Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-05-11

the gGTlNEfuCn In InCsr Datn. men OF
boysc Who frequent the saloons and
set an example for our pupils 10
follow" Who orders the brewers
WAGON to stop at the house and depos-
II s case or two In the cellar2 Who
places the glass to his own BOYS
lips at his own board and firesider
Is il the teacher? Is il gambling
that is running car students and MAX
ing them crave for the gamblers eN-
and dcpriying them OF the
sense of Justice" Watch the nickel
n-the-Slo machine as our most prom
inent citizens gamble for a cigar, Sec
with what eagerncSS the SINAI boy
watches the result, Frequent the no.
tells and the trains and note the mon
ey change hands on the gambling ia
BILE.
Perhaps it is non-attendance at
church and sunday school The pub
lie school children will be there II
their ather are there, But where is
the father" Spending his sabbath in
the club Or at the office. And does
the boy not know all these things"
Perhaps the most detrimental of all
Influences is the ribaidry dispensed ny
foul-mouthcd mon in The presence or
all ages. The low vulgar suggestions
(imbibed by the youth and believed
py MN 10 De true aopuI 'N'Sp'NS
except in part. for a very few of his
own home folks. his mother n his
sisters and possibly one or two OF his
girl frirnds> is a constant menace to
his morals, a constant source OF men,
tai Irritation. a soul destroying, man
woodworking Influence. Yet these
are common ard they come nor from
the school. at least they are not born
there. but from conditions entirely en-
terror.
There are some conditions growing
out of athletic contests in our schools
and colleges that are to be regretted.
Such. for instance. as the tendency at
deception. gambling in n small way.
riding "ponies'' and the like. But even
| these arc often learned out Of the
school room. The gambling at the
ball games by men Of position, often
publicly. and often seemingly in a
quiet way. are always known ana
| have the result Of teaching. almost
compelling tie school boys TO Go the
same when their games are on. The
b, asst Of men Us to their winnings
lead the youth to do likewise. SO al
most every Influence that tends large
l.. to the evils in our schools can be
I ICED directly to the conditions that
prevail in the community outside the
SSHOOl yaTt.
Men are not what they should be.
| Boys are little men and have the same
inclinations. a far greater desire t"
initiate and a much smaller amount
of backbone to resist even when they
| know how to do right.
h remedy for all this! The cause
| Of it all points very clearly to the
! place where the remedy must be APP
piled. 1t is the reformation or men!
Can il be dora? God knows! But we
can attempt 1t. Yes, 1t Is u duty.
| We as teachers Of children are at the
Same time and for the same purpose
| minister's to men.
Public discussion of an evil brings
! to- the light and perhaps there ia no
| better way than getting these facts
before the public. Let every news
paper be used as a Medium of COM
m%unfcation to the public. Let the men
be asked to write articles for the daily
| press. Let every superintendent. both
CITY and county, be a leader in the
reform. Let every teacher throw upon
I the community the. burden of the re-
sponsibility, for the morality of the
youth of that locality. Let every par
! cnt fully understand, let every ma
| ture citizen feel that his act directs
| and Influences the child for good or
| i'll. that thu. school child but reflects
| the life Of the community. that the