Discovery of old books

One of my secret joys is stumbling upon the odd old book in the library. This book was published the year my Father was born in 1953, still reeking of deep post-WW2 reflections, fresh from that era. :) And surprisingly, the forward is interesting and relevant to what I'm writing. I think it's stumbling across these books and the ideas of these men that spice up this writing journey! I always hope I can quote from them or use their words to garnish my works, so that I can bring back to life lost messages from the past!
 
"The impact of events consequent to the Second World War has left the peoples of the Western countries seething with unrest but with a new wine of idealism which has found expression in a fierce devotion to freedom and democracy in direct conflict with the totalitarian Soviet state. Religion of the free countries, especially Christianity, has engaged in open ideological warfare with the atheism found behind the iron curtain.

In a period of drastic change in social organization, such as has been prevalent in the United States for two decades, a parallel can be found with the days of the French Revolution during which social confusion followed a rapid departure from traditional religion and temporary moral chaos ensued. Acceleration of change, free-thinking, emphasis on rights rather than responsibilities, material prosperity - these and other characteristics of our period have resulted in weakening the cords of a common faith to which adherence had been given and, in turn, have weakened character.

True, the churches in the United States now claim the largest proportionate membership in their history, and there is much idealism. But there is a growing tendency for man to regard himself as the measure of all things, self-sufficient, and the arbiter of his own destiny. The current philosophy has resulted in intense activity, but activity often undirected or misdirected - activity which is aimless, pointless, and spiritless. Ours is said to be an age of secularism, scientism and over-intellectualism.

Ultimate values have been discharged. In the confusion there is found a spirit of neutralism in teaching, in which the teacher deems it his obligation to present all views about vital questions, without himself leaning toward any solution, the student being left to draw his own conclusion on the basis of the objective facts presented. From this situation critics assert that life is losing its quality, that it is concerned with quantity of information without interpretation, that undigested knowledge lacks unity and direction and results in superficiality.

A recent survey indicates that college students are moved by concepts of expediency rather than definite concepts of right and wrong. In a desire to meet immediate problems there has been abandonment of fundamental knowledge of social and historical foundations, as for example in many social-studies courses, which have become merely glorified current-events courses occupied primarily with the present. A university president has declared that colleges should not be concerned with developing the student's character, this having been assumed as fixed before entrance upon his higher studies. So it is claimed education lacks direction and significance. Rudderless, it resembles a raft bobbing about uncontrolled on a stormy sea, rather than a ship piloted to its destination.

In modern education much is made of change and flexibility, less of stability. In the thinking of undergraduates social rebellion has greater value than social conformity. Freedom is the watchword; control, indoctrination, are decried. Current intellectualism finds little place for emotional elements in living,this being thought unworthy of the scholar.

Historically, extremes of social attitudes tend to follow one another. Rigorous control follows unbridled freedom; social control succeeds excessive individualism; periods of rapid change and relative stability alternate; variety and flexibility replace hardened customs. So it is with character education. A period of intellectualism is now being questioned and the pendulum swings in the direction of discovery, of interpretation, and of significance in life." (pp. iii-v)

E. I. F. Williams, Editor, Kappa Delta Pi Publications, Editorial introduction for "Character Building and Higher Education" by Ordway Tead, New York: The MacMillan Company, 1953