, 1906-02-08

)f its KIND, and may De an orndulenl W
our garden.
SO with the child-we cannot give
him a character, but we can help him
in molding one. He may not rise to
our ideal of character, but he may be
the moral virtues made a part
of his education-he able to fill a posi-
ton that he could not otherwise have
held.
Not only does the moral training help
the child but it is one of the greatest
aids in school discipline. If a child
does the right for the sake OF right,
n not from fear of punishment, he
will soon be a self-controlled child,
while the n who obeys for fear is
troublesome all through his school life.
Perhaps the most important reason
that we should give the moral training
is that we are fitting the child to take
his place in the world and help in its
affairs. 1t is not going to be enough
for him to be strong physically, and to
be an excellent scholar. He must also
have a good moral character if he is
to be of much good to his fellow men.
If. then, the moral training should be
given in the public school, how shall
we teach it?
First, each one who would instruct
her pupils in morals must have a NOR
al character herself. One cannot teach
to others what she does not herself
possess. Children are quick to detect
whether the teacher is in sympathy
with what she tells them, and they al
so watch to see if the teacher lives out
what she talks to them. They are
largely our imitators; therefore, it is
important that the teacher should set
a good example to her pupils. There
must be a strong desire on the part of
the teacher to build the character be
fore she can accomplish that end.
One very good way to give the NOR
al is by Illustrative stories-those that
contain a moral, yet not one that is too
prominent or owe emphasized. Chill
dren are apt to draw their own morals
and get more from a story of hat kind.
When the child begins to read for him
self the teacher can direct him by lead
ing him to read the best books. En-
courage him to study the lives of great
men. We should try to impress on his
mind thai the truly great men are
those who have lived up to the best
morals. 1t is not some great deed of
Lincoln's which tells so much of his
character, but that one phrase, Hon.
est Abe"
The child should also learn to know
the faces of the men whose lives he
learns about. He then associates the
deeds of the man with the picture, and
whenever he sees a great mans picture
he will remember that this man was
great because of his honesty, obedi
,ence or truthfulness. Perhaps the re
membrance of a noble face looking
some day help him to do the right. We
should be careful of all pictures that
We place before the child. They are
the silent character builders. A child
must be taught to love the beautiful in
art and also in nature. He does not
realize how wonderful a flower is I'm
til you have had him notice the diff
ferent parts, felt its velvety petals, and
smelled its delicate perfume. A child
will often respond to a lesson in ma
ture when he appears utterly indiffer
ent to every other study. If we teacf
him how wonderful are the plants ant
creatures about him, it helps to make
him a little child.
Another important character build
er is the songs we teach the child. How
every one loves the songs they learned
in childhood. They remain in oul
1t is important then, that we teach the
child only the best songs, those thai
he will be glad to remember when he
is a man.
We should teach the child gems o.
literature, for they are remembered
through life and are great helps il
character building.
There are many other ways in which
We can give moral training in the
school room-through the reading les
son, the history lesson, or the language
lesson, SO that We do not have to sci
apart a special period for that one sub
'ject. The important point is to always
have the moral end in view-to nevei
forget that We are character builders
Then we can make either stories, pic
lures, nature work, reading, history
language, memory gems or songs 9
source of moral training to the child
If we are faithful to our calling, ever
inspiring our pupils to raise the high
est standards, giving always our best
We may some day see them filling posi-
lions of trust and may proudly whis
per These were mine"
Deafness Cannot be Cured.