The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-04-24
RELIGIOUS AND MORAL IN
STRUCTION THROUGH HIS
TORY
CONTINUED from page II

Many have found profit and delight
through reading Plutarch's Lives"
the Books of Moses" or Gibbon.
Thus, if boy is obliged to cut short
his school course, he may become
still well-informed man. The duty
of the school is to help him acquire
a love for such good reading.
This paper does not intend to map
out course in history. Any his
torical material we'll studied will de-
| velop the religious and moral ma
lures, only fill up the boys and girls
with historical stories found in good
| literature. Do not be afraid of Sc
lecting histories that are classical as
| we'll as authentic. 1t is lamented
| fact that many of our school libraries
| contain poor histories, purchased, no
doubt, because they were cheap. The
cheap biographies of Lincoln and
others are written often in careless
English, and the incidents related so
| untrue that the characters of these
men appear in the wrong perspective.
The myths of Greece and Rome teach
many valuable truths. AS our liter
ature teens with classical illusions,
it is very important the myths be
studied from text that is an author
! ity. Let only the best books be Sc
lected for the library. The work
of one good historian is worth a
dozen poor ones.
The course in United States his
| tory in the grades is often too mar
| row and dull, while it ought to be
| the most interesting of all history.
| The pupils are confined merely to the
textbook and therefore become dis
satisfied with the study. Good his
| tories not above the comprehension
| of the pupil, and also original docu-
| ments as published in Historical
Leaflets may be obtained at a
moderate cost, and should be used
to enliven the subject, to create a
taste for good reading and broaden
the mental horizon. OF course, the
| facts in the textbook must be learn
ed first, but there is no reason why
grade pupils cannot be taught to use
reference books. They enter the
high school unprepared to do outside
| work and efficient in though power.
so must lose much valuable time in
acquiring the habit of doing research
| work. Lack of time to do this Is not
| an excuse; it is too frequently the
lack of teaching force, prepared to
direct the work.
Too great emphasis cannot be
placed upon the observance of the
historical calendar. Washington's and
Lincoln's birthdays are kept by the
| lower grades, but farther up many
times scarcely noticed and in the
high school passed over without even
comment. Are such days for Just
the little children? How sad that
on Memorial Day only the primary
pupils with a few older girls attend
exercises held in commemoration of
our country's dead! Where are the
teachers and the older boys and girls
they who should take the liveliest
interest in these matters? Oh, they
are too big for it, while the old vet
Grams whose ranks are painfully
thinning must be in their second
childhood, for thew oan march to the
cemetery along with the six-year-old.
Here is an opportunity for boys and
girls to meet live heroes If they
would stop to think of it. In Ger
MANY and other foreign lands, nat
ional holidays are regarded as sacred
as Sunday, and both young and old
narticiDate in the celebrations; here
Decoration Dav is devoted to base
ball or a fishing excursion. The
criticism that the spirit of reverence
is fast departing from our youth con-
tains mu"h truth. 1t Is difficult now
to enlist the young men and women
in our great moral campaigns. The
schools should remember it is their
duty to foster patriotism in the
Young, especially that the older ones
whose love for country perhaps has
begun to wane likewise may catch
the infection.
| On occasions as mentioned above,
all regular work in school should be
laid aside for a part of the day at
least If there is to be holiday the
day before should be taken Persons
of worthy influence and public
; speakers in the community should
be invited in to address the schools
on topics of the day. In some towns
where schools close on the thirtieth
of May, 1t is customary for the G. A.
r. to visit the schools on Lincoln
birthday. The occasions are source
. of pleasure to the pupils, while many
; things said by the visitors will be
!. remembered longer than If said by
the teacher.
i AS has been said children love fail
) play and can be trained to judge
impartially. The story of the ma,
lions as related in general history
affords abundant opportunity for de.
veloping clear judgment. 1t is easy
> to contrast the conditions of enlight
ened Europe today with that of the
. ancient pagan world. The steady
: growth of Great Britain, champion Of
. liberty, leader in the worlds great
enterprises is powerful argument
: alone for Christianity. The biog
raphies of great men often rise t.
noble eulogies." The history of the
Hebrews, their wonderful preserva
. ton as race through all adversely
: and their contribution to modern civ
ilization cannot help but make oul
! faith in the Creator all the stronger
. To study the people thoroughly, VIZ
must consult both biblical and secular