cOrdi'
ally invited to attend the next meet
ing on Jan. 10.
T..
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