Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-06-13
lCoMMC NICATED

IHE GEORGETOwN SCHOOLs.-Mr. Editor ::
1t is due to the teachers and guardians OF the
Georgetown schools, well as to the friends of
said schools generally that the assertions of your
correspondent So in his letter Of the 18th inst
should he contradicted; and ask the privilege
OF doing this in advance of any action that the
Board OF Guardians may tit to take on the
subject.
The facts are these: Ii is enioinpd. as \ matter
OF discipline, the Propriety of which - him
sell VIII sea cely question that the exercises Of
thS schools shall not be interrupted by talking
All other modes of punishment having failed to
correct the evil, one of the teachers 6renared a
number of small pieces of clean pine wood an
ihch ana three quarters long by one-half the
largest, and three-eighths the smallest. wide
three specimens of which are sent herewith than
which none materially larger have been used
On repetition of the offence, two of the chill
dfen We're called to the teachers desk and re-
CURED TO hold one Of these pieces in the mouth
nat side down, until she could make up her mind
TO stop talking and attend to her duties Under
these instructions, neither of them retained the
instrument one minute The remedy was effsctuaI
and complete, and the inventor Of punishment
SO simple, and yet so etfectual is entitled to the
thanks OF all who value order, or can appreciate
It's necessity in public school.
The report of these proceedings was carried nv
some OF the pupils to the mother Of three of the
children, representing that one of them had beer
injured and bruised, and otherwise maltrcated
when, In fact, she had not touched the article in
any 'cdy chatsrer, but tcas simply Threatened
ruth a..
The mother, pursuing the same reprehensible
course OF your correspondent, of condemninp
Wlthout proper inquiry, took her three children
away, and thus the news spread till II he'd the
ears of your correspondent; and a friend of his
was either sent or went to inquire into the matter
ana upon his report your correspondent based his
gross attack.
SO much having been said, the subject was
brought before two of the Guardians and mem
Der OF the Beard OF Aldermen, who We're in the
school to witness the distribution Of cagds of
merit and after examining the pieces used, and
prepared Tor use, nHdHtHOUSiy and tcithOUt he ST.
tatton, approved what had been done and these
dostanese, nor barbarians
These, Mr. Editor, the facts developed in
particular examination made by the writer in the
discharge OF his official duty, and they GREW ont
of that system Of discipline which has brouDht
the schools, as is admitted by all who have taken
the trouble 10 examine them, to a higher stand
au 10, Oh excellence than they have ever known and
In the name OF the school, and its friends pro-
test that your correspondent by UTERINE such
sentiments and conclusions upon simple Iumor
% What put little better, and then persisting in
IL ana refusing to retract it when appealed to and
assured that he was misinformed, has done gross
violence TO morality, and he owes il to those
whoih he has thus villited to ascertain the truth
ana acknowledge his error and the wrong he has
done as publicly as they were committed
This violent attack, and an apparently studied
abstinence from such favorable notices of the
SCHOOLS (Which we often see, with pleasure
awarded to the schools Of your own CITY through
the public papers) as the citizens of the town
nave right to expect at the hands Of the only
channel they have to the public mind eyince Al,
enmity believed to exist in your eorrespondent,s
mind in reference to these schools the causes of
wnlch II Is not necessary that we should now stop
10 inquire; but 1t seems to that the - prompt-
lngs OF humanity" and of moralitu also should
induce him to abstain from using his privilege
as correspondent, to crafty personal hatred il 1t
exist and to ascertain the truth before he under.
taxes 10 pass such structures upon the characters
OF those who are every way worthy of the respect
ana commence OF the community in which they