Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-06-06

by atmosphere, but there can be no
mistaking what it really is. Those
who are acquainted with school life.
however, know what a powerful in
fiuence 1t exerts on character form
alton. No one can be out of harmony
with II and remain in the school at
peace. The average student loves
popularity and dislikes very much TO
be uncongenial
He Will either adapt himself to the
spirit of the school, no matter what
that may be, or go elsewhere To be
sure. there are exceptions in case of
strong independent spirits, but they
are extremely rare. Atmosphere,
therefore. is the most important ele-
ment in education.
BEST TIME TO GO TO SCHOOL
Eut there is a certain time in life
when atmosphere means more to one
than IL does at any other. That time
is said by most educators to be the
early adolescent age, which may be
roughly given ut from IL or 1S to II
or s., and which comedies almost ex-
actly with the high school period.
This is the most critical time of life
a time when young people are ac-
curing the principles which are to
govern their lives Degrading influ-
enoes just nj this age, when boys and
girls are developing into men and
women, are more dangerous than at
any other. And for the same reason
uplifting influences are most bene-
ticial Just at this period. The feel
inGs are uppermost, and temptations
are most alluring. II is no wonder,
then, that parents should hesitate
about sending their children away
to school where they viii not be under
the restraining and wholesome innu-
onces OF the home life. Z
In view, therefore, of these two
important consderations--that en-
Wronment counts for so much aud
that the high school period is so vital
the question Of whore shall par
ents send their children for their
secondary training becomes of tho
greatest moment.
CHURCH SCHOOL EDUCATION,
The point then which desire TO
make and emphasize Is this; that the
Church school system OF education
provides the safest training for Latter
day Saint children at the impression
able ago Of life.
There are three elements that es-
tabllsh my thought as TO the safety
OF such a theory of education as the
Church schools stand for
TEACHING CORPS SELECTIVE.
The FIRST OF these is. that here there
is what | may call a selective body OF
teachers, The very policy of these in
situations makes II such. The Church
schools In choosing their faculties. re-
| quiro more in the way OF preparation
| for teaching than do other schools
| They demand the same intellectual
| qualifications that are expected in other
| institutions of the same grade. Bat
they insist, In addition, that the teach
ers be men and women of character
and clean life, No teacher has any
| place IN a Church school whose life Il
| not consistent with that Of thorough.
| going Latter-day Saint And To be-
! a >latter- day saint signifies honesty
| Virtue, integrity. trustworthiness ant
| every other good quality In life. TC
DO a Church school teacher therefore
means that one shall be at once COIN.
| petent To teach the subjects he profess.
| es 10 teach, and also reliable as Il
character ana moral standing In lht
community IN which he lives. Neces
saIy az these two qualifications are
To misunderstanding of young people still
| they are not always easy to be found
| And this fact II Is that makes tn,
! teaching process In tho Church school,
unusually selectiVe
| Consider for a moment what II really
means for young people 10 go TO school
| whore they come I'm contact with teach
! ors who have moral as we'll as the men