The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-08-01

there is no getting along without it."
Others seem to think that the "hickory !"
is not a necessary implement in the hands
of teacher to preserve order, but that it
can be better done by moral suasion, or
by other methods of punishment, directed
more to the mind than to the body. And
although belong to the latter class, yet,
as there is so great variety of opinion, i
am willing that the teacher should use his
own method IF he will keep good order,
1 am willing that he should do so by the
aid of the hickory if ne can, do SO no
other way; but still hoping that he may
speedily see the error of his way, and find
a more Iational, as well as more merci-
full method of governing his pupils.
But it is not upon the utility of corpo-
real punishment, nor the duties of the
teacher, that l intend, particularly, to
speak; for every teacher certainly will use
his best endeavors to preserve order, and
promote the good of his school. But the
teacher, unassisted by the parents can do
but little. noticed, in a report of the
proceedings of the Monroe County
Teachers Association" held in your town
last autumn, resolution, offered by the
ladies of that association, something like
the following: Resolved, That in nschool
government, parents exert a greater infu-
ence than teachers, and that it is there
fore their duty to encourage their children
to observe good order, while at school, y
The above resolution embodies moro
than seems to be generally understood, or
at least more than is generally practiced
by the majority of parents. Few seem to
consider the responsibility they owe to the
school, or the important part they act in
its success or downfall. They seem to
consider their work at an end, when the
children are sent to school, They do not
consider how much may be done by way
of encouragement; how much one word Of
approval from a parent, will do towards
exciting an interest in the heart of little
child; how much animation visit from
friend will put into every member of 9
school. When parents are interested In
their school, the children have something
to labor for, besides for the purpose of
avoiding punishment. They have the
smiles, the approval of parents and friends,
for which they will labor more earnestly
than for anything else. 3,
Children do not know the advantages
OF an education, and must therefore, have
some other motive to action, and there is
no better stimulant for them than q pa
rents smiles of appreciation, and no pun
: ishment greater than his frown.
i The teacher, also, has something be-
sides the almighty dollar for which to
labor. His reputation is at stake, and
knowing that all eyes are turned towards
him, he will double his diligence to merit
the good will of his patrons. And let me
say, that where parents, pupils and teach
crs are thus interested, order follows as q
matter of course. There can be nothing
else but good order In fact, order will
be lost sight OF, as such, and those hard
iron rules of the teacher will be no more
thought of. The pupils will naturally
give way to the teacher; the teacher will
accommodate himself and his rules to the
pupils, and the parents will have the sat-
isfaction of seeing all pass off harmoni-
ously, and be saved the great trouble of
talking against their teacher after the
school is done.
/ There is one more subject of importance
which l wish briefly to notice, that has .
considerable influence upon school gov
ernnment, and that Is the frequent change
of teachers. No two teachers govern q
school exactly alike, and it takes consid-
erable time to get strange pupils thor
oughly under the control and influence Of
any teacher Mr.. a. will commence a
school, Of, say four months, and by the
time he is through, he has probably learned
the disposition of all his scholars, and
gained such an influence over them that
he can govern them without much trou-
bic. But in that time he has whipt some-
body's "pct" or kept some little boy in
during recess, or committed some other
such vile act, and he cannot be employed
again. Mr. B. must be hired this time,
He comes into the school stranger. He
has different set of rules, different or
der of recitations, and different way in
everything from Mr.. A. Well, the chill
dren don't understand the use Of these Iif-
lferences, and it takes Mr.. B. his whcle-
term to get them initiated into his meths
cd. More than half his time is spent in
lgoverning those with whom Mr.. a. would
have. found no difficulty. Then Mr.. C.
must try it term, and so ON, still chang
ling for trifes, that they never get reme-
died. There is no advantage in SO many
Ichanges. We dismiss a man for some
small thing, and employ another. probably
mot half so good; or if even better, one
who cannot govern our children for year
or two half so we'll All our teachers
have faults, and viii continue to have, un-
til we all become perfect which | fear win
not be soon.
i Whenever parents cease so much grum-
bling against the teacher, and go at the
work more in earnest, they will have less
cause for such grumbling. And until this
lis done remain. as ever in fhe field of