The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-20


that investigated the Booz hazing, and
compared it with that secured by the
congressional committee, can but feel
that the officers We're not seeking for the
whole truth What kind of a code of
honor is it that condemns the spoken lie
The honor and the order Of the academy
upon matters almost trivial, and yet
justifles secret conduct wholly at vari-
ance with manly courage and honesty?
Is not the secret violation of orders, the
smuggling of contraband articles into the
tent, and in general all conduct against
falsehood, and what code of honor can
justify it?
1 mention this because it Is charged
against college presidents and high
school principals that they choose 10
overlook many things In all schools
there are positive rules against Certain
offenses. Are they impartia,ly enforced?
Is 1t true, as claimed, that because
these things are not done openly it Wbuld
be inconsistent with ideas of 10 o. to
assume that they are done secretly al
though there is every reason 10 believe
that the rules are violated There should
be no laws in schools 'Gh-t are deal let
ters." A boys idea of honor, his 1--we
of truth, his respect for manhood ere
greatly weakened by an incon: list Mt
course of conduct on the part of his
teacher. The example of the teacher FAR
more than anything else influences pupi S,
and it is useless to condemn than and
al the same time overlook the dance.
that exists in had example, CT an X
hibition of infirm character. Howev r.
when all this is said, and when tie un o.
tunate condition is admitted, [ do no.
agree with DR.. White that the schools
are not doing a 1.-THE of what they should
The child has many teachers besides
those who rule in school rooms, and It
is the outside teachers, at home, en- the
street in the CHURCH, in every relat, on
of life, who are largely responsible fer
any lack of refinement that may really
exist If children venerate old age less
than formerly; if they are not as obe l.
ent to parents and as respectful as they
should be; if they are not courteous in
the presence Of others at all tines, Eu r.
ed in manner and refined in speech, it is
most unfortunate but the teachers as a
body can feel that they are not the chief
offenders.
Education is preparation for citiz n
ship, and it must largely fail if 1t does
not secure for each child it's rightful
heritage of a useful ard an h3norable
career, and this IS not possible if ecu
cation fails in an important particu ar.
have spoken in this connection CT
truthfulness, courage and honor, because
without these it is impossible to refine
and make gracious the manners.
OBJECTIONABLE IF NOT FADs.
There is school tendency that should
not be overlooked. I have many times
used the word fad and here tofore
some persons who were quite ignorant of
my views have been kind enough to tel
others what l opposed as 'fads," but
propose, speaking with reference to Chit
cago schools, unless I specify others, 10
point out most explicitly some thirg5
that may be classed as Objectionable, at
least, even if they are not 'fads." The
tendency to which 1 refer is the result
of an attempt to take children cut of
the realm of childhood and impose upon
them relations that belong TO a later peri
cd. Children should have and enjoy ali
childish rights and privileges with the
utmost freedom, but is it wise to have
them initiating men in the discharge of
these duties about which they know moth
ing and with which, therefore, they have
no sympathy. The children have en-
permitted to organize the school for the
purpose "of running it, themselves
They formulate the rules, arrest ard
try offenders, control public sentiment in
the school, and share with ca other
the possession of certain offices chare ed
with the responsible mana cement and di-
Fection of its affairs The teacher is not
there to control or govern or direct, not
there, obviously, to instruct; she or he
holds the place, and mingles with t2e
pupils, in no wise interfering with the
normal direction or condition OF. school
life, but simply exercising in an uncon-
scious way the helpful influence of a
larger and stronger personality. I do not
say that this is an actual condition in any
school, but 1t is an ideal one, and we
may well question whether this theory
carried to its logical conclusion would not
offer strong argument in favor Of abo,is h
ing the school altogether. After all that
has been said or can be said in favor of
the teacher, the parents influence should
outweigh that of any other person. This
tendency to allow children to gove-n
themselves has unquestionably In some
instances weakened the teachers hold
ID has led to disorderly conduct,
which indicated the want of self-control;
or, in other words, the attempt to Rave
children manage themselves in relations
outside their realm, which they do not
and cannot understand, has caused them
an actual loss of self-control in proper
relations, and has increased the diff u
ties of the instructor. 1t is true that not
all teachers, even under these circua1-
stances, suffer loss of good influence but
unfortunately the inclination of tho=e
who do lose is to secure by personal ap-
peals and attention a power that is not
wholesome either for the pupil or the
school
Not meeting of any kind has been
held here in the interests of schools
since my arrival In this city that has not
talked about this question, and at not
one of them has straight direct state
ment of Objectionable features in school
life and work been pointed out We may
deal most POLITICALLY with this subject
and exhaust rhetoric and philosophy in
speaking of moulding character, mental
development and higher ideals, but there
still remains the necessity for a know.
edge of the means whereby one estab-
fishes his relations and performs his du-
ties in society. He must know how to
read in order that he shall be we'll in
formed and intelligent; he must know
how to write in order that he can COM
municate his wishes; he must know how
to calculate; he must understand the
principles OF the work upon which he Is
to enter. The imperative nature and i'm
mediate Importance of these matters are
so great that parents grow FESTIVE when
they are neglected for. something purely
theoretical So many children are to go
cut into the world early In life; so MANY
parents find that their children fail to
gain or to hold positions because they
lack self-control, because they are in
accurate in calculation, imperfect in their
understanding of the printed page, indif-
ferent to the directions of their employers
because they were not taught obedience,