The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1912-08-04
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TIMELY THOUGHTS ON EDUCATION BY "oRsERvERp q
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at that stage of the stately man
siOns" yet. No boy goes to school for
thu pure love of going, nor would as
many persevere as do now if there
were not some compelling force urg-
ing them. But still some of them do
go on and learn and are advanced
from one grade to another until fin
alI.y they achieve their souls desire
and leave school by being graduated.
Bus the others, the wise ones who
knew how valueless the system is!
What becomes of them? Sometimes
the teacher goes to the parent, but
her complaints are met by the smil-
ing assurance that boys will be
boys" She knows that in the course
of time they will be men; men at
least as to stature if not mentality;
that in short space of time they
will have to take their places among
M either as units of civilization or
asWiphers, and she has no such rose
colored hope as that the woods and
waters are able to prepare them for
the battle of life.
Again she hears that boys natur-
ally resent anything that interferes
with their freedom" and she won
ders If boy is ever free who is
shackled by ignorance She thinks
of the lessons she has prepared to
show the boy what freedom really
means: the comparison between our
country as it was in the hands of the
ignorant Indians and as it has pro-
crossed under the guidance of civil
lized man; to show him that ignor-
anct could never have subjugated to
tho control of man such powerfuY
agencies as steam and electricity;
could never have built bridges nor
tunnelled mountains nor made travel
possible, that it never builds cities
not churches, schools, nor hospitals;
to lead him to compare the freedom
OF the Indians, constantly menaced
by their enemies, with that of the
citizen who is protected by the law.
Ana she realizes that she can never
do this because the boy will not go
to school or if he goes, will not
learn. And now who is to bring
about the solution of the problem
and establish an understanding be-
tween the teacher and the boy?
Who is it that must begin rs soon
as he is able to reason, to show the
boz that he and the world are in
state of mutual dependence; he upon
pleasure in it, the world upon him
for what he can contribute to it's
needs and progress?
Who is to show him that school is
community in miniature, each room
with its quota of drones and work
ers. that there he eXerts an influence
70" good or evil, as there is no mega
tiv2 power in school-room; that
tn, very obstacles he overcomes are
stepping stones to character, and that
tn faithful discharge of his duties
there will prepare him for the con-
scientious discharge of nobler ones
later; that a day lost is stone miss
in, from the foundation of education?
Who is to teach him of the needs of
life beyond the school-room, furnish.
in.s him with lofty motives and in
spring him with ambition to be edu-
Gated?
Who is to hold before his minds
eye the beacon light of hope that
through education he will secure his
heritage in the achievements and
enjoyments Of the racer Who is
to warn him thar the body is frail
bark and that the sea of life is
treacherous and full of hidden perils;
that intelligence must be at the helm
to insure the safe passage OF the
precious freight, the soul?
The mother, in her office, holds the
key
OF the soul; and she it is who Stamps
the coin
OF character, and makes the being
who would be a savage,
But for her gentle cares, a noble
man.