The Irish standard., 1914-08-29


share in the knowledge of the pur-
pose for which God had created
them. They were united in a bond
of love growing out of the knowl-
edge, that all are alike children of
God, redeemed by the same Saviour
and destined for the same heaven.
There is this union of teachers and
pupils in the parochial schools be-
cause the teachers are consecrated
to their work. 1t is their sole inter-
est in life. for they do not work for
fame or earthly gain. nor solely for
love of teaching, but as the means
whereby they may save their immor-
tai souls. With such high motive
for the work of teaching we can look
for an earnestness and a devotion in
their labors not to be equalled by
those engaged in teaching for other
motives. Such teachers must have
minds of the pupils and create the
the greatest influence upon the
deepest and most lasting impressions.
No school building, however magni-
ficent, on equipment, however per-
feet, can create such an impression.
If this spirit can effect such re-
suits in the development and train
ing of the intellect, its effects are
more marked in the training and de-
velopment of the will, which con-
stitutes the moral scope of education.
Without the spirit of love pervading
the class room, that Divine charity,
which is the life of all mortals, is abb
sent. Love of God and of the pupil
as the image and child of God, on the
part of the teacher. is the only thing
which can give the correct moral
tone to the class room. 1t is incon-
ceivable that parent, or any one in
charge of child, should knowingly
and willfully place him in a school of
a bad moral tone. It is unfortunate
that so many are ignorant of what
constitutes the moral tone of a
school.
The central fact, the tremendous
fact of history. is the tragedy of Cal
vary. For two thousand years hui
manity has turned its eyes to CAL
vary for the Way, the Truth and the
Life. The cross has become the all
important symbol of mankind. The
school cannot ignore this symbol nor
pass over in silence what it symbol
ICES. Eliminate the crucifixion and
all that clusters about it from the
educational content of a school, and
it becomes SO defective as to be hard
ly worthy of the name. Globes,
charts, and text books are symbols.
They are material representations of
ideals. Without them class room
is no more imperfectly equipped than
the class room without a crucifix.
Face to face with the image of the
Author of all truth, the teacher will
not impart falsehood to the pupil.
Looking up at the figure of Him
whose advent was heralded by the
song of peace, pupils and teachers
will work together in peace and har-
mony.
The discipline of the class room
will be best effected where there is
the representation of the browning
submission to the Divine Will of Him
whose life was the model of disci-
pline and order. 1t is not of the
school where the crucifix is displayed
that we read Of disorders among pu-
pills and rebellion against the author
ity of teachers. From the crucifix
will radiate the spirit of the school.
1t is commonplace saying that the
most impressionable years of life are
those of childhood. In the school the
child conceives affections and aver
sions are born not of the body but of
the spirit of the school. If that spirit
be not the kind we have indicated
and does not animate the entire sys-
tenn of education in the school, then
such school Is false to its name.
The mind that does not learn in
school the object and end of mans
being is distorted in development.
Without such spirit the will Is mis-
directed and the child leaves the
school doomed to failure. We must,
then, to judge the merits of different
educational systems, inquire first of
the spirit that permeates and ami
mates their schools. What motives
impel the teachers to their work? Do
they hope that by ''instructing many
unto justice they will shine as stars
for all eternity" Does the knowl-
edge they impart lead to true wis
dom? Will the child leave the school
wiser and better than when he en-
tered, or will he leave, with knowl-
edge indeed but with no true wisdom
and with a heart already corrupt to
60 out into corrupt world?
We see the children hocking into