The sun., 1901-12-13

enough TO say that if any teacher was
known, to be immoral they would not be
teachers in our schools. We cannot i'm
agine person so negative as between
good and evil, as TO be neither one or the
other; and, indeed, we think we can as
sumo upon pretty good authority that such
u thing is impossible. But what is moral
ity? There is an old code or laws called
the Ten Commandments, which have, for
at least several centuries, passed AS an
| expression of authority upon morality.
Is this assailant of the morality of the
public schools of this city ready to al
lege that the violation of any of these
commandments is tolerated in the pub
lie schools? Or is it ready to say that
all the influences Of the teachers, the dis
| cipline Of the schools, and the association
| Of the pupils while in school. are not
distinctly in favor Of and for the strict
observance of all the obligations Of this
moral law? The contrary is the truth.
| An the influences of the schools are
moral This is necessarily so. The
morals of the teachers of our local
schools, at least, are irreproachable.
VIII anyone dare to deny that? To ad-
/ nit the morality of the teachers is to adj
nil the morality of their teaching. II is
1 ust N impossible for moral person to
avoid the eXertion Of moral Influence
as it is for Il goose to grow wool instead
Of feathers. Are not the body of the
people moral? Is not the dominant senti-
mrnt of this community n moral senti-
mrntg The schools are the product Of
! that sentiment and are conducted by
men ana women whose morality, as we
4 have already said, is not to he doubted.
! The school that is the product ot this
| influence must be moral. and the teach
ins ot rptiued, educated. correct speaking.
correct living, teachers must he moral.
Tho fact that the teaching Of creeds i
forbidden in the public schools is not
either evidence or proof Of their lack of
moral influence. W. remember listen
iny IA discussion Of the question OF
ublic Schools vs.. purochial Schools by
n very learned and devoted Roman Cath
Ole Priest. His opponent had been con
tending that the public schools We're i'm
moral. in that they did not directly teacl
the tcncts Of Il religion and particular!
that the public schools were iuimlcable II
the interests of the church. We shal
never forget the impaticncc Of thi
learned and devoted priest as he listened
to the argument that only teachers pre-
pared hy and accredited hy the churc
4iuu.d be- allowed to hits children. |
rpnly he exclaimed; The future of I'll
, Church of God. the fultilment Of its mis-
siun on earth ana among men, does NJ
dcl,el.d upon the influence Of women !
black gowns. teaching IL parochii
+ schools This man was chnrchmni
! 4 rigid cXemplar Of his faith, who wa
/, luvcd and respected by ali who knew hi
: for his lovahlc disposition, high intcllc
: tuaI attainments and the beauty of Il
/ exemplary religious life, ana yet
: secuted II tho idea Of alleged "unmora
e tendencies in the teaching in publ
schools.
The safety of the State, the freedom
, thr church. ana the perpctuity Of Il
!. liberal governmental institutions lcpel
t. ul,on keeping the public schools free fro
J. thr touch Of creed or sect. The iniuen
: Of which is mistaken for morality-th
/, freedom is neither "unnorll' or II
moral.