The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-09-13
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
MANNERS OF CHILDREN

hErUhI OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
MANNERS OF CHILDREN.
The Amherst Cabinet says: sihe State O.
New Hampshire may justly be proud of this
Report upon her Common Schools: for, if w,
are not mistaken, it compares favorably will
reports issued by Educational Boards in ihos,
States where tho greatest progress has beer
made in popular education.
This excellent Report affords. (and is of it,
self strong proof that the Board of Education
is accomplishing the end whereto it was os
tablishod, 6nd that the cause of popular edu-
cation is advancing in New Hampshire"
We agree with the Cabinet in It's estimation
OF that Report. We have examined it with
considerable care, and we are so strongly i'm
| pressed with its merits, that we regret il can
not bc 30 popu'arized as to be accessible to all
Like the Cabinet we intend to favcr our read
cis with soma extracts. In tho chapter upon
Manners" there is much which The bows
ought to read and remember. 1t seems to us
-pcrhaps we arc misiakeE-:hat tho spirit
OF lruo poIiteness among the juveniles is de-
creasing, as tho world grows older. BY the
term po!itencss we do not mean that affected
gcntility which displays tselfin grmaces and
congCes, bat The genuine rcspc:t for all sorts
of ~ prioty which springs impulsivcly from a
ind schooled to do right, for The rake of right.
The Toys Of this generation, as class, are re-
markably precocious-in rudeness. Perhaps
| they are even encouraged to the assumption
of manly attributes. b. fore they have sufficient
muscle OF mind or body, to wear them graceful
ly;-hcncc, possibly, IN ist of the r1deness the
world is disposed to lay to their charge
We presume boys OF this city are no worse
than others: yet who can pass from Shepard's
to Tcnneys Without cncountering some ins tan
COS ofjnveni'e impoltencss. 1t may not be
proianity, 'ulsarity, or overt rowdyeess Of any
Kind; yet it may rot the less surely.-if less
kecnly- offend that sense of pr1pre,y by
which boys are always judged. large por-
ton oflhcsc mlder foibles sping from prcna-
lure o'ioas Of manhood; and we are inclined
tn think that parents and teachers should re-
s:st the tendency of the times, by che'ishing
the natural and becoming diiiidcnce of youth
Until tho judgement j, sufficiently mature 10
dictate better conduct than all of us witnoss
daily. No rules of universal application can
be given; vet, teachers should remember that
more Intellectual training is least Of all in prac
teal importance. A modest, honest and kind
Ii AIRED al will got through the world pleas
aut'y, oven with no knowledge his A. B. C's;
while rnde. eIGriish boy will find Lie raaslhr a.sss r
road, eve n with his head stuffed full of Latin.
We extract ffom the Report:
Union Democrat
The parent who has proper regard for the
cul ivation of tho manners aud for The moral
training OF his children has cause for serious
apprehension, when he sends them TO the pub
lic ori tho private schools. The standard Of
manners and morals is altogether to low in
many OF these schools. And while no direct
and efectual effurts arc made to elevate it.
with what proprieiy can VIC call upon pcrents
to sustain tho common schools by sending
their children when they ject on the ground
ni bad manners and morals and deficient NOR
al training: tits not sufficient answer TO say.
'Send your children and thereby elevate the
character of the schools" The manners of
their children ore not formed. nor are there
moral characters established. The process of
ihcir education is going on and they cannot.
therefore, exercise a direct and efficient inhu
cnco in eevat'ng the character of tho school,
whlle they will be themselves subject to the
positive influence Of the school i'm moulding
their own characters.
There is much to lament and little 10 COM
mend In the manners of The children in many
of our schools. They are often rude and bois-
terons in their Intercourse with each other,
al disrespectful to their teacher aud Other
persons. Very frequently they appear to be
whoiy ucsiituto oil any sense of the respect
due their elders, and altogether wanting in
deferontal bearing towards the r superiors
which is so becoming children Sometimes
when teachers improperly dismiss their schools.
while members Of the committe or other visit
ors are present, it requires goodeal of skill
IN lodging to escape being run over by large,
boys
There are some schools where passer by,
III The time ofreccss would be exposed to very
rudc conduct, especially If he were to address
iome good natured remark TO the pupils. As
soon as his back was turned he would. most
likely, hear loud laugh, an insulting shout or
some other indication of i'll breeding.
The bad manners of children i'm our schools
ire also manifested IN disrcspcctful attitudes
md tones, disregard of feelings and convc.
hence of their teachers and fellow pupils. i'm
brutal conduct towards younger and delicate
children, unceany habits and practices, and in
many other ways which it is unnecessary to
but ofwhicb all persons conversant I
with schools have had painful experience.
There is a want of deferential. respectful and ,
bhging department among US, which is not
onfned to children, but which in them is ,
norc apparent and offensive Wo arc inde- '
'ondent people, enjoying the largest liberty. !
md we are so carried away with the idea, that
Te are prone TO emancipate ourselves from res
raints OF gooi breeding and to declare our in !
dependence of the small courteces of life."-
The people are tho kings and mobiles Of the z
Ind, and having no higher powers to bow to. G
'e are from habit disciplined to the dcferential .
caring that adorns intercourse between O. q
uas. Freed from the obscquious manners a
nd tones of infcrious, we are too apt to Iibe- a
ate ourselves from a subjeciion TO the laws of @