Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-03-17


turn male teacher out Of doors, when under
a female teacher, is all kindness and obed-
ence. The one depends upon force, the Other
upon kindness. The inference is easily drawn.
Remember, corporal punishmental ways does
teacher, offender and school, a positive inju-
ry; and learn to hesitate long ere the rods de-
scends. Where the teacher has the confidence,
esteem and regard Of his pupils, look, word
OF remonstrance will always answer the pur.
pose Ii he have not these, no whipping
will command them. Much to be sure, will
de,;cond upon the kind OF look, and word, and
remonstracce. No two can be treated in the
same manner, am. even the same person can.
not be approached in Inc same way at differ.
ent times. Viewed iu this light, what resPon-
face, but not by far SO deeply as the heart; an
ger inhames the blood, and sets the soul on
Ire; while hatred fastens its cerroding fsngs
too deep,,r in .he breast to be extracted with
ordinary effol, anu it may be, not at all.
The heart, that should ever he typfed by the
pure and crystal spring, is riied uf, made tur-
bulent and muddy, by the "rod Of correc-
tion," alas wand of debasement. T,niis is
no over-drawn picture. IT'S only what the
nice observer will read in the heart of every
school child smarting under the rod, unless in
deed the hardening process has Been contnu-
ed until the youthful spirit no longer wrilhes
under public shame and disgrace. AS bone or
sible position and aborious avocation is the
teacher's-and withal, now many weeks,
months, and and even years mustpass, ere the
rich harvest of his labors can be realized!
This thought suggests the inquiry, Is there
no ol, 81,
hand way is devised for doing everything;-
but work oftrue greatness and real worth re-
quires the industrious hand and patient heart ;
and great results attained by other means, are
prizes from the wheel of fortune, drawn amid
ten thousand times as many blanks. There is a
shorter and easier way to control the school. 1t
is this: Subject all offenders unrelentingly to
the rod, and make the weight keenly and fire.
quently felt The prerequisites are, strong
arm and convenient hazel brush. Order may
be kept so long as the teachers eye is on
the school, but the sight of his back is the sig
nal for recess of obedience, so far as proicien-
cy in cunning and fear of physical pair. will
permit. But at what sacrifice is even this
drop in the bucket obtained. The only i'm
pulse acted upon is animal fear, one Of the
lowest of our nature. Hence, not one of
the virtues being exercised, the character can
not be changed for the better. On the other
hand, our lowest passions are called into vio
lent action. Revenge embitters the feelings,
cuts and sears the affections; shame stains the
face, bu: not by far SO deeply as The heart;
anger infsmes the blood, and sets the soul on
Ere; while hatred fastens its corroding fangs
too deeply in the bearst 20 be extracted with
ordinary effort and i: may be, not at all. The
heart, that should ever be typifed by the
pure and crystal spring, is riled up, made tur-
bulent and muddy, by the "rod of correc-
tion," ALIAS wand of debasemeut This is
no overdrawn picture. 'Tis only what the
nice observer will read in the heart Of every
school child smarting under the rod, unless in
deed the hardening process has been continu
ued until the youthful spirit no longer writhes
under public shame and disgrace. AS bone OF
muscle is exercised it increases in strength and
activity. So with character. What then must
be the result of daily calling into action all the
baser principles of our nature, and leaving
its nobler impulses to smother and die their OBJ
scurity? Such is the manifest tendency OF
such school governnfeht as that described
} And yet their are those for whom nothing but
the rod will do. Ifthere could be such a one
the rod alone could make him so Few are
they in whom is not manifested, day by day,
some noble principle. some DIvINuM LUMEN
which may be made the corner stone of an ex
alted character.
Few are they who cannot appreciate kind
ness. forgiveness, respect, truth: and low IN
deed is that nature sunk, which, by continu
ed association with such virtues, will not 4
naly give response; which response may b'
made leaven, leavening a vast amount OF g
, vii.
"But," it may be asked. lis the teacher un
der obligation TO take upon himself SO labori
ous, so difficult a task? Is it his place to max
himself an active agent in the reformation Q
charactsr?" The query is easily answered
Order must be kept. Only two plans can b.
adopted. The one cannot fail to exercise
an influence, for good, all within its compass
Let the parent and the teacher settle be
tween them the question of obligation.
We confess the work we would perform
may, in many cases, prove tedious one; bu
when done, it is wholly done. So it is with al
reforms. and especially the moral reformation
We are often assured that truth and righ
will prevail-though at the same time it seem
that error never will resign her supremacy il
the human heart-and, OIL how often are W,
called upon the trampling of the right under
the feet of arbitrary power! Yet, we hope on
We have such unshaken confidence in tn,
principles, that our faith in the good time com
ing" keeps us high above the tide of despair
So let it be in regard to the substitution o
moral for physical force, in school govern
ment. We know there is sufficient moral pow
er in the school--and let us hope to see tha
power SO directed as to control the school, A
general thing the majority will readily yielt
10 such an influence, but ifothers resist its sway
remember that time with continued forbear
: ance. unruffied patience. and unfailing kind
: ness, have wrought out the salvation O
many a character, and still are strong to save
.. .. when all other panaceas are powerless for good
. A SEA MoUsE.-A beautiful living speci
E men of the aphordite is exhibiting in England
e The fish is six inches long, and presents thu