The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-03-22
If No. in the Schools
Morals Will Not Be Taught

To the Editor of The Washington Times
The question of religious or moral
training IN the pra.ic schools. it seems
to me. is of the most vital Importance,
ard should be handled with the greatest
possible delicacy and thoughtful consid-
Grafton. In the first place, there is not,
nor ever has been. any commendable
movement set on foot that has not been
met with the most bitter and unreason-
able opposition by people who are born
chronic kickers, whose reason is blinded
either by prejudice or ignorance.
In the present case there seems to be
great amount OF unnecessary and silly
gibberiag over a very simple question.
and that the opponents are making a
big time over a little matter A matter
that is self-explanatory. as is readily
seen by anyone who is honest and sin
cere enough to look it squarely in the
face. The position they take is cot only
an injustice to the citizens committee,
but is also antsgonistic to themselves,
their home. and its interest. Now let s
keep cool and not get excited
There is very little ever accomplished
through argument, and IL a question
cannot be fairly looked at from both
There Is no effectual way of adjusting
such difficulties like a cool and consid-
crate measuring up.
Some OF the opponents are raising a
great hubbub and scare about the danger
of Sectarism compulSion force, and
what not, without pausing TO ascertain
just how far or what elements are pre-
scribed in the proposed code of fnstruc-
ton.
They admit. however, almost without
exception, that they approve of moral
training, but ii should be taught in the
home. That's right; IT should be; but 1t
isn't, nor won't be, and they know Il
That there should be moral training
fail to see what difference 1t makes
whether taught at school, at home, or
in the streets. so long as 1t fis taught
with implicitly and with specif1c puT-
pose OF making our boys and girls bet
ter l have had some personal eX-
perience along this line. and ] know
what / anu talking about when l say
that l have never yet seen a wrong
rig hteousness'' or bad effect from good
example, and as to textbooks, we GER
tainly wapt the best there is to be had.
regardless of name, and il some OF our
would-be wiseacres can dig up anything
better than the Holy Scriptures we
want Ii. As a matter of fact, however,
when we stop TO coolly and calmly
measure the question by the light OF
reason and pause to find out what we
will be generally admitted by the right
thinking people eff the District that the
Bible has abundantly proven Itself to
be both reliable and effective as text
book of morals, and that appropriate
selections from il can be relied upon
for good wholesome results, and that
the school room is the one most effec-
tlial place for its application.
Our schools are very good as they
are, bur would be vastly better If the
children were once every day brought
to know and think something about
God the Creator In conclusion Wish
to say that this, OF course, is merely
my view of the matter, and that L am
neither priest nor preacher. What |
nave said has been said cooily and
thoughtfully, without a single assertion
that I am all right and the other fellow
all wrong. That L leave to the decision
of my readers and editor. with thanks
for the space he has given me for its
expression. EARNEST
WASHINGTON, March y.