Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1854-12-22
educational.
Insabordinatisn at School.

Youth is naturally more or less impet-
uous, self-wiIled, and impatient of re-
straint. The disposition of young peo,
pie to have their own way, is the occasion
of murh trouble and perplexity in schools
which is often made more serious by the
weakness and folly, blindness and infatua-
ton, Of such parents as encourage theil
children in habits OF insubordination; but
if it be, as all judicious and right-minded
persons must admit, primary part OF
education to learn the practice of self
government, then those who allow their
children to thwart the plans and wishes OF
the teacher, are doing them the greatest
harm. Mistaken and over-indulgent par
ents often encourage and sustain their chill
dren in acts of disobe1ience at school, to
which is traced their ruin and disgrace.
Society and government cannot exist
without subordination. This is law OF
Divine Providence which cannot b. brok-
en- without occasioning train of evils
proportionate to the magnitude Of the Of
fanse. 1t extends to and controls every
thing in creation, from the feather to the
solid rock Each must perform its Office
in its own appointed sphere. Suppose
the sun should stop in his career and re-
fuse for a day or an hour to fulfil his ap-
pointed objects, who could estimate the
mischief, not to our world only, but to
The entire system Of worlds, depending
upon him for light and heat! SO sin
gle act of disobedience may be attended
with consequences which may affect the
young to the end of life, or even become
infinite in their nature.
There are many parents who view the
matter in its true light, and are ever rea-
dy to cooperate with the teacher and ex-
tend to him warm and generous sympa-
thy in all iudicious methods for the right
government of their children. On the
other hand, there are many who are dis
posed, in every case of collision between
the teacher and the pupil, to regard the
former as having interests antagonistic to
their own; yet he is their representative
for the time, and acts in their name and
nhder their delegated authority. He is
doing for them what is required at their
hand by the laws Of nature and the ordi-
nations of Providence, and should be re-
garlled as the best friend Of both parent
and child.
1t often occurs in a school, that mild
but decided rebulse for an act of disnhe-
dience, carelessness, or neglect of duty is
given and occasions offense to the pupil.
He goes home with sad complaint of the
tyranny, injustice or partiality Of the
teacher, and the next morning the child is
removed from the school, without one
word of explanation, OF the least oppor-
tunity afforded for explanation. Perhaps
he is sent back with an insulting message
to the teacher, which leads to still greater
insubordination and the necessity Tor more
severe punishment. Now it may be that
the teacher was in the wrong, and the
child right; but is it not quite as reason
able to suppose the child in the wrong as
the teacher? Is it right, is it fair, is il
Just to inaict such a cowardly wound upon
the feelings Of the teacher without giving
him q private interview for his version O
the affair 4? Great injustice is frequently
done, not only to the faithful and labo.
!ious teacher, but to the pupil, which
might have been prevented by an explana-
ton Of the case. The teacher, while act
ting as the representative, and enduring
the petulence and waywardness Of his
children, has right to the sympathy and
protection Of the parent against the force
Of youthful passion and insolence. If it
is withheld, his usefulness is impaired Or
destyoyel--he feels that he is looked upon
with suspicious eye-he goes to his
work with a heavy heart, and, it may be,
is induced to abandon it in disgust that
the weary months Of scantily remunerat,
ed toll should bring insult and reproacl
for we l-intenled efforts and conscientiou:
discharge of duty. The offender is made
sole witness against him, and accredited
in his statements. A spirit of insubor-
dination and dissatisfaction is engendered
among other members of the school, which
destroys the influence and respect legiti-
mately due to his Office.
Long and ceaselessly active tongues be-
gin the work Of detraction and abuse in
the community. and the f'bieak down
process is carried on more zealously be-
cause prompted by the blackest and most
cruel motives that ever spring from de-
praved hearts. Such is often the teachers 5
reward for daring to do his duty.
Parents always require very much at the
hands of teachers. Often, as from the Is
raelites of old, the full tale of bricks is de-
mandcd by hard and unfeeling task-mas-
ters, while the straw for making them is
with-he Such parents seldom, if ever,
visit the school-room. They manifest lit
tie orno interest in the education Of their
children, until some apparent opportunity
for encouraging disorder and anarchy in
the school is presented.
In some communities the instructor is
often regarded in the light of a menial, a
fit of subject for censorious remark and
coarse treatment. What mistaken view
of the office ? To him are conided the
habits OF mind and formation of charac-
ter. To place 2 low estimate, upon the
teachers vocation is degrading the worth
Of the immortal mind committed to his
care and guidance. and therefore parents
should feel that their children have claims
above houses, lands and workshops; and
whoever neglects or perverts them il guilty
Of an infringement upon the laws Of hu.
mainly, s,aa $50 b.