Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-09-03
MR.. JANNEY'S ADDRESS
E D u G At / @ N
(Loncluded. J

now proceed 70 give Soue view
on school discipline, which are the re
suits of my own experience and refec
ton, corroborated by the testimony o
the best writers | have met with on the
subject.
When we consider the true purpose
of education, which is not merely te
store the memory with the thoughts
and observations of others, but te
teach the pupil to think and observe
for HIMSELF to develop his own intel
lectual and moral nature, and to build
up character that shall sustain him
through life, we must perceive the
high importance Of judicious disei-
pline.
Unhappily, large proportion Of ev-
cry school has been so badly educated
at home, that the correction of then
habits requires on the part of the teach
er combination of wisdom and for
5earance that is rarely to be found. =
tits supposed by some, that children
who have been subjected at home to
harsh treatment and exposed to bad
examples, cannot be governed al
school without resorting to measures
of severity, but l believe this would
seldom be the case if the teacher would
exercise uniform kindness, mingled
with frmness and perseverance.
In the old method of government.
which, in the best schools, is now ex-
exploded, the teacher relied chiefly up
on three incentives to action: the feal
of pain, the sense of shame, and emu
latlon. All these motives are essen
TALLY bad, and have, in many cases,
the most corrupting influence. The
fear of pain inflicted by corporeal pun
ishment is a base motive, which i'm
pairs self-respect and tends to degrade
the youthful mind. | admit that it is
sometimes difficult to govern refracto-
ny buys without it, and | am not pre-
pared to say that the roo should be en-
tireIy withheld from the hands Of the
teacher, but l will say, with conf
dence, that be who can govern well
without it gives the strongest evidence
of fitness for his office. In the govern
ment of female pupils, the inliction Of
corporal punishment is entirely unne.
cessary, and can only be exercised in
an age of barbarism.
The fear of shame, which is gener-
ally excited by making the cuIprn an
object Of rldicule Or contempt to bis
comrades,-operates most unequaIly
and often with the most signal injns-
tice. II is felt with terrible force b,
children Of delicate temperament, ant
passes almost unheeded by the obtuse
and hardened offender. Emulation
when excited by prizes to be won from
competitors, is always attended by sell
fish and unamlable feelings, and some
times gives rise to the worst passions
of the human heart. When we &c
forth among men in the active bust
ness of life, we find enough of selfish
ness,-in the disposition so generally
prevailing, to beat down competitors,
to trample upon rivals, and to seize
the glittering spoils that ambition ane
avarice hold out before us,-why, then
should we introduce these perturbine
passions into the generous minds O
youth Can all the intellectual prog
ress they make, compensate for the in
jury inflicted on their moral nature p
To illustrate the sad effects of thl.
practice, l will quote a passage from ar
essay written by an experienced teach
er:
81 was first awakened to the grea
evil Of emulation, by being obliged te
bestow FIVE medals in class of seven.
ty-fve, after a years exertion in Their
studies. ! remember that | had {
shudder when it was first made know,
10 me that | should have this to do
already anticipated how difficult i
would be to do it. | felt that | shoule
! not be able to estimate the exertion.
that would be made. could at bes
judge by the efect,-a rough and IN.
just mode ofjudging, always. /, l soor
saw the influence of the announcement
of these prizes upon the competitors
| saw the free, manly, generous bear
ing of the boys toward each other
| which had subsisted while they wer,
underline kindly Influence of reasonable
motives, giving place to jealousy ane
suspicion,-to an inordinate desire Il
elevate themselves and to deprecia.'
their fellows.