Nogales International

Editorials

Public Schools And The Moral Code

School will open today. The children will be taken from the more natural element of free play to their less natural environment of study, with directed play added. What the public schools mean to our community and nation can not be written in editorials nor published in books; can not be sung in song nor painted in picture; can not be lectured from platform nor preached from pulpit. The influence of education must be EXPERIENCED. What We turn out from the schools as graduates we pour into the community as citizens. By what moral influences and by what moral standards should our children be surrounded during these plastic years of school life?

The first and foremost, above books and curriculum, far above fine buildings and spacious lawns, even above disciplinary codes should be the HIGH AND NOBLE CHARACTER OF TEACHERS. A child not only reads his books and studies his lessons; he is influenced by the mannerisms, the attitude and the very moral fibre of his tutors. Many children fairly absorb the personality of the teacher. The perfect teacher, or the perfect principal, or the perfect superintendent, is that man or woman in whom the child places complete confidence and from whom the child expects elevating guidance. When good morals cease to be paramount to spelling and geography the structure of education fails.

School boards and trustees can not exercise too much diligence in these matters, such as the selecting of teachers and others in authority who are possessed with a high degree of honor and obedient at all times to the recognized codes of gentlemanly and womanly conduct. An application may be ever so profuse in its recommendations and truly show the applicant to be splendidly fitted for the position sought, yet assiduous watching from year to year is a mark of prudence which finds it virtue only in its continuity. Unfortunately, moral character has no assurance of stability.

Why should one be solicitous to insure good moral character in the schools? Because the schools contain the community's dearest and most promising possessions--its children. Every teacher and school authority who loves his and her profession and wants to see it maintained on a high and sacred plane will join in full accord with these sentiments. Every loving parent will, and every childless taxpayer should, be likewise devoted to these best interests of our educational institutions.