The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-06-16
A QUESTION OF VITAL IMPORT.
ANCE.

Ane question OF education is one
OF vital interest to every parent
and every child in Benton County.
Education means a leading out
that is, a leading out or develop
ment of the faculties and posi-
bilities that lie dormant and use
less within the mind. 1t is not
merely storing the mind with the
knowledge of a number of facts.
Oursystem of public instruction
throughout the country is a bless
ing for which we should be most
thankful. "It is consummation
devoutly to be wished" if not ex-
pected, that all our people might
be able to send their children to
some good church school where
they would be assured of moral as
well as mental training, for true
education is that which develops
the heart as we'll as the mind. But
since the most of our people are
poor people and able to give their
children only public school train
ing, the question of our public
schools becomes question of deep
concern to every one of US, and es-
pecially to the young, who are re-
ally the ones to profit or suffer by
the management.
How great, then, is the respon-
sibility upon those who have to do
with the educating of the young!
Failing to discharge their duties
to the full extent of their under
standing they become robbers in
stead of benefactors to the coming
generation.
There is an education that is
hurtful. Christian education is
the only education that is worth
while. There is no parent in this
enlightened country that would
not prefer his children being
christians than not, even though
he himself may be ever 30 vile.
There should be an effort, then, on
the part of every one who has
voice or aa influence to make our
public schools christian achools.
Only in this way is it possible for
the great majority of the children
to q receive christian education.
Theteacherin our public schools
has sacred trust committed to
him. No man can be a christian
teacher who is not christian. No
teacher can inspire christian prin-
ciples who has not first had them
inspired into himself. Then only
christian meu and women should
beemployed to teachin our schools,
not simply professed christians,
but those who manifest christian
principles in their daily walk and
conversation. Thus, only, can we
makeourschools christian schools.
Two general qualifications should
and must characterize the chris
tian teacher, viz: Competency
and honor. Without the former
he is not teacher; without the
latter he is not a chri stian. 1t is
the prerogative of the duly ap-
pointed authority to decide as to
the former. This, too, is a sacred
trust, and should this authority
prove untrue to this trust and send
forth incompetent men and wom-
en- to serve and instruct those who
are vet void of discrimination this
would indeed be disloyalty tothose
who have committed to him this
sacred trust and crime against
the coming generation.
It is the prerogativo of the man
(or woman) himself to decide as to
his honor. Honor or dishonor may
sometimes manifest itself in very
small actions, What is the high
est aspiration of christian teach
er? 1t is true that no one can de-
vote his entire time to this voca-
ton. or any other, without some