The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-07-27
Ethical Training In the
Schools

Ethical Training In the
Schools
Sioux Falls Argus-Leader At
the meeting of the state educa-
tional association last winter, q
committee of fifteen was appoint
ed to take the preliminary steps
looking to a course of moral train.
ing in the public schools of the
state. During the present week.
that committee has made It's.
report to the county superin-
tendentand prominent educators
of the state assembled at Mitch
ell, and the result is theadoption
of the plan with the appointment
of q sub-com mittee to actually
prepare the course. This COM
mittee consists of State Superin-
tendent M. M. Ramer, Superin-
tendent G. G. Wentzlaff of Yank-
ton, Miss Helen S. Peabody,
principal of All Saints school at
Sioux Falls, and DR.. Thomas
Nicholson, president of the Oak
ota Wesleyan University of
Mitchell.
This committee will proceed
to adopt a course of moral study
which will follow first along the
line of instructing teachers in
this work, enjoining upon them
the work of self-preparation, and
the study of the best methods
for imparting to the youth of the
state the moral lessons which
old and young need alike. The
second part of the plan is the
adoption of system of morning
exercises in which the virtues of
honesty, purity, and industry
shall be instilled in the public
mind.
This matter was first suggest
ed by State Superintendent
Ramer over a year ago, and it
was discussed in the Argus
Leader at that time. We can
see where the educators are
going to encounter some decided
opposition. 1t is of course
agreed on all sides that there is
to be no sectarianism, and that
no religious creed is to be taught
in the schools. So far this is not
only we'll, but absolutely essen
tial. Trouble is certain to result
however in the lack of tact which
some teachers are certain to dis
play, and the denominational
jealousy which is still common
in this narrow world. Parents
willsccmplain that "teacher" is
trying to m a ke Methodists,
Presbyterians, or Episcopalians
out of her pupils, while parents
who believe in no church will
declare that the schools have
been turned into a proselytine
branch for the churches. That
these charges will for the most
part be unfair does not sufficient
l. ~ answer. The point is tina;
some criticism is almost certain
to follow, and that some of it will
be bitter.
If anything at all is to b'
accomplished, religious instruc
tion as such must be rigidly ex
cluded. It must be ethical ane
ethical alone. Of this there i.
much need. Parents in thes'
days do not give their children
the moral training which was tn
rule fifty years ago. Famil.
prayer in the average home ha
become obsolete, and even th'
beaut tiful custom of saying grace
at table is noted for it's rarity
Father is busy hustling fol
dollars, and mother is occupied
with household cares and socia
plans. Hence the children lacl
the rigid moral training which
used to be the rule. This is true
to an alarming degree ever il
the so called Christian homes
and q little regular and wise
ethical training in the public
schools oughtto produce res ults,
as the teaching of the evils Of
the use of alcoholic drinks anl
tobacco is known TO have borne
much fruit; but there will b,
plenty to say that this is the fielt
of the home, the church and tn,
Sunday-school, that it is out oi
place in public schools main tain.
ed by general taxation, and that
the work of the teachers is ia
the interest of such and suct
religious body. Rightly done
the movement is a good one; bu1
done un ntactfully, it is certain tt
result in criticism and trouble.