El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-12-06
Letters To The Herald

| child should be made personally re-
sponsible in this regard
What is being done in the majority
Of homes to educate children to re-
spect property rights, I have, no means
OF aScertaining. No doubt many par
ents are doing their duty; unQuestion-
ably many are falling to do it Are
the schools doing their duty2 I live
near a school and my observation is
that in this particular institution the
principal and teachers are not doing
what they should to check lawless
acts. Indeed. I doubt If they are doing
a single thing to constrain the chill
dren or educate them to respect prop
erty rights IN several cases when
asked to act, they have done nothing.
They see children doing things that
should not be allowed, yet do not even
protest
As an example, not long ago there
was a battle with stones between some
Of the boys and some Mexican youths
who had come for manual training and
were leaving for their own school.
The battle became so fierce that some
Mexicans working near were obliged
to quit. and a man who was working
in his own yard was forced TO seek
shelter in his house. So many stones
struck another house, adjoining the
grounds. that the occupant, woman.
appealed to a neighbor to drive the
boys away. He quickly ended the
fight. A teacher watched the proceed
ings quietly. but did nothing to stop
the battle.
On another occasion a woman
phoned the police to come and put
stop to the annoyances TO which some
school boys were subjecting her. The
officer at the station was courteous
and showed interest in the case, ouI
said it would be useless to come out
for the reason that the teachers
shielded them. He added. however,
that he would send man to make
arrests IL she could point out the OF
tenders
Now respect for law and property
rights lies at the very foundation or
civilization-without it, civilization IS
impossible. And why should teaener
encourage the spirit Of lawlessness by
shielding Offenders Why encourage
anarchy Who can gain anything by
it, Even a negative stand encourages
wrong doing
The teachers have ample time to
teach some superficial accomplish
ments, but apparently none Whatever
to inculcate respect for persons ana
property Why2
Doesn't It look like misdirected ef-
fort when there is so much superyls-
ion of play and so little supervision
OF manners. morals, acts2 Isn't It
worth while to have a little instruc-
ton along ethical lines in our pubic
schools2 Isn't it worth while to teach
children to show others the consldera-
ton they will ultimately ask for them
selves? Isn't it worth while to teach
boys TO be manly. and that II ISM
manly to annoy people or destroy
property? Are the hands and heels
more important than the head ana
heart?
We have a playground expert but l
have never seen him on our school
grounds. though his predecessor Nj
Pearson. was often seen there, teach-
ing and directing the children ana
holding them in proper restraint mean
while. Isn't there a field Of useful
ness for the present expert in the open
air directing the children's activities
in proper channels and holding them
in check when their lively spirits ana
superabundant energies threaten 70
carry them toe far9
The principal. the teachers and the
playground expert are vested with am
Die authority to control the children
and lead them in the right Way-l1
they care to- Do they care2 Is II
ANYTHING to-them how the children be-
have. how they grow up2 Have they I
any love for their work. any apprecia-
ton Of its responsibilities and obiga-
tions, of the splendid opportunity they
have to win the lasting esteem OF
pupils and parents. and to bring life |
long satisfaction to their own hea-ts2 !
Taxpayer.