Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1855-08-17
For the Ellsworth American.
School Government.

the best mode of government. Some
will stand forth and boldly assert that
Corporeal Punishment should all be dis
pensed with and the teacher govern by
moral suasion a.one. Others as hrmly
adhere 10 the argument tina, the "blreh"
and ierue should be used TO maintain
good discipline. and secure good order,
Having had some experience, and being
vet in the field, | would like 10 state Il few
important incidents coming under my
own tuition, IN regard to punishment
A, the early age of fifteen, | commenced
a school of thirty five scholars. enter
ed the school room on the FIRST morning
with strange feelings awakened ia my
breast. lglanced ateach scholar as they APP
pcarcd h9fore me, and tangled could read
their true character by the delneailons
Of their countenances. | imagined that
they thought | vas a mere girl an con.
sequently they expected to do as they
pleased. Blu, having large share OF
courage provlden,lalIy given to me. as
~aan came 10 the combustion that there
was ole scholar, IN particular, thefe,
whom II would be hard 20 govern by the
law oil love The first few DAYS endeay.
cred TO gain the gooo will of alto Sc
cure the better part of their nature, il
possible, by kind words and gentle adino.
uttions. tried To interest them in their
studies; and give them to understand
tina: Was warmly attached 10 them aud
IN return expected implicit obedience 10
all The rules had sci before them. Bu,
thus scholar before noticed, "a young Hnn
| might call him. being rather larger thar,
was at The time,) could see had form,
ed the uniavonble resolution uf doin, as
he pleased. Day after day endeav, rcd
by every geriie method TO gam has good
viii, and secure hifa for good scholar.
But all the Kindness dealt TO him. onl,
confirmed in HI, mlnd, the belief, ,ha,
dare not resort 10 any other measures
| hus passed three weeks OF my school -
Thirty four cut OF the thirty five could
be governed Ivy the LAW oil love
Aside lr, IA fhis case every ding went 81,
smoothly; and Ire question very often
presented itself IN III, mind Would II
not be better for the interest OF the school
'o have tins scholar expelled , Bat a.
so9n came IL the conclusion In, | unui
r. 'he ffraic fist Accordingly on The
fourth Monday took with tnr 10 lhr
school room rule one and h Il
!eet i"hs aud TWO inches IA width. ina.
ueed on entering. rather OF uahciuu.
ieer upon the v'saee al N, disulrdisnt
pupil. Ia: un the CONTRARY from csyiua
the any cause Of alarm. II reused as from
4 ietharsy The hfc 81 nv naiafe, aud
determined for the first offence onihaida
10 beat ., b. t-otea. waited tat a
short time iot an act Of m!slcmeln u.
when invited M4stei Lama udtf to scp
Out upon the floor ! then ran quirkl,
through the dpinI, of his cnntlur, SINCE
he had catered schooi-a, the SANE time
telling han vac no, thea In punish h,n,
ior ihat mornings offence, bu, Tor da4.
ea OF /" entt others ali laid by tn meme.
~ l,nld him To hold up MS hand aud
not seeing III BIN any disposition to com.
pig. | applied tho fetule prs,ty smanly
on all parts Of his body. (sparins hi,
head as did not think he had any TOO
much sense. and attn very cautious about
'nJnFlng the BRAN lie attempted bo,
once tn wrench the red from m, hands
but not succeeding he held up his hand
while the tears fiswed from his ewes
This thenis one case where moral suasion
entirely failed, and where peace and har.
mony were restored by CorporeaI Punish.
ment.
But | am still Of The opinion. tia, in
rine cases out OF ten, one can govern
better by love than fear, where the rod is
the impeIling principle and terror the
child's daily companion. find IN gen.
eral tina, by obtaining a hold upon the
affections of my pupils, can generally
control them as J will; and they will be
more easily guided knowing that loving
them, viii lead them Alright. Ye, the
'rIals of school teacher are man,-for ,
the manner OF government which please.
one Will mos, assurediy displease the
other. Aud find that the most effect.
lal method is TO take no notice Of com.
plants or advice sentioyou by the parents 1
DO the best We can and the neare., we +
thlnk to be right and lei it please those j, I
viii, letting the Others alone We should
always however if possible love our occu. l
patton. No school will be so pleasan, {
where II is known By the scholars TIA, T,