The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-04-27
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
A MISSING NOTE IN EDUCATION

The American educational system is far ahead
persuaded that it is lacking in nothing to make it
more desirable.
To assume such an attitude would be form of
delusion.
As much as has been added to this system within
the last 80 years for the development of the mind
and the body, one wonders if a corresponding ad-
dition has been made to it in the way of moral
idealism and purpose.
George Eliot made Stradvarius say that he dare
not make q poor instrument, otherwise he would
be robbing the future.
Certainly, unless public and college education is
putting the best into the training of the manhood
and womanhood of the land, it, too, is robbing the
future of that which the future will imperatively
need.
Eventually, perhaps, we will get around to this
definite and systematic training in American
schools and carry it forth on the same basis of in
stuct;on with which history and mathematics and
physics and all these other texts are studied.
For the moment, the emphasis continues to be
upon the utilitarian and the secular upon the men,
tai and the physical.
These are not to be derided nor minimized. They
are on the other hand, to be magnifed, but along
with tnem it is vital that instruction in the moral
verties and lfes deeper purposes and idealisms
be carried along in concert.
There is in scientific culture certain refining
influence, but no element to purify the SOUL
Mental training without moral control may give
first honor men without honor, the keen reasoners
without power to control the appetite-the intel
lectual giant and the moral pigmy.
A cultured man may be more dangerous than
savage because fitted for more skilful evasion of
the law.
It is of the highest Importance that the ntellec-
tua and material education OF our schools be
matched by spiritual strength and moral control.
knowledge fits one to accomplish more, but does
not determine whether that "more" shall be help
full or hurtful.
The stability of the nation lies in the moral con-
lotions of its people.
Strengthen the conscience and every interest Of
society is safe; dull the conscience and no interest
If society is secure.
The school is the only place where the citizen
ship of tomorrow can be fully reached
The appalling growth Of crime in this country
shows that the most imperative duty of the hour is
the restoration of this missing note in our educa-
tional system.
The public school trains the masses; the colleges
and seminaries train the leaders.
This makes the omission of religious training IN
our state institutions national menace.
The hope of our country lies in our church edu-
cational institutions where religious training pro-
duces the complete personality.
There never was time when our church colleges
were more needed than now. Without them many
of our leaders will go out without this moral con-
troll that the present hour so sadly requires.
Many educators who few years ago advocated
the Punishment of religious teaching from our edu-
cational institutions are urging its return.
They claim to see in the youth being graduated
from our schools, and in the young business and
men who taking their places in
the world, lowering of moral control resulting
from the lack of religious Observation-Disclosures
Observer.