The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-27

which has hitherto attended our efforts
toward the development Of a rational
and scientific educational system. A
noted college professor laments the
fact pupils minds do not grow as
they should under processes of educa-
ton. that the poverty of thinking pow
err is deplorable, and that young peo-
pie end their studies with fabby
minds, una BILE to analyZe keeniy or to
generaliZe tTuthfully, or far" Although
these observations refer to that aspect
of the school question as reflected III
college work, still it is plain that the
evils complained of are the direct re-
suits of seeds sown during the earlier
ages of the students life. If the habits
of inattention, sloth, and mental and
moral slovenliness are formed in the
home. and in the primary grades, if
through the environment Of the moth
er, or the ignorance of the teacher, in
ordinate SelfiShnesS. untruthfulneSs
lack of self-control and a disregard for
the rights and feelings of others, are
Systematically encouraged during the
earlier and more impressionable years
of the child's existence, we may scarct-
~ hope that a miracle will supervene,
or that he will not carry into after
life the evil results of his earlier tute-
lage That these evils are carried for
ward into college life is shown by the
professor quoted above, who declares
that a majority of our students, even
at maturity, are distressingiy lacking
in moral enthusiasm. They unduly
prize money, fame and success. Their
sense; of justice is lax. Great prin-
ciples and great causes fail to appeal
to them strongly. To sum up, they
know too little: they think too little
and they care too little about highest
things"
Many Evils Observed.
When we carefully consider the con-
dition of our primary and secondary
schools, We shall. I think. begin to re-
aliZe the source whence have proceed
ed many of the evils observed in the
higher grades of educational work; yet,
we must probe even deeper than this
before we reach the true cause of the
mental and moral defects exhibited in
the life and character of the present
generation.
Ii is Impossible. in newspaper ar
ticle, to do more than touch on a few
of the evils underlying our present ed
vocational system, while to suggest a
remedy is a still more difficult task.
1t is reasonable to suppose, however,
that in order to warrant a fair degree
of success, our efforts should begin
with the carliest years of the child's
life. Mothers, togther with the teach
ers employed in primary and intermedi-
ate grades of school work, have charge
of the youth throughout the first
twelve or fourteen years of its exist
ence during which time It's mind re-
ceives its most vivid and lasting i'm
preston. 1t is at this time that HABITS
are formed which no subsequent train
ing can eradicate. 1t is plain, there
fore, that if reform is meant, mothers
must be awakened to action, and those
of them who, through poverty of ig-
norance, are unable to perform their
duty to their children, must be given
practical instruction along these lines.
rhe intelligent women Of our country
must arouse themselves to the import
ance of this work.
Not n Political Movement.
If 1t is observed that many mothers
are unprepared to fulfill their natural
obligations to their children, and hence
10 society, it is also true that a great
number Of teachers are deficient in the
first principles necessary in their call
ing When he considers the Importance
of correct training during the earliest
years of the child's life, it is plain that
the intelligent interest of mothers and
teachers must be enlisted and their CO.
operation secured. l know no better
way to accomplish this than through
the agency of the school itself
The object Of the movement inaug-
nrated in Detroit more than a year
ago was to arouse within mothers and
teachers a deeper interest in education
al subjects and to furnish stimulus
to self-improvement, especially along
those lines which would benefit them
for their respective duties. Although
1t was known that the combined force
of nineteen or twenty thousand women
would exercise powerful influence in
school matters, still it was not in any
sense political movement.
So soon as the originators of the
plan had decided that it was feasible
they conferred with a dozen or fifteer
ether women, who at once signitied
their willingness to aid in the organiza-
ton of society to be known as the