Proper Education
17
Men who have good physical powers should educate themselves
to think as well as to act, and not depend upon others to be brains
for them. It is a popular error with a large class, to regard work
as degrading. Therefore young men are very anxious to educate
themselves to become teachers, clerks, merchants, lawyers, and to
occupy almost any position that does not require physical labor. Young
women regard housework as demeaning. And although the physical
exercise required to perform household labor, if not too severe, is
calculated to promote health, they will seek for education that will fit
them to become teachers, clerks, or learn some trade which confines
them in-doors to sedentary employment. The bloom of health fades
from their cheeks, and disease fastens upon them, because they are
robbed of physical exercise; and their habits are perverted generally,
because it is fashionable. They enjoy delicate life, which is feebleness
and decay.
True, there is some excuse for young women’s not choosing house-
work for employment, because those who hire their kitchen girls gen-
erally treat them as servants. Frequently their employers do not respect
them, and treat them as though they were unworthy to be members
of their families. They do not give them privileges as they do the
seamstress, the copyist, and the teacher of music. But there can be no
employment more important than that of housework. To cook well
and to present healthful food upon the table in an inviting manner,
require intelligence and experience. The one who prepares food that is
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to be placed in our stomachs, to be converted into blood to nourish the
system, occupies a most important and elevated position. The position
of copyist, dress-maker, or music teacher, cannot equal in importance
that of the cook.
The foregoing is a statement of what might have been done by a
proper system of education. But time is too short now to accomplish
that which might have been done in past generations. But we can
do much, even in these last days, to correct the existing evils in the
education of youth. And because time is short, we should be in earnest,
and work zealously to give the young that education which is consistent
with our faith. We are reformers. We desire that our children should
study to the best advantage. In order to do this, employment should
be given them which would call into exercise the muscles. Daily,
systematic labor should constitute a part of the education of youth even