The gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1798-1799, 1798-09-24

and jssuh might be baniiAed from TIE lehools
Of The Uaitad States.
Sccurging the back will ne Their enlighten the
head, Nor nlcns the heart Such diicPline may
be necelary for thole who are defined 10 be the
minons Of deipotc matters but is very VI
dapted to The free born children OF America.--
| The fgacious Romans confidered the icourge
as the oafe badge Of iervility, and expressly pro-
hbtcd, by law, the iccutgirg Of 4 Roman cit
izen. Children Of fevere parents, who have been
traine up by the difcipline OF bard bto7rs, are
often feen to be either fervile in their diiPoli-
tons, or brutal in their behavior And, when
boy in fchool undergoes the dhciPline OF the
lab, and, IN the Prelencc too OF his companies
of either lez, Whole etteem be .wilhes cultivate,
| it either fills him with bitter refentment, or de-
bates his fpirit and heloles an invaluable Por-
ton of his ambition and yirtue.-----t" But the
fcourge is necellary for the fuPpost OF proper
order ii flhooI without this init unlent OF ter
ror a matter would loie his authority. NO
luch thing. The only lnrc balls OF authority
in a mailer IS the eReem and affection of his
pupils In the Moragian ichool al Bethlehem,
the found of the lafh is not heard the fweet
| Mis is not confrained TO hold out her hand to
the differing ferula her OUTLETS heart pal
pitating with terror, and, in piteous accents,
pleading in vain for mercy.--Thoie inltruf
ors, filed with Chriaian benevolence, draw up
on the hearts of their pupils with the cords. Of
love. The law Of kindneis is in their lips Their
children are irrehlfibly impelled to love and
revere them as their bet friends; and do cheer
fully iubmt TO their authority. Before their
minds are blunted and perverted By improper
management, children, in general, have an hon
EFT franknels they are affeetionate-fond OF
appreciation & praile,and eafly wounaed by the
IDEAS of reproach and flame. A MATER, of an
eitimable & anlable character, may eaily inllnq
ate himielf into their affections. Tneywil look
up to hiIn as their friend as well as guide the
thoughts of having offended him viii wound
them deeply and the delire Of his appreciation
viii be a conitant Rimilus to their ambition and
AUDIBLE exertions. Having won over their hearts
he can mould and faihion them Ike Icft wax I:
| bis mild and winning exhortatons, advice, or
reprocf will gently intimate into their minds,
lie dew, that drills upon The tender graf !:
and there viii be no occalion of braa5iEhing the
and btterneis.-Or, indeed, if there fhould be
found fome children, who will not be won and
perfuaded to their duty by mild methods, their
parents may take them out Of lchool, for a Mort
time, and conhne them to conaant labor, and
they viii be glad to return and fubmit to fcho
laRic orders.--Or even if there ihould be
Tome desperate cafe, where the fcourge NUT be
applied, it ought 90 be 70 managed as fully 10
convince the offender Of the jultice and neceHi-
ity Of his puniihment, and that bis own good is
fought and intended thereby. Children have
as much right to juRice and fair dealings as
their parents and inarusors and they, who
have the power of punihing them, ought to be
under fuch reRraints asefhall prevent the abufe
Of this power. It is NOT expected that al maj
tiers will have as much philofophy as Socrates,
who being offended with his fervent, llid to him,
!" IqUOaA c6qgye yoa, II yss if I qgsrs not angry"
A fchoolmater has both judicial and exrcafivs
lpower there is no appeal from his fentence.-
The culprit, neither Perlonaly, nor By an atror-
| ncy, is permitted to difpute before him thole
| points Of law aud evidence that relate to his
cafe and the whole procefs, on the part Of the
judge, is, perhaps, conducted In the warmth Of
anger. Now, is there no danger, in flch cafe,
that child may be chaflifed, ether uadeferv-
eddy, or beyond his deferts ITO prevent
this, if the icourge mua be ufed, the iudicial
proceedings fhould be deferred, at Leaf one day
| from the nme the offence may have been com
mitted, that the mater may be (ure to act in a
diipaaionate manner. Iwilconclude,b by remark
| ing, that no clais Of citizens deGerve better Of
their countryt than the well qualified, dfcreet and
benevolent inaruetors Of chrildren and youth.
They are worthy Of great hoaor and encourage
ment.--And to form good infruaor, an
ahemblsge of The amable virtues Is requifitc,
rather than great and thinning talents. Purity
! of character, felfcommand, ffriet impastialty,
aptnefsto teach, free and engaging behavior
and, above al, the efufons Of benevolent
heart, daily nanifelted IN expeditions ofkindnefs
toward them, viii eae9ually penetrate and in
over the hearts Of children. A mater Of this
amiable Gait, provided he has an accurate