Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-02-15
Correspondence.
School Government.

sure and profit that perused the COM
munication from the pen OF MIR. HoVey'
upon the subject of School Government
In some of his opinions l fully concur,
but I must still retain the opinion that L
expressed before, that in many districts
physical strength is an essential requisite
for the successful master. These dis
tricts have usually employed men to teach
the winter schools, thinking it would be
too hard a task to impose upon lady
teacher; and there is not in these places,
that good, pure, moral atmosphere which
discountenances all bad behavior and all
advances toward rowdyism. 1t is to be
regretted that such state of things eX-
lists, but we need not disguise the truth
that in districts some distance from the
sanctuary, or in the neighborhood of dan
cling schools, there are young men who
have the greatest antipathy to the idea of
being governed. They 60 to school not
so much with the intention of learning
as to please their parents, or to avoid Ia
bort being in no way agreeable to
; their feelings to labor in cold frosty
; weather; and the teacher who undertakes
to teach them must let them do as they
please or depend upon his physical pow
ers. / have been to such schools and
know that they exist. l could introduce
Mr.. Hovey to such schools, and to mas
tiers who have been turned away this
winter for being deficient in government,
or rather for attempting to govern these
youth, and by doing SO got their i'll will,
and the parents seeing the master is not
Il respected, turn him off without ever Wis
iting the school to see where the fault lay.
| could also introduce him TO parents who
> smile when told that the teacher has
: made vain attempt to chastise their
- promising sons.
Why, Mr.. Editor, the gentleman is
u thankful too soon. He crows before he
t is out of the woods. He says: " But
am quite unwilling to believe / was borI
Il to live in such a time" He may per
III haps, with propriety, be thankful that h,
D lives in a moral community, but thert
I'll are places as have mentioned. 1 con
n fess it does not look much like improve
t. ment, but his bringing forward a remed
10 is admitting that such things do exist
c; He throws the whole reformation upo
y parents and ladies. Can there be an ad
u vocate of woman's rights who is not no,
le convinced that they do possess the powe
re to rule and subdue the most turbulen
dispositions? I rather like the plan Ii
proposes, if he will allow me and othe
young men who choose to continue teaci
ed
ing, just to contrast the ability of til
eW
sexes. But there are some of both sexe
re-
- who have the faculty to govern. The
" have knowledge of human nature, deci.
M
: ion of character, firmness of mind an
common sense. They also have conf
- dence in themselves. Like Diogene
the Cynic, who being placed in the MAJ
w
ket to be sold as a slave, was aske
= What is now your employment ?" /
full ~ ~ '-'''
ter, for l can govern men," Let OF
who has the power to govern combine
with good education, enter the schoC
=, and he will often succeed without usir
the rod. There are some, however. wi
10 are so constituted that they cannot ha,
power and exercise it with discretion
" They assume an air Of importance, whi
, shows a small mind and renders the
~ disagreeable. They consider all 9th
= men inferior to themselves, and delie
.1 in showing their power by furnishing t
weak, but have their eyes shut when f
strong do wrong. In this they somewf
resemble our President F franklin Pier,
: who would, in my opinion, make an
nc different school-master.
-'' Mr.. Hovey ridicules the idea of ass
p' eating the words whipping and mast,
and thinks whipping and gallows look
5o,- much like associates. / agree with hi
= there, for believe that severity and t
many whippings have made many rec
,no less men, or candidates for the gallows-
: i perhaps as many as have been made
, carelessness in parental and school &c
A. eminent. The use of the rod may
oo; justly compared to alcoholic drink.
nod When used as a medicine it results
rled good, but when used daily, or to exec
o it hardens the finer sensibilities and NAL
,aen the person reckless and disregardful
,vos reason and moral suasion. Corpor
punishment should be the last resort
be used after reason has failed to impr
LUN the scholar. I say parents should sy
said pathise with the teacher and try to k
-dav the scholars interested in their studies
fhnW Il II.