Western Reserve chronicle and weekly transcript of the times. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1854-1855, 1855-01-24
For the Chronicle
PLEASANT SCHOOL ROOMS.
BY A TEACHER.

why lhelr chlldren do not like TO attend
school better, and why they ask 10 be dis
missed before the usual time for closing
school has arrived. Perhaps those tha
are puzzled for an answer to these ques
tions have never visited a school room
since the days of their youth, and have
forgotten their school-day trials and vexa,
tons. 1t is not 50 strange a thing to those
accustomed TO the school-room, moving
as they do, the situation in which pupils
are placed in too many instances 1t is
more a wonder that we do not find more
truants than we do at the present day
Most of the pupils have pleasant homes
not only pleasant but very delightful ;
and to leave these and their healthy out
door exercise, for a dirty, hard-sea!ed
school-room is not so desirable as some
other things would be. The children
are told it is time to go TO school well,
if SO, they think they must make the most
of their time before the bell rings; and
away they run, not 10 pleasant yarJ, but
10 one so narrow that they could not all
turn round in it at once without danger Of
accident.
The next move they make is to run
into the street TO have a good play, 10 the
great annoyance of the passers by; and
the way the dust or mud, as the case may
be, is made to fly is really amusing to
those not at all responsible for their ap-
pearance. When the bell rings they
are ready for change, as they are fond
of variety. They are not entering their
Mas parlor no1C, or they would notice
that shoes or boots need cleaning, or the
dust needed to be shaken of. Oh no J it
is only the school-house ; the floor is dirty
already; never saw it any other way
more than once or twice in my life. So
they think and act. No carpet is per-
mitted to cover the school room f1o)r, the
walls have not been white washed in two
or three wears, and in the mean time a
stove-pipe has been unjointed some six
months or so, and permitted to smoke and
blacken the ceiling and walls. Nothing
in particular attracts their attention and
admiration, so they are conjuring up
something to attract others. If the teach
er notices them it is accompanied by a
reprimand with word or look; and if at
once they become very studious, they find a
word hard 10 pronounce, and hasten to the
teacher for assistance, and are reminded
that it is not proper to ask questions, as
there is a large class reciting, and that
they ought to wait until speaking recess.
That causes them to think that there Is
not much chance for them to get assist
ance, and consequently they soon cease
to study, and think they should like to go
out or get drink; but are again remin-
ded of speaking recess, at which time
they we'll know they are not permitted to
90 out, and not until half of the three
hours has expired. The time necessari-
ly passes heavily, unless the teacher has
the faculty of amusing and instructing at
the same time which is seldom the case.
The one that can amuse is generally more
successful in securing the good will OF
both parents and children than those who
exert thems selves TO the utmost OF their
ability TO advance the scholars placed
under their charge.
We are often told that habits formed in
our youth will influence our lifetime; if
so, how careful ought we 10 be of the
children placed under our care! A child
should lie taught TO be neat and tidy in
everything; but in dirty school-room,
it will be of little use TO preach and not
practice, for it is not safe to wear any ar
iicIe of dress that washing will injure, as
by the time sixty or seventy scholars are
seated it is easy to perceive quite dust
has been raised.
If the parents and guardians of our
children wonld condescend to visit us a
little oGtener, they could not fail to notice
some of the disadvantages that both leach
ers and scholars necessarily labor under
at the present time.
But trusting that I" a good time is CON-
ing," when our school-rooms shall be re-
fitted, cleansed and made to look inviting,
we will labor on, and endeavor to do our
duties, as they are made known to us,
knowing that in due time we shall reap
our rewards. b.
WOMEN never appeared up'n the stage
ap,ono the ancientS Their Darts were