Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-04-03
EFFICIENCY AND MORALS.

state Senator w. p. Grclncr, Of
Erie county, has introduced bin in
the New York legislature TO make
compulsory the reading OF the Bible
In the public schools each morning.
His object IN the incubation Of re-
ileious and moral sentiments IN the
minds Of the children during their
formative period.
Desirable az the policy may seem,
Il never haa been found feasible to
hring the Christian religion into the
public schools. The Roman Catholics
do not recognize the Protestant
tfanslations Of the bible and the
Jews. who are among the largest
taxpayers for school purposes In
every section Of the United States
do not admit the authority OF the
New Testament
Hut at the risk Of being regarded
az somewhat old-fashloncd, we plead
for greater emphasis In our schools
upon the spiritual values Of life. u
may not be possible or desirable To
give classroom instruction in ethics
IN The public schools, but every tench-
er can so stronely charge the at
mosphere Of the school room with
positive Influence for reverence, obe-
dience, truthfunoss and self-control
that the pupil win tend al least to-
ward right action IN later life.
Modern civilization Is expressed
overwhelmingly IN material terms.
THESE include the telephone, the
talking machine, the automobile, the
airship and forty-two ccntimeter
guns
The usual question heard today W
some form o. '1low much money
can / make out of the deal9' Mod
ern education Is being expressed
more and more IN these terms
Schools are compelled. on account
Of the complex material advance
ment Of civilization to make great
changes in the kind Of training given
20 boys and girls who must become
parts Of the throbhng world ma
chine. Practical training IS the de-
mand Of the age. and as a result the
droning Of Latin couplets Is drown
ed by the noise OF changing anyils,
pounding hammers and clicking type
writer's. The odors Of baking bread
are becoming mixed with the we'll
washed air Of the modern class room.
Doctors and nurses are making
schools the places In which one s
least liable TO contract disease. GYM
nasiums and Fairgrounds prq build
ing up and developing the muscles
of the modern youth.
what does Il all meant Simply
that our schools, here IN New Mexico
and elsewhere, are trying to keep
abreast with the demand of the ma
terial world "Give us more efficient
men and women who have the pow
er Of doing something that can be
used Ia the further naturalization of |
the world"
self-support is the foundation Of
self-fespect Success or failure IN life
depends largely upon the individuals
ability to make living, our schools
would be sadly lacking. II they aid !
not assist in putting boys and girls |
on self-supportlnR basis they
need to so much further in This al
fection,
l1ut these changes result too fire.
anontIy in placing all the emphasis
on the new, leaving obscure that
which is fundamental in every wen
ordered life.
nut aa result OF Il al, not infro-
queutly crimc is committed by
youths who have had the advantages
of the best scientific training OF the
hlsh schools
These boys have knowledge. They
can take machines apart and put
them together again Tut they have
not the wisdom 10 use their knowl-
edge for their own and the worlds
bettefment, and have failed. Mediocre
efficiency ard positive training in
righteousness are far safef than per
feet training In efficiency when UNI
accompanied with Development Of
the moral senses.
There should be greater corpora
ton between the home ana the
school ia establishing IN the life OF
the child the fundamentals Of good
character The greatest danger ex-
istent today Is the indifference Of
parents % the moral welfare OF their
children.
Lei our schools teach The boys and
the girls the trades; let them con-
tinun to turn out efficient stenoera-
pliers, bookkcepers and machinists-
Prepare them 70 make good llyines;