The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-16
THE BIBLE
IN PUBLIC
SCHOOLS
Supt Small Spoke on Charac.
tor Development Before Msn's
Club Last Night.

The FIRST monthly session of the Cram
Ston street Baptist Church Mems clpo
was held last evening. and the members
listened 10 an interesting address on
"Character Development and the Connec-
ton Between Home, School and Church.
by Superintendent OF Schools. w. H.
Small.
The meeting was called TO order about
$50 by President Henry Fletcher ana ar
ter prayer by Rev Dr. Henson, some
routine business was transacted and the
speaker was introduced. -,
Mr., Small said, In part; In the ola.h .t
timee a mans reputation eolncldsd VIII ai
hts character, while nowadays such is sell
dom the case. In tho old days the schooi,
masters were chosen by the pastors ahu
were men OF high rank in the community
second only TO the ministers themselves
I'm those days the Bible was largely
taught in the schools and in almost all
school reading was done from the BOON,
Pupils were Obliged 10 atenu H onurI a.
school for misdemeanors committed IN
the place OF worship. The character siue e
OF the school life was stronger than tndn
the intellectual and the boys-for az that
time only boys attended school-were
much impressed by the personality OF the
teacher. 49,
sturdy New England character. This
method OF instruction Is a great CON
trast TO the methods of TO-DAY, put l. am am
firmly convinced that the boys ana gi,ls w
produced by the modern schools VIII pe
OF as great character and weight In their
generation as were the products OF the
earlier system. .
have the Bible In the public schools but
once a day and that only for the morn
ing readings. and IL is question whelner
the church and the home are suppyIns
.orl nv
school. -, -. ~.
founded on the Bible. and one OF ihe
weaknesses OF the present system or euu
cation is that we are not allowed 10 have
the Book in the schools even for pur-
poses OF literature. Something must De
done TO restore the Bible 10 the schoois'
and this question is one which is receiv.
ing the consideration or educators anu
thinkers throughout the land
BIBLE CONSTANTLY REFERRED TO.
"Much hostile criticism has been aimed
ut what are often termed the 'fads or
modern education. such as nature study.
music literature. and the like. Each or
these so-caiied fads' receives ample jus
tiacation I'm the fact that II appeals 10
the better nature OF tho child and better
fts him to get the best there Is out or
life.
Take the study OF literature. for
example. Nearly all literature IL found
ed on the Bible. and II Is almost i'm
possitae TO read any book, with the ex-
ception OF the modern novel. without
finding illusions TO the scriptures. As
we are not allowed the Bibles In the
schools, the literature partly supplies
the want or suirabie religious instrrc-
ton.
Contrast the personalities Of the old
teachers and those OF today. The old
teachers received from $50 TO 800 year.
and were considered well paid with such
wages. which the teacher frequently in
creased by the pursuit OF farming or
some similar occupation during his leis-
ure hours.
Nowadays. the Increased number OF
callings open TO intelligent men, with
their greater compensation, has Increased
the proportional as well as the actual,
wages demanded by male teachers.
The result has been that the different
cities have hired the cheaper women
teachers. Without deprecatng at ell the
splendid work done by women teachers
throughout the country. II may truth
FULLY be said that a woman cannot exer-
else the personal influence over boy
that manly man does.
"The personality OF the teacher Is a
large factor in the development OF sturdy
character. The boy in the obden school
came in contact with men OF high stand
revered and feared. This lasted through
all, or nearly all. OF their school life.
To-day the boy passes most Of his
school life under women teachers. who
do strong intellectual work. and who de-
velcp many OF the softer attributes. but
who do not furnish the sturdiness OF
character. which Ia given by the manly
man. THIS Is one OF the differences IN
the character development OF the school
boy
I'VE want the best teachers. men and
women, in our schools that money can
hire-men and women who will he ever
ready 10 cope with the situation In the
educational field. Let the church. the
school and the home cooperate to Sc
cure the development OF the highest
character I'm the pupils OF today and OF
the future"
After the address a concert by the Four
Friends orchestra was enjoyed and re-
freshments were served
The social commfttee consists OF the
following: Wallace l.. Pond. chairman; !;
DIR Clinton westcott, Charles r. Brown,
Allan Peacock, Charles r. Stark. J. w
Beach. ~. c. whitford. John A. Fritz
und Charles VI. Fish.