The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-07-12

Some possess high. some low ideals;
some are religiously inclined, others
lean toward the atheistic or agnostic
persuasions; some are red, some are
pink in their political convictions; some
are conservative and others radical;
some favor companionate marriage and
others even hold to the doctrine that
marriage is not necessary in these days
of modern enlightenment. In short, one
can find in the educational institutions
of the land, every conceivable shade OF
conviction in respect to any controver-
sial subject that can be mentioned.
Imagine subjecting the young, recep-
tive minds of our boys and girls to such
instruction. Remember. the bars would
be down and the teachers would be the
only Judges of what should and should
not be taught. Not considering the mis-
chief that could be done in the grades,
the pupil in junior high and high school
might come under the influence of a
complete and total muddle of instruc-
ton. One instructor might paint the
glories of the communistic regime, and
decry our own form of government.
Another undoubtedly would feel at lib
erty to inject atheistic beliefs into the
pupils minds, soothing at all forms of
religion as only the hangover of the
time when humanity was ruled by what
he or she would term superstition. An
other might have little regard for the
moral code and would let fall sly re-
marks and arguments to ridicule as
old-fashioned those who still believe
that the human family is best off when
it is moral. AS remarked above, the i'm
questionable young student might be
subjected to arguments favoring COM
panionate marriage, with emphasis on
the beauties of free love. Such topics
arise. it should be understood, in study
of the social subjects. And the young
student might run the ganut of all
these combative and controversial sub
iects in one days work in the school
room. or, at the most, within few
DAYS work. What an awful middle
would result in the students mind and
what perfect arrangement for harm
that could never be corrected
Strange as it may seem to some
teachers, parents in large numbers still
hold to the old-fashioned conviction
| that one of their greatest duties IS TO
guard carefully the ideals and convic-
| tons that are implanted in the minds
of their sons and daughters, for they
well know that from that planting
comes harvest of Joy and Happiness:
and worthwhile life. or one of misery
shame and wasted years. Convinced
| that to thus guard the education of thei
children is God given duty, they vii
/ never consent to a system whereby thu
Young minds of their children will b
subjected to all the vagaries of convic,
ton held by altogether too many OF oul
i educators today. We're such condition
allowed to develop, there would b
bitter battle from the very beginning
Such conflict would eventually ent
in the establishing of private school
in greater and greater numbers, wher'
the parent would have some choice Il
what would be taught his child If ant
when that time comes, the publ
school system would face desperate
battle for its very existence.
Discussion Of controversial subject
of too dangerous nature has bee
! kept to minimum in our publ
schools because of recognition of tn
mischief that might come from sue
discussion. Although the schools hav
largely been kept free from that sol
of instruction, nevertheless it has bee
possible to build up system OF educa
ton that has been cause OF pride I
every American The teachers, ,
adopting the resolution above referre
to, we're treadfng or dangerous groun'
if they only knew it.