Joseph Herschel Coffin

The Socialized Conscience Joseph Herschel Coffin

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913 edition. Excerpt: ... Chapter V. THE CRITERION APPLIED: THE SCHOOL AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AGENCIES. A. The School. I. The Moral Obligation Op The School. Educational and moral ideals.--Whether it is specifically emphasized or not, the educational ideal and the moral ideal must be one and the same, at basis. For example, "social efficiency"1 is the educational ideal adopted by many at the present time. By this is meant the ability to pull one's own weight in the struggle for life, not to be a drag upon society, but rather a force for good. A little reflection will make it clear that social efficiency involves morality as a part of itself. For example, stealing is a moral wrong--even though it be done in the refined modern way of using a false bottom in the measure. The man who does this is socially inefficient; he is by this means getting profits for himself at the expense of others, and is therefore a' drag' upon society. The man who "bears false witness" by the refined method of publishing a dishonest or misleading advertisement is as socially inefficient as he is immoral. In like manner, the breaking of any of the rules of the decalog means social inefficiency. Hence, social efficiency involves morality. 'Bagley: The Educative Procei, Ch. III. While there has always been substantial agreement between the educational and the moral ideals, there is far greater need today than ever before that the educational ideal shall be stated in moral terms. While the moral worth of human character is no greater now than it has ever been, the complexities of modern society put a far greater strain upon it now than was formerly the case; there is need that every individual shall be even more firmly grounded in the principles of morality, and that he be able to...