THE ETHICAL PROBLEM OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 11 



the public schools know, theoretically, as much about the 

 forms of impurity at twelve and fourteen as they ever will. 

 Thus the situation calls for teachers wise in heart and head, 

 watchful in regard to this danger, and skillful in meeting it; 

 for the sense of disgrace that comes to many children from 

 the mere acquisition of this information is a blow to that 

 peculiar delicacy of feeling which exists with the highest 

 morality. In many cases the inherent force of home training 

 preserves the child from radical injury; but some children 

 never escape the wrong that is done them, others are led into 

 practices that seriously modify their usefulness, while still 

 others are ruined. 



The public school is a normal outgrowth of our social and 

 political order, and its tendencies are the logical outcome of 

 this order. Its dangers are those that exist in this democratic 

 state, but it lies in the power of the schools to eradicate much 

 of the evil in the state. It is difficult to say how this is to be 

 accomplished, but certainly the "most etfective method will be 

 along the line of the general improvement of the system. 



This improvement will be brought about by the divorce of 

 the control of the schools from partisan politics; by the ap- 

 pointment of teachers for merit only, merit in which force 

 of character should be regarded as a sine qua non; by the 

 introduction of scientific instruction to the exclusion of 

 mechanical methods; and by constantly making prominent 

 the idea that the pupils are being fitted for citizenship and 

 actual service. Something could also be said in regard to 

 the necessity of a larger number of teachers, in order that 

 the element of personal influence may be greater and more 

 immediate. 



As this paper is only a statement of the ethical problem 

 of the public schools, and not an attempt to solve it, it is 

 not within its province to discuss the many possible remedies 

 that have been suggested by teachers and others who are 

 studying this question. Few hesitate to say that there are 

 defects in the system, and possible moral dangers associated 

 with it, against which our national life should be guarded 

 with great wisdom and persistence. 



