Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1843-06-23
MORAL RELATIONS BETWEEN
TEACHERS AND PUPILS.


TEACHERS AND PUPILS.
The great practical question, "Wha,
IS the thing most wanted, on the part oil
school teachers, in order that they may
fill more worthIIy their high and res-
ponsbIe officef' is thus answered by the
Rev Mr.. Putnam, 10 his report, for abe
select school Committee Of the town Of
Roxbury:
"lI is desirable, that the mind Of the
teacher should stand in a relation Of cor
dial sympathy with the minds Of the
children. He should not only acqusint
himself with their capacity for getting
lessons, but their tempers aud dispo'
tlons also. school should moi only Dr.
a mere machine for turning out good
reci tatons, but scene in which the
masters mind is centre from which a.
good influences radate, TO brighten and
expend all the other minds The hearl
OF child is great study for his teacher
and he ls but poorly fitted for his Office
I'LL he understands that heart, and knows
how to make his way 10 it. 1t enough
that The children receive all his instruc
;lons and do all his biddlngs; we wsnt TO
know what motives he appeals to, what
feelings he exciles, what spirit he dItiu
ses. The young buds OF spring want
sunshine, and so do young minds the
sunshine Of kindly and gracious words
and looks; they must have it, or be
dwarled and chilled Let US hear the
ordinary tones Of teachers voice in his
intercourse with his scholars, and We
can come TO conclusions as to his useful =
ness, quite es joa'end important Rs when
we have listened to the exercises nI the
classes. We can tell whether he cares
for the chiIdren's Improvement for their
Sakes, or onI y Tor his own triumph al the
next examination. And here lies the
difference between mere discipline
rian and true hearted, whole souIet
instructor, who is a diSciplinarlan TO be
sure. and great deal more besides
difference not sufficiently understood
4 borough disclplinarian. a successful
extractor of good lessons, is a valuable
man as tho world goes; but when you
find a man who. besides being This, has
sunny aud genial spirit an Agreeable
temper, a sympathetic heart, knows how
TO come III, draw out aud keep out, tb'
best, most generous and pure and hlgI
toned sediments in the breast Of chrId
and TO promote the growth OF the hear
and soul, as we'll as Of the inielect-h HI
is rare and great man; you cannot
prize him 100 much; money cannot paI
Tor he good he does
Corporal punishment, is not, and can
not be, absolutely prohibited in 90
schools. There are some young spiril
that cannot be brought under higher in
huences, except by this preliminary
The rules our board allow it only as
last resort. We would have it the teacl
er's strange work. And we trust il !
such in our schools. No instance o
such punishment that has been inVestI
gated by this committee, has given proc
OF any cruel and unnecessary severity
and yet we hope that personal chaatlse
ment will be found more and more On
frequent and unnecessary We mus
not lake The rod out Of The teacher
hands, hut we may hope they will nevt
have the disposition, and very seldom
feel the necessity, 10 take it into Ihel
hands. But whipping is no greater eVl
than scoding, il so great, Tauuts threat
jeers, sulIen or sharp words, out break
Of ill., nature and Vexation, tones tixe
into hafshness, and looks unchangab'y
soured, these srs the pest Of a school
the bese;tIng sins of a leacher- tendeD
cles incident 10 his position, aud whicI
he has pressing occasion to resist :
These things ALLEVIATE his pupils fror
bin: put a barrier OF ice, nay Of shat
, spikes, between his mind and theirs
The intellect oil The child may be shar
! pened and crammed but his soul will b
( pnched and beegared; his spirit will b
either cowed and crushed, or else embl
, tered; aud he is permanently lnjUreC
! aud that 100 though he reclle like boo