Gilpin observer., 1910-07-07
THE BOY AND GIRL
IN THE SCHOOL

Frances E. Clark and Mr.. David R.
Porter on high school evils. Those
conditions do not prevail in all high
schools but they do in a large per-
centage Of them,they say. They at
tribute the trouble to the social and
sporting attitude of the schools, and
their point is well taken. Children of
the high school age as rule are
filled with those sportive character
istics which, If not held in control,
will work disaster. The boys and
girls of that age will find way and
plenty of opportunity to develop those
tendencies without the aid of the
school and therefore it is not neces-
sary for the school faculty to in
corporate and encourage 50 much of
the social and athletic features in
their curriculum.
We send our children to school to
learn those things that are necessary
to assist them in gaining livelihood
and to fit them to fight the battle of
life. There is entirely too much time
wasted on non-essentials. If the boy
is filling his place after he arrives
at the age of IL to 20, he can and
will get all the exercise he needs out
side of school hours. The men who
have made a grand success Of life
are not the ones who sacrificed their
studies to athletic and social features.
The fact is the boy spends too
many years in school, except where
e. clerical vocation is planned" and
unless he acquires something practi-
cal during his school life he will be
too old to begin at the bottom when
he comes out of school IL that
time is at the age of 20 or %. He
feels then that he is a man and has
no time to begin at the bottom.
The mission of the school is to
fit the boy or girl to make an honor
able living and become an honorable
citizen, anything that does not assist
to this end should be forbidden.
The moral side should be consider
ed to a far greater extent that it is
"fcr what does it profit man if he
gain the whole world and lose his
own soul?" And how many educated
degenerates are there in the civiliz-
ed world?
Too often the parents are not quail
fled to give the moral training neces-
sary for the welfare of the child !;
then it is necessary for the school
to lay the foundation for a strong
character, that the welfare of the
state may be assured. There is not
enough of the strong moral training
that will point the boy to success
and therefore there should be a man
of strong moral and executive ability
at the head-one who will enforce
to the letter code of laws which
will prevent anything debasing to be
practiced II the father would become
a companion for the boy and have
something in common with him the
matter would be very much simplifi:
ed. But some say "let the boy SOW
his wild oats-he will be all the bet
ter for having the experience" This
is false. Those same people would
hold up their hands in horror at the
idea of their girl doing the same
thing. Is there two standards Of
morals, one for the boy and another
for the girl? Would the great moral
and the spiritual Teacher of mankind
be considered as such if He had
passed through this experience of
sowing wild oats? These conditions
are debasing, and the sweet con-
sciousness of virtuous life which Is
a noble heritage and valuable pos
session, is sacrificed.
After those degenerating influences
the soul never rises to those in
spirational heights where the mater
ial interests are forgotten and the
mental reigns supreme. A couple of
stanzas from Hezikiah Butterworth's
Bird With the Broken Pinion," H.
lustrates the point:
II walked in the woodland meadow
Where sweet the thrushes sing,
And found on a bed of MOSES
A bird with broken wing.
81 healed it's wound and each morn
ing
1t sang it's old sweet strain,
But the bird with the broken pinion
Never scared as high again"
A. 7. T.
Try the Observer q year.
Fishing tackle of all kinds at
Rapin's.