New Britain herald., 1919-06-30
JEWISH CHILDREN
 HONORED TEACHERS
School System Of Ancient Time
 Called for Great Respect

All who have mcditatcd on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth.
 ARISTOTLE"
 W nat power preserved the Jewish nation during all these ages though rivcn and broken, and scattered in every climc? This question has been asked and answered by many Many reasons were given by the different authorities. One of them is, accord- ing to my opinion. their educational system, as the great martyr R. Akiba demonstrated Co his contemporary l'OppOs at the time of tho pCrsccu- tiOnS by fIadrian, when it was for biddCn to study thC Fora h, and R. Akiba impcrjlod his life in order to hold sessions with his pupils PoppoS warned him 10 dcsiSt because thcy are spicd, the Rabbi told him the well known fable of the fox and tho fishes and declared that ~thc fear oC death was no reason for desertinG the law, which was life itself 10 the Jew iSh nation, as tho wafer to the fishes
 The law made it the duty of par cntS to teach their children it's pre- cCpts and principles. The Hebrews must have bccn subject to mental as well as to religious training during their WandcrinGs in the wilderness. They certainly were able to read and write for they were commanded of God to write the precepts of the law upon their dOOr-pOStS and gates: and they were. moreover, required to write the iniunC>ions upon great stones "Nery plainly" immediately
 
 might easily be read by every Israel itC.
 Being q peculiar GodIy people with a thcoCratic state their educational system, previous to captivity. was a religious ono. It involved Instructions in the law. tho customs, and the sym boiical observance Of the nation. as wei! as the narration of it's history in illustration of these ! subjects Arithmetic, surely. must have been taught as the days of the week, the months, the festivals, etc, were not designated by proper names, but by numerals. In fact, every art or sci chcN upon which knowledge Gcpcnd- cd the understanding of the law formed a part of tho strictly re- ligiOuS Jewish education. Now, when we consider that the education nf the Hebrew children depended upon the parents. it becomes Self-cVident that the Hebrews must have been a universally educated people and "All their children, as the prophet Isaiah expressed il, learned of tho T~Ord.' This work of education by the par cntS was not 10 be put off for Ccr- tain OcCa SiOn$ but was to be prose- cutcd at all times. before retiring in the evening and after getting up in the morning. at home HQd abroad. The law of God powerfully support cd tho authority Of parents. Parents are also reminded that their aUthor- itY is not to be the sole operative power in the education of their Chil- dren but their example. and their cX- ample only may lead their children 10 happiness or misery. Parents arc, moreover. advised not to adopt the same indiSrrininate process of tcaCh- ing with all children, but to adapt their instruction to every youth ac- cording 10 his age and inclination, SO that he may abide thereby.
 Abraham the Teacher.
 The first parent-teaCher among the Jews was none other but the father