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Show If the Law Protects You, I You Must Live Up To It I "Every school should devote a portion por-tion of Its tlmo to teaching a respect for law" says nnd editorial In u recent lssno of a Salt Lako dally. Thus tho writer charges tho school and homos with not now doing so. Should our worthy dispenser of gossip make such a statement to ono of our stem mistresses mis-tresses of the realm of knowledge, Immediately Im-mediately thereafter, ho would surely sure-ly feel that ho was being subject to tho third degreo. Of course, sho could Justly maintain that Lopez and his woll wishers wero not products of her school; nnd, though hor ago Is an unknown annuity ranging from 18 to Infinity, we, no doubt, would bo-llevo bo-llevo her. Who then Is responsible for this disrespect for law and Its protectors? . A lad who sweeps tho floors of ono of tho local school buildings, was asked a fow daya ago If ho had any knowledgo as to who had broken a certain window glass t "X don't know," ho replied. "Hnvo you tho least Idea as to who might, hnvo dono so?" "No, I haven't," was tho prompt ro-Ply. ro-Ply. Tlmo roveals all things, says nn ancient provorb, nnd wo, weak mortals, mor-tals, expect that tlmo may bo during our llvos. In this enso our expectation expecta-tion was realized. So it camo to pass thn,t knowledgo was unearthed showing show-ing thnt tho window was broken whllo tho swoeper was present; further thnt he know of It at tho tlmo, and, of courso also at tho tlmo ho was questioned. ques-tioned. Tho question naturally arises: Why did ho act as tho solf appointed protector pro-tector of tho ono who broke tho window? win-dow? His nnswors aio of most valuo thoy aro first hand . Thoy also show tho general attttudo of children tho ones our friend from tho school room and parent from tho homo, must ad mit that thoy train. "I will not tell on nobody when M they do anything," was tho over and M over repented reason for his criminal H actions. I sny criminal because it H was Just that disposition that our M newspaper friend harangued so about ft pnd showed conclusively was crim- MM irnl. "I won't tell." Somohow and Issl form no known reason we hnvo got H to bellovo that reporting mlsdemean- M ors, or ovon crimes Is sort of sneak- H lug. As a mnttci- ot tact it is a duty jH to report law breakers of any kind. M Our theoretic philosophers, I am well H awnro, will say: It Is much bottor to M teach a child to tako caro ot himself. jfl Wo grant that If every child took care jH ot himself thero would bo no mlsbe- H havlor among children and In tlmo M thero would bo no wrong doing among H ndults. In othor words: If wo wero jH perfect wo would not bo Imperfect. H But wo dnro not hope to ovor attain M that hnppy state. Gradually wo aro jH coming to accept llfo ns It is and M mnko tho very best ot It. -H Why not then train our children liH for tho llfo thoy must llvo as men H nnd women; for tho llfo In which wo ! llvo? Get rid ot the "I won't tell" M code of ethics and ndopt ono which jLI says: if I want tho law's protection I must aid It as best I can; reporting iMW evory Infraction of Us rules to tho '-1 proper authority; and thus mako the ',H ovll doer so much fear dotoctlon, thnt lE lin would ccaso to walk in his old and lH forblddon paths. In tho doing ot this parents and teachers nltko can assist t'.sl by encouraging tho children to respoct ?S tho work of tt pollcoman; to report; F-9bI themselves any wrong doing thoy may i-tfl hnpiHsn to soo and causo thom to know ,S that Uio "I won't tell," attitude Is -'fl admitting that they thomsolvos aro guilty ot part ot tho acts of tho mis- fF'fl creant they protect, Just as tho pur- 8 V chaser of stolen goods is hold guilty fl along with tho thief. jJ uMM |