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False and the True in Education
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those subjects that teach the right use of all the powers of body and
mind. It is folly for students to devote their time to the acquirement
of dead languages or of book knowledge in any line, to the neglect
of a training for life’s practical duties.
What do students carry with them when they leave school?
Where are they going? What are they to do? Have they the knowl-
edge that will enable them to teach others? Have they been educated
to be true fathers and mothers? Can they stand at the head of a family
as wise instructors? The only education worthy of the name is that
which leads young men and young women to be Christlike, which
fits them to bear life’s responsibilities, fits them to stand at the head
of their families. Such an education is not to be acquired by a study
of heathen classics.
Sensational Literature
Many of the popular publications of the day are filled with sensa-
tional stories that are educating the youth in wickedness and leading
them in the path to perdition. Mere children in years are old in a
knowledge of crime. They are incited to evil by the tales they read.
In imagination they act over the deeds portrayed, until their ambition
is aroused to see what they can do in committing crime and evading
punishment.
To the active minds of children and youth the scenes pictured
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in imaginary revelations of the future are realities. As revolutions
are predicted and all manner of proceedings described that break
down the barriers of law and self-restraint, many catch the spirit of
these representations. They are led to the commission of crimes even
worse, if possible, than these sensational writers depict. Through
such influences as these, society is becoming demoralized. The
seeds of lawlessness are sown broadcast. None need marvel that a
harvest of crime is the result.
Works of romance, frivolous, exciting tales, are, in hardly less
degree, a curse to the reader. The author may profess to teach a moral
lesson, throughout his work he may interweave religious sentiments;
but often these serve only to veil the folly and worthlessness beneath.
The world is flooded with books that are filled with enticing
error. The youth receive as truth that which the Bible denounces as