Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-19
MORAL EDUCATION
BY DR.. Frank Crane

A few days before the meeting Of the
League Of Nations at Geneva. another con-
ference, private, not much advertised, and
quite unnoticed, took place in the same city.
1t was attended by score or so of men
and women interested in problem that is
more fundamental than the league or Presi-
dent Harding's disarmament scheme, name
ly, the moral education Of the worlds youth.
At bottom every question Of human con-
duct is a moral one.
In every human being is an instinct in
dicating right and wrong. It is called con-
science.
Nobody has ever satisfactorily explained
just what it u.s. for 1t is a function Of that
mystery of mysteries the personality.
When we understand what the human
spirit is, then we shall understand what con-
science is, which will be never.
But because we cannot comprehend 1t is
no proof that we do not need to use it ev-
cry hour of our lives, and to develop it so
as to make it more useful.
We do not understand what electricity is,
for that matter, but we could hardly get
along without it,
This instinct can unquestionably be
strengthened and improved by education, that
is, by intelligent guidance and by training.
Just as is the case with ones arm or ear
Or brain, SO with the conscience, the more
it is exercised and the less it is abused, the
stronger and more skilful it becomes.
Conscience training has been left too much
to the church. It needs the most intelligent
and scientific application; and religious or
CARNATIONS, while excellent for sincerity and
noble aims, are too prone to slight facts and
Oyeryalue enthuSiaSmg.
The places for conscience training are the
home and the public school, as well as the
church.
From the average home the best the child
can expect is helpful example and environ
ment, which is most important.
But from the school he should receive
clear instruction and dependable knowledge.
1t is the business of educators to supply
these.
The child should be carefully drilled in
what is right, and scrupulously trained to
despise and loathe what is wrong.
He should be drilled in self-mastery, and
shown the shamefulness Of will-weakness and
self-pity.
This need not infringe upon the sphere
of church teaching, but rather should pre-
pare for it and cooperate with it. But the
fundamentals of decency and fair dealing, of
honor and honesty, are the same in every
Sect
The greatest common divisor of all re-
ligion is conscience, and the public school
ought to pay more attention to it.
For, after ALL what business needs Is con-
science. The soundness of all commerce rests
upon it.
Conscience is the Underlying foundation of
all law. People do not learn not to steal and
lie by studying arithmetic and geography,
but by learning the rules Of right and wrong
and by practicing them.
It is conscience that is most needed in the
family, to hold husband and wife, parent
and child, up to their responsibilities.
1t Is conscience that is the essential in all
good work. from bricklaying and bridge
building to newspaper editing and book-writ-
ing. A keener sense of right and wrong is
the greatest desideratum in all these fields.
1t is conscience that is needed in politics.
The great political mistakes are due to
crookedness. An honest statesman will go
farther than a clever one.
In short, too feeble conscience is what's
the matter with the world
Every store needs honest clerks more than
clever ones.
Just plain everyday goodness is what Is
needed everywhere.
That universal instinct was planted in
man by his Creator, to enable him to get
along; and only by developing and conserv-
ing it, studying and strengthening it, will
this earth gradually be made "a decenter
place to live in" ------