Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-12-07
Dr.. Allison on Education
Week
Brief Of Interesting Sermon on Edit
cotion Week Preached ut Second
Presbyterian Church Sunday
EVening IN Response to
President Hard1ng's
Proclamation.


Text, Proverbs %: 6. Train up a
child in the way he should go and
when he is old he will not depart
from it."
This is the statement Of a funda-
mental fact; youth must be trained TO
become good citizens and Christians.
The cali of the President to observe
December, 4 to 10 as Education Week
is timely and important. Among the
many pressing problems vital to the
nation none is more important than
the training Of the child. The abid-
ing problem then, is what shall be
done as to the education OF the youth.
A Washington pastor had the cour-
age recently TO stress the fact that
we were raising up a set OF lusty
young pagans, who will endanger
American ideals and institutions. In
childhood lie all the possibilities OF fu-
ture manhood. What we want his
future to be we must put into him.
Childhood is the material for the COM
monwealth of man and the kingdom
Of God.
There is an old Persian proverb
which says, "When one child cries in
the dark the throne of God rocks from
side to side" 1t thus indicates that
the neglect Of childhood shakes the
foundations Of the universe.
The decline in child training may be
traced to two causes, parental care
lessness and the secularized system OF
our education. The great revival
needed today is in home life and pa
rental responsibility. The parent IS
the Gods ordained-prophet, priest and
king in the home and is enjoined TO
teach, pray for, and govern his chill
dren.
The parent today seems to shift the
duty OF secular and religious educa-
ton to others and is failing in CO.
operating with these instructors IN
building character and fitting for life.
Many of our youth are not found in
our public schools. The reason for
so many juvenile criminals is traced
largely to the lack OF parenta! con-
troll. An epidemic of crime has swept
many sections of our country in which
boys have been the cher offenders.
Among the contributing causes sug-
gested are, low movies, pool rooms,
and last but not least parental neg
lect. These should be a warning to
heads of families and all guardians of
children. $500. "a1s
The secularizing system of our edu-
cation is another serious defect: In
the educational system today there is
practically no ethical or. moral teach
ing. The pendulum has swung too
far the other way. We have been SO
anxious not to offend that our teach
crs instruct the children in Grecian
and Roman mythology, but fail to
stress the fundamentals Of religion
intoxicating mans duty. to God and his
fellowman. The Bible, Gods Inspired
Word, the Magma Charta of our civil
and religious liberties, is in many of
our public schools prescribed and
teachers are not allowed to open the
day with the invocation of the Divine
blessing and guidance. There must
be moral and religious training for as
Devoe says, "a great man without
religion is like beast without
soul" rs
General Pershing declared recent
~. the illiteracy of the young man.
hood of the country was disgrace
and he hoped the nation would never
again have to pass through such an
with unframed minds and
bodies. He, recommended physical,
and moral training Of the ma
TONS youth in times of peace.
The United States Commissioner Of
Education, Dr.. Tigert, advocates
schools of instruction to combat and
offset the pernicious teaching Of COM
munistic and socialistic heresies that
cndanger American institutions and
ideals. The present day need of the
nation and the world is secular and
religious education.
There should go forth from this
land the fervent united prayer OF
David, the patriot and monarch, for
the youth of his country, chat our
young men may be as plants grown
up in their youth and that our daugh-
tiers will be as corner stones, polished
after the similitude of a palace"
There must be sprightliness and
spirituality, culture of soul, as well
as body and mind. Every efficient
school must have proper physical
equipment and capable, consecrated
teachers.