Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-07-03


sary to administer q little corrective discipline to
reduce the spoiled children to order. Then is he
| a 'tyfant, and must be turned OUT; and so the
school is broken up, or its usefulness destroyed.
These same children have often heard, during the
vacations OF the school, excataations like the fol-
lowing: We'll, declared how noisy these chill
dren are | shall be glad when school begins.--
III keep day Of thanksgiving, for they don't
now give Inc a moments peace; and then they
WILL at least for six hours in the day, be out Of
NE pGyP All such parents teach their children,
that the school is but place to keep children
'out Of the ray These children look upon the
school.toom as prison house, where the buoyant
spirit Of childhood is held down as with iron
chains. Do they 60 without reluctance? Do
they learn when there? Nay, verify. The parent
has not sent them to learn, but to get them 'ou,
Of the ray To escape the drudgery OF the
schooroom is with them praise worthy act; and
they are always ripe for mischief we'll knowing
that, if detected and punished, they will find tho
parent aiding and abeting them, and condemning
the teacher. have not yet forgotten the schools
oil my early boyhood, when our parents and
friends used to assist Us, and give US friendly adj
vice for our encouragement They were schools
OF rapid advancement; profitable TO the parent,
more profitable to the teacher, and most profita.
JIG ~ wv I'ujI'S' lLCt pdItulS ana lTleuOS 90
thus now. and a mighty change would soon be-
apparent in the usefulness Of our public schools.
Another reason why they are not better is found
in the fact that unsuitable teachers are employed.
Either they are too young and inexperienced, or
are intellectually and morally unqualified. Tho
too young cannot command the respect, nor exer-
else the paterna or maternal influence to mako
the school room a home to the pupils. The in
experienced know not how to treat the vast vari-
ETY. Of constitution and disposition found in a
public school. They viii therefore make fools
Of some and blockheads Of others, and scholars Of
none The intel'ecuaUy unqualified will always
be treated with derison; while the n1oyaUy IN.
qualified will dluse such an influence among tho
children, that the evil done will more than coun-
terbaIanco the good receiucd. Persons who en-
gage in teaching merely to make money como
under the last category. Teachers in the Chris
tan economy were among the gifts Of Chrat. and
he who engages in the business should feel him
self called TO it by the inward convictions Of
moral d'tty, rs much as he who is called 10 preach
the gospel; for do not understand an economy
that gives the first lashioning and training OF I'M
mortal spirits TO the control OF unprnciped and
wicked persons, and then blame ministers for not
making good men Of Them Let the work Of
teaching be in tie hands Of men trained to this
the light triling, ungody youth who are now
oltentmes found, as intruders into this response.
bic and honorable office.
Another reason why our public schools are rot
better, is found in the unsuitable method OF teach
ing pursued. Children are taught 1rordS, and not
ideas; and when asked for the reason OF anything,
they seldom ge. beyond the book says so.' One
great evil Of this method OF teaching is. solid
literature is laid aside and trdSh>-nolutinc blast
ing, whitening, soul destroying trash-takes up the
time and talents Of the reading community. And
what is worse than all, The Bible-the best Of
books-is too old fashioned to be read, too prosy
for minds thus specifically illuminated.
Let children be taught to Think Let atten-
ton be paid 10 the idea, rather than the uords Of
lesson, and our schools will be better Insteed
Of the press teeming with novels, we shall SEQ
issuing from it useful, moral, and religious read
ing; ard generation OF sober, industrious, and
well,informed people will arise, to bless the
world, and perpeuate the same blessings to fu-
ture generalions.--Nohcr's assistant.