Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-14
Is There Lack Of Morality?

Cortland Myers, u. L'' SSfSiN'' -
raigned the public school system. He
charged that high schools, and espe-
eiallv the girls high Schools are de-
linquent in morality. Among his in
dictments, we find: "A canvass of
several hundred girls graduating from
our high schools this month shows
more than one-half of them are going
into business, while not one expressed
an intention of becoming trained
nurse, a missionary. or in any way
entering the service of God as her
life work"
There is food for thought. and a
topic for earnest consideration in the
words of DIR. Myers. 1t is a striking
commentary on our schools that such
a large class of students seem deter
mined to devote themselves to bust
ness callings. The number of those
selecting the commercial course in our
high schools, where such courses are
Where but a few years ago the ten
dency was towards classical and col,
lege preparatory courses in our high
schools, now are found largely in
ereasing percentage of both young
men and young women selecting COM
mercial courses.
DR.. Myers thinks there is something
wrong with our education but America
in these days seems to be inspired with
a single watchword, 'rimeliness :
Nowadays. to be out of touch with the
general tendency of the times seems
to be worse than to have been out of
style at any age and in any society.
our ieanings now are toward CONNER
cialism. We are rushing toward a
common center of business. 1t is bust
ness everywhere. and it almost seems
that the Good Book and the teachings
which our fathers knew and practised
are receiving smaller and decreas-
ing part in the class room as well az
in the home and every day business
affairs.
Or. Myers SAYS: Everybody now
has to go on a vacation whether he can
afford it or not-usually not. We
Americans are a nation of travellers.
We are no longer satisfied with this
broad continent, but must see Europe
if we have the money, or can borrow it.
Many of those across tine ocean nave
not seen their own country, no. not
even their own state. How many of
the Americans at the coronation will
see King George, or he them. and what
difference will it make We have here
everything of a better kind except a
few palaces and relics, and we are
buying European curios as fast as
money can procure them, so that Eu-
rope is becoming alarmed. Europe is
getting most of its money from Ameri-
can tourists
Most Of us will acknowledge the
truth of every word of DR.. Myers com
plants. and further we would agree
with him that what the world needs
is kindness and a sense of duty that
never grows dun. But it is question
with many of us whether the tendency
that seems to be leading our boys and
girls into commercial life is an indica-
ton of lack Of morality" in the true
sense of the word Boys and girls are
raised in an atmosphere of commercial
ism. and even if they are regular and
arpreciative attendants at church and
are in sympathy with the work of re-
ligious institutions yet from the time
they are old enough to understand the
workings by which churches are sus-
tained they are led to believe that
every dollar which goes into church
work from building and furnishing tho
edifce. hiring a minister and making
repairs. must be earned by the sun
porters of that particular church.
Even then we have known in recent
months of brilliant church orators who
have thought themselves obliged to
leave His service because they were
unable to support their families in a
manner which is considered IAN aver
age Of responsibility and credit to
gentlemen of education in our Ameri-
can life" Perhaps this may all be ex.
planned by Or. Myers announcement
that SO many millions of our American
dollars are going daily TO the supper
of other nations. in the expense o
travel and the purchase of curios, and
more and above all these, the purchas
Of royal and social favor among tn
old families of Europe
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Reactionary Democrats.