Show EDUCATION A th ith special reference to the teaching of theology la in schools BY fl a W R aa s published statement made by a french writer that the departments in france which are the most enlightened and send the greatest number Dumber to the schools produce the greatest number 0 criminals and that the most moral of the departments are those which send the lowest fewest children to the schools indicates most distinctly that mere education without reference to its character is not enough this condition demonstrates an important fact that the social safety and pros prosperity perit of any people are not to be measured by the number of schools alone it is the character of the schools that must influence and determine the moral status of society toe bryla cry ia utah is and ever has been educate and it is urged that public schools should place the means of education within the reach of all exclusive of any moral or religious teaching in that would influence the youthful mand mind this kind of teaching and education is claimed to be essential to the maintenance of that ahat freedom of thought necessary to preserve iree free institutions from being brought under toe the influence of religion respecting which there must be no law and in Ac bools no moral or religious training 6 knowledge simply considered is nothing but power and knowledge thatis imperfect merely mechanical or speculative without the culture of the mind and without being blended with moral influences is a dangerous power schools alone have not the talismanic talisman lc virtue to preserve anspro mote free institutions something more than free education i is necessary to train up th the people to that free and happy condition for which enlightened nations are seeking the failure of schools to accomplish this in trance a well as in parts of our own country as shown by statistics StAtiStIC SOS ris a lesson that should not go unheeded this lesson teaches us that popular education to answer its purpose must be not on only thorough and practical but must be moral or religious what I 1 mean by a thorough education is something more than to is usually taught in the common school it is the education of all or constituents of human nature mans moral nature mast be put to school and be educated or the most important faculty of at the being remains undeveloped and without which that developed which be a does acquires acquire is often misapplied to lifes great purposes being used for evil instead of at good the kind of common school education that serves to nil fill one with vain ca conceit geelt and a pride of what he knows rather than the use he be makes of it is not aliat w bat is needed an important requisite to a sound and wholesome popular education is tt that L at it be practical by practical education I 1 do not mean merely or chiefly that which Is to be em I 1 oy ed upon machinery or other ph physical lea I 1 improvements however valuable 1 or important to the Vr progress ogress of civilization but that which G is roost most truly practical is that which bears upon the machinery of the human mind that which brings briage forth the fruits of intelligence and virtue this is the great and truly practical end of all proper education and should be distinctly kept in view especially by the teachers of at our oar youth they should enter upon the discharge of 0 their duties not merely to make good secular scholastic grad graduates dates who vhf can pass an examination with credit but to do all in their power tb rear up for society intelligent and virtuous men med and women good parents and children good friends and associates to engraft upon the youthful mind that love of knowledge and virtue without which they cannot be useful baor nor happy nor fitted for the great duties of life much of the knowledge gained in our common schools will in a short time pass away from the memory a and nd if those taught have not gained habits of thought of discrimination of research the time and expense of their education is largely thrown away I 1 however thorough or practical a common school education may be made it is not to be overlooked that a complete and sound education must be moral must be reli religions gimis must take hold of the nobler part of human nature and enlist it in the cause of human progress it has been said that there can be little or no morality without religion practically this is not nat far short of th the e truth ruth they are essentially the same in principle with alf different ferent objects the on fana 3 having regard to toa society the other to the supreme being in both cases demanding the same principle of rectitude man owes duties to society those duties deman i the excellence of morality alith without anich they cannot be per performed armed A good moral train training tug is demanded by all the want wanes of society in all civilized communities where f tree ree institutions are to be maintained and it is of the b highest all consequence that men should feel that that they are bound to the performance for mance of their worldly duties by their allegiance to him who made the world there cannot be a more mare fatal mistake in ed educating t toe lie youth ot at a tree free country t than he to leave v religion out but of the plan to leave the moral culture of the mind to the influence of chance or the inevitable results at neglect they should be reared with reference to the essential wants of their being as well as to the general conditions of life mans spiritual nature is his bis highest nature his moral capacity and powers are as positive as his bis agency or the conscience that than rules him they austbo developed educated or man is not the representative of his maker not that intelli intelligent gene baug creasea created for liberty happiness power and dominion if the object of a judic judicious lons education is to develop the principles of human nature and it if one of them be tha moral principle why shall it not be put to school so to speak as well as an reason or memory or imagination why should there not nob be classes in every school in the rudiments of the science of morals as well bejla 9 th in the rudiments of geography mathematics ps or natural history to every instructor ot of youth a sphere is opened for the exertion of the noblest talents and virtues it heaven has given to any mauj Ilent or enthusiasm or virtue or piety it is an wanted in the schoolroom school room and be cannot choose a nobler field fiela for its action to labor tor for and wyte his pupils to win their affections I 1 i to quick buic 1 en in them the love of knowledge to raise se U up sound on nd scholars tot for literature PI patriotic a t r lot citizens 1 I 1 e 2 for the caun country try and glorious lariat 1 m men e for the w world rio let h him in do 0 this aad ad he be will have grateful witnesses of his bis worth and cause a generation unborn to rise up and call hin blessed neither should the instructors s task be accomplished by teaching morals from a book he on ought to blend alen d mars moral I 1 influences as much as possible with the whole course of education he ought himself to be a man iau of high and pure moral sensibility to have that stron strong and feeling perception of the excellence excellence of all virtue that that would reveal itself in the glowing countenance and the kindling eye when he speaks of it to have that highest ol of all religious culture which is requisite to the right t and salutary enforcement of discipline and infliction of penalties no man ministers at a holler altar than he be his aim should be to make good men as truly as to make good scholars the heart is committed to his care as truly as the understanding der standing the fact icat that in utah such i eions can be found in successful operation is more than creditable to the wise counselors who have given direction and aid for the establishment of academic schools in every organized stake in which theology may be taught and man be permitted ermit ted to learn of las bis dutie to his god god as well as to society and himself that sach aach schools are appreciated by the people is evidenced by the fact that suitable buildings cannot be found large enough to accommodate the applicants cants for the class ot of men n needed for teachers can be found among the elders of israel who will make a glorious success or of this departure from the he old way schoolmasters schoolmaster s who will not fear to battle with the traditions and errors of past ages is as they educate the hosts boots or of the min rising g generation Hene ration and aad fill their minds with truth and knowledg r the con truth must IG for man till ignorance error are vanquished and an en bened conscience becomes the sate safeguard of free thought free government govern mente and the free agency of every human being that lives to honor his maker to leave the moral culture and spiritual growth of a nation or community to the pulpit is a gr elvous error it to is not when humanity is matured without proper cultivation that lessons of virtue should first be taught in the school room upon the youthful mind is where lasting impress impressions ions i are made and the foundation tor for a virtuous life is laid that period of life neglected and a lifes opportunity is virtually lost As the twig is bent the tree is inclined 11 the mother in the family and the teacher in the school are mighty forces in a free and christian cl civilization ii I 1 z bation such as our age demands and such as is necessary to the perpetuity of free institutions and the liberty that elevates and brings happiness to humanity the idea that the young mind should not be influenced by religious teaching originated with skeptics sceptics and infidels asanall as an aid to the universal infidelity of the human race latter day bain saints should marshal and train ane hosts oi their youth to wage a commendable warfare against both boil ignorance and infidelity until the earth is tilled filled with the knowledge and glory of god |