Excerpt from Moral Instruction in the Public Schools Through the Story

It is a matter of vital concern to those who have the interests of theeq nation at heart that ways and means be developed to give the children of our schools education along the lines of character building. That the children of today are the citizens of tomorrow is a truism makes it none the less imperative that we give careful heed to the kind of character material we are putting, or allowing to be put, into the moral structure of those future citizens. More and more the realization is growing that the school has not been doing all that it can in this important matter, and more and more firmly is the conviction being forced upon those who are thinking in terms of national interest that the school must take over as a definite part of its work the moral instruction of the children.

We need to appreciate the fact that the child begins life ignorant of the moral experience of previous generations, 'and minus the consequent moral wisdom. He must learn to speak the truth, to be kind, to obey, to do his share of the world's work, to serve the good. If he is to progress above the former level, he must be put into touch with that previous experience. And it is not enough for his best development that he be put in touch with it in the hit or miss way of the chance contacts with ordinary life. He must be made the possessor of the accumulated moral knowledge of the race. As he is trained according to carefully developed plan's in other branches of knowledge, so must he be in this. Only so can we hope to have a mass of citizens whose purposes and ambitions are in accord with our national standards and traditions and the ever expanding ideals of civilization.

The state department of education believes that results can be obtained in moral instruction through the use of stories which illustrate the virtues. In this pamphlet, arranged according to grades, are listed a number of stories illustrating particular virtues, which, as a result of a questionnaire sent out to the teachers of the state, it is considered desirable to try to inculcate in the lives of the children. Under each virtue several stories are given, with reference to the books where they may be found. Under the subject, Respect and Reverence, reference is made in each grade to Ethical Readings from the Bible. Teachers will find many passages referring to each of several virtues. They should make whatever selection that seems best suited to their needs.

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