Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-06-04

the spectacles that reveal physical
proves and accomplishment!
Not if It is going to stultify mental
triurbhs and dull the keeness OF intel
lectuai activities.
Do we want race of skilled tech
nicians. specialists in the complex
formulas and discoveries of science
Do we want mechanics, and engineers,
and inventors and experimentors?
Not to the exclusion of the fruits OF
fine reflection, and at the cost of poised
personality and individual distinction.
Do we want a deep and rounded
scholarship and a rich artistic culture!
Certainly we do, for it is here we
find the masters OF wisdom and OF
beauty from whose genius springs the
inspiration and ennoblement and
qentleness of life.
We want all these things from our
investment of education and we want
them in all the fullness that our YER
satilitv demands and our capacity can
develop
The obvious thing we seek, there
fore. by education is certain general
balance OF the whole person.
A youth may be as strong as an OK
and Just as dull. ),
He may be as clever as the devil
and almost as wicked.
He may be as gentle as a lamb and
almost as helpless.
He may be as gifted as genius, yet
as fantastic as goblin
We want at least fair equipment
Of knowledge, fair intelligence, fair
Judgment, fair moral strength, energy
and enterprise-and at least a faif
amount of refinement and OF culture
But this is not enough.
These embellishments after all are
the fruits that spring from deeper
and a richer soil. They draw tnen
being from more enduring ana
more vigorous factor-the basic eie'
ment we seek and struggle for as o
more profound and eminent worth, thu
primary and fundamental demand Q
all, the quality without which we per
ish and our youth grows up into III
tile and a spent generation.
# IS the factor we seek for first 9
| all the factor we want most, the facto
without which all our industry OF edu
cational enterprise is empty and OF q
avail-and that factor is CHARACIEf
It is character that gives permanenc
and worth to everything else; IT
character that gives the vital force
every other achievement; and u
character therefore that IS the suprem
end of education. ),
But what, after all, do we mean 2
character j i.
Do we mean "the sum Of all II
Qualities that distinguish man.
That definition, in effect, leads !
nowhere.
| Do we mean the power to impre:
, oneself. to WELD an influence abo'
ne. to make oneself felt in the u
Of the community?
That definition has pregnancy but
t can lead us astray
. A criminal can be as masterful
) a commander Of armies. :.
The best definition of all IS "a Il
$ that IS dominated by principle.
Y For life" means thoughts and wor
and actions, and principle means eth
cal conceptions imbedded in the MIN
= rooted in the will. and habitually a
y plied as motives of conduct.
e But even here we cannot rest; a
II other and more important word
needed. and that word is ideals.
An ideal means a type OF excellen
70 which we imagine as possible or q
IS sirabIe and towards which we aim
,r a standard Of our own per1ection'
Ideals in the end, means the gro
Of principles by which we are govern
and upon which we have set our he
lie as the guiding standard OF our NE
id Pursuing the ideal means cherlshl
j. the principle in mind and applying
IN conduct. The supreme task OF &c
! cation therefore, is to instil ideals. a
re ,h;s brings us to the very crux OF
IA no;nt by which we are ultimately
ve datarnine the value of the educat
ur we are giving; the test by which we
We 10 know If, through it and by 1t,
ds shall secure in the rising general
q those enduring elements which mi
no far nermanence and for progress.
n II is by the ideals OF its youth
the nation must stand or faiii " IS
= their ideals that the worth OF
ne youth is measured.
- To implant ideals, therefore, ula1
: HIGH and right and enduring is
,st tremendous responsibility Of the sch,
40 and Il is a fearsome and tremend
: responsibility for by its success
~ failure is civilization going to stanc
he fall q :
A0 The world is in great state OF c
!, flict today--not so much OF phys
me forces but Of moral; not OF arr
" hut Of principles; not so much
TO- peoples but Of ideals. All the old So
lions. all the old restraints all the
m asnirations which guided the past s
vi erations and builded upon the exp
ences Of mankind the civilization
ion eniov are meeting with assault
der out Of the consequent conflict eme
mic the query as to whittier we are e
mo- Are we headed for new
ous If universal enlightenment, cont
and ment. progress and peace, or IN
ali optimism are we like other civil