WPJlr" ' " " " *
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'Cbc Conservative.
OUR SCHOOLS.
It was a happy and timely thought
which moved the editor of the Outlook
to give in the last issue "A Study of
English Schools by nn American Teach
er" and "The Impressions of an Ameri
can School by an English 'M. A. ' "
Neither article hns much critical value ,
for confessedly they were both written
from a very harried and partial obser
vation. But they are good reading and
they set us a-thinking in these days of
school openings. The American was
cither very unfortunate in the location
of his English studies , or else the com
mon schools"board schools'as they are
called there , are -in many respects in
ferior to ours. The Englishman uufor-
| , " ; tunately bases his study on a single
visit to a private boys' school in Massa
chusetts. But candor compels the admission -
mission that this Englishman had keen
eyes and what he saw in this one boys'
school may well be taken as representa
tive of much in the life of the American
youth. He was particularly impressed
with the lack of self-restraint found in
American boys and the attendant in
accuracy and hurry. He also noticed a
"conspicuous harshness and loudness of
tf/vjj , the boy voices , " although he leaves us
to infer that morality and the standards
of personal purity are higher among the
American boys than those of the same
class in England.
The question of a proper curriculum
in our grammar and high schools is
much discussed in these days. On the
one hand there is a ceaseless call for
change and reform , on the other hand a
constant cry against fads and fanciful
studies.
r' . "We will not undertake to discuss
problems that belong to experts , but we
do venture to suggest at the beginning
of another school year that the most
obvious needs in the schools of America ,
public and private , today is courtesy ,
self-control and an interest in study as
such , not simply in study as a means of
-winning the diploma and passing up
while in school , and of making money
and getting into "society" after the
school days are over. The average
American graduate of both sexes turns
to life with two strong passions ; one is
a passion to make money without work ,
or , at least , to earn a living without
drudgery , and the other is to have a
good time. Money and fun are the
main quests of the American graduates
of intermediate schools today. The boy
and girl graduate are up in academic
slang. They are well versed in athletic
lore , have a full quiver of puns and
jokes and can sing college songs , but as
a class they are more interested in
"parties" than in poetry. They have
moi-e tune and money for the dance
than for the lecture. And they are sel
dom seen , with a favorite book , seeking
cpmpanionship .with genius in solitude.
America today pleads with the school
teacher to make ethical the instincts of
lor children , to spiritualize their joys ,
to refine their manners , to soften their
voices.
The school teachers resume their work
under discouraging circumstances. The
; wo months and more of vacation have
done much for their children physically
they come back in good blood and fine
form but seldom have they done much
for them spiritually. They come back
more boisterous and more selfish because
generally the summer is a season of self-
ndulgenco to children and too much see
: o the parents who can afford to leave
; ho holy burdens of the home behind
; hem for a time. "It always takes me
at least two weeks in September to get
the children back to the studious habits
and the attentive attitude which they
lad in June when the school closed , "
said a wise teacher of long experience to
the writer in a recent conversation.
In our public schools , at least , relig
ion must not be taught directly , for ob
vious reasons. It is too closely allied to
theology , about which there is too great
a difference of opinion among the tax
payers to make it possible without en
croaching upon the rights of some. But
inorality can be taught directly and re
ligion mast be taught indirectly in a
greater or less degree. Let the school
teachers realize their responsibility in
this direction. Ruskiu said there were
but three immaterial essentials to life ,
i. e. , Admiration , Hope , Love. Let our
schools give to tha children these "three
essentials , " and as much more as they
may. Let them give what they may of
anything else ; failing to give them
these they are but poor school teachers
and have not prepared their students
either for college or for life. The di
ploma that does not carry with it the
assurance of development in these lines
is a delusion and a snare , a mockeiy to
the child and a disappointment to the
teacher and the parent. Unity.
FROM A LONDON OLD BOY.
While the editor of this magazine was
attending the 1901 session of the Grand
Lodge of the A. O. U. W. , held in Ne
braska City , he had the pleasure of vis
iting with J. Sterling Morton at his
home , "Arbor Lodge. " Mr. Morton ,
by the way , is a great tree culturist and
is the father of "Arbor Day , " one of the
great holidays in Nebraska ( from which
state the custom has spread all over the
United States ) ; the school children all
over the state planting trees with appro
priate ceremonies. Thus Nebraska will
soon be a forest state , instead of a tree
less prairie , over which the cactus rolled
with tireless energy.
Mr. Morton is also editor of "The
Conservative" one of the brightest and
best gold-standard Democratic weeklies
in this part of the country.
During the conversation it developed
that Mr. Morton had more than a pass
ing interest in our old home town and
its various institutions , asking many
questions regarding them. He then re
marked "You know Morton
, my son , Joy
ton , was educated in Helmuth College ,
London. "
Where the boys receive their educa
tion and their first right start in life is
always a cherished spot through life.
While talking with Mr. Morton , the
state archaeologist , Mr. E. E. Blackman -
man of Lincoln , came in , and it was
not long before the London Old Boy
had found another real old London
'amily. "Ho is a direct descendant of
jrideon Blackmail , who moved from
Liower Canada to Upper Canada about
1810 , and entered a tract of laud half
way between London and Westmin
ster. " We are to have a very interest
ing story from the pen of Mrs. Blackman -
man , who was born in London. In this
respect the editor would like to hear
: roni the families of the Aliens , Brooks
and Halls , old neighbors and friends of
; he Blackman family of the olden days.
London Old Boy. '
Languages Taught by Matt
Textbook * tench you to read and
understand the language. The na
live teacher's voice , through
he Kdlson Standard Phonograph
graph , teaches the exact pro
nunciation. French , Spanish
or Clennan. Circular tree.
Inlrrnntlnnal .
Correspondence
.Schools , IloilaDO. Srnmlc > nl'n.i
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