High School Morals and Christian Responsibility

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 30, 1906

High School Morals and Christian Responsibility

THERE appeared in the New York Independent, of August 2, an article entitled “The High School in Tyler,” in which a woman who writes from experience brings to light conditions in high school life which are conducive neither to education, Christian kindliness, manhood and womanhood, nor ordinary good morals. One would expect that the editor of a professedly Christian magazine, because of his larger view, would take at least as serious notice of the conditions depicted as did the contributor, possessing a narrower field of vision. The reverse seems to have been the case, however; and the editor, though admitting the degenerating conditions, seeks, in a serio-comic fashion, to “laugh out of court” the serious impressions awakened by a reading of the article.

It is one of the tendencies of the times to make light of the deteriorating influences that are so busy to-day recruiting victims among old and young, and the counselors and guardians too frequently have left their post of duty to mingle with the fun-loving throng.

Concerning one of the foibles which the contributor mentioned, the wearing of diamonds by high school students, the editor makes the following sensible comment:—

Of course it is absurd in a high-school girl to wear diamonds. But, then, it is absurd in anybody to wear diamonds. Last year we, the people of these United States, spent thirty-five million dollars for diamonds. This sum of money, which would have raised a hundred thousand families from poverty to comfort, might just as well have been thrown into the sea. . . . Those who contributed their millions last year to the estate of the late Mr. Beit [the British diamond king] did so purely for the purpose of showing to the world that they could afford to give Mr. Beit money without receiving any value in return. It was the custom in their set thus lavishly to bestow alms on the richest man in England, and they had to do it.

Indeed it would have been far better to have thrown the thirty-five million, or twice that amount, into the sea than that it should be used to pander to human pride and serve as a snare to the souls of men, women, and children. It would be better for the people of this country, too, if those occupying positions of great influence would recognize a serious situation when they see it, and would give to the people that counsel which would prove a savor of life unto life.