Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-02-12
"Amicus" Answered.
The Editor of he Belmont CarOaicle:

paper Ol ldSt "cc su dItiCie HetCSC "SOT-
poreal Punishment" which, learn from Z
good authority, was addressed to me. take
this opportunity 10 reply. and in doing SO |
intend to found the few remarks l shall
make upon facts, and Rot upon charitable
presumption, ss the writer referred TO has
undoubtedly done throughout his article
And in commencing my remarks ! sha first
give my views upon school government,
ahich is simply this: believe school
should be governed as far as possible by |
the pos er OF kindness--nerer using COM
rulsory measures only as a last resort. But
when the foI uer has filed It's mission, and
ccnsure is OF nc avail, the scholar still re-
uaining unruly, what then is 10 be done!
There is but Two methods that can be pur.
sued-eiher have the pupil dismissed from
school, or try what virtue there is in the
rod OF correction. This latter The honor
able gentleman seems to think is always
productive Of evil. we think he is sadly
mistaken, aid that in nine cases out of ten
[,n'ess receiving the ntu'gerreG Gf parents)
IL will profe the reformation OF the trans
| gressor. Blu, TO proceed. A few weeks
/ previcrs 10 the incident referred to, | WIS
under the recessity Of using the rod in cor
Fecting girl, the daughter of poor man
! Ter tlaEs.ression which | consi iertd too
great 10 pass unnoticed. This was thought
perfectly right by the parents, as well IS
every one else. The only cry was, she did
hot receive near as much as she deserved
tue same was said 10 me by the father oil
the girl. having in view the welfare of his
chill; exercising at the same time the prn.
! tip.es OF 2 man. But when corrected in
similar manner the girls al uded 10 ly our
friend, (Aucus) who are not is orihy OF
The title young LADY, as the former, it aye
j. 10 be taken into consideration, which !
believe always is, in using the term 'yNurg
lady," the two latter being thirteen and
!. fourteen, the former being older. Girls i;
this prccpcious age are always consid
cred under the direct supcrinienGence of
: their n.ohers Yet when corrected these
girls for much greater offence, which. res
pecling them as / do, will Rot do them the
iujus lice to mention, suffice it 10 say base
violation of the rules of sfhnol. II was then
said by the parents and friends Of one OF
the scholars, at least, tclaIming a greater
degree of aristocracy) TINT it was unjust -
II this is consistency. o.. what i precious
treasure thor art. Yet. not entre!y devoid
of common sensibiliy,' which | am fear
: ful my friend "Amicus" was, said then, as
, say now, did my duty, and have the
concurrence of eSery one that has spoken
to NE upon The subject
But let US notice the genileman's pr;nci-
pie of 'moral suasion,'' which he has SO
elabora:ely harped upon with such high
sounding words and studied phrases, and
which lie thinks is 50 beautifully - Get forth
in the Declaration o! American Indepcnd-
cuce. We certainly are all indebted to the
gentleman for this discovery. But let me
, inform him that had the founders of tA:s
: Republic d. pended alone upon "moral sua-
-iun," we would have had to-day no free
. Republic or Declaration of Independence oI
which to bJast. Thus, our ioreiathers, not
not insensible of: the OPT ression of Great
a Britain animated by the love of liberty and
e iusIic,--ihcy resolyed to redress the wrong,
j. Inflicted upon them on the principle of re.
= ,aIiaiion, which they did manfu ly and cour.
!, ageouslv upon the battlefield Of Bunker
/, Hill: aud by SO doing wen l,ureIs which
i shall never fade as long os this our happy
|
a among the nations cf the earth. Carrying
e out the genteman's theory it would over
n turn The very fundamental principles upor
K which cur Government is founded Remor,
u tie penalty attached to q law, and then las
n is OF TO avail. Under our present form 0
Is Gove;nmt MT. we all constitute as i; wer;
!. one great school, and when :he laws l.,
: VII ch we are governed are viola ted, the tx
:: ecl tors of the law inilc. the penalty &C
ID cor ding to the "cul ulprit's' transgress;cn. =
r This IL righ, ard just; for, were il other
h " ize, go,eInmcnis would fai { 0 at swer tn
IT eEd for " hich they are Instituted, name =,
TO to teach nan the relation he sustans TO hi
ieI fellow, and to stay him from encroachin!
ID upon the rights and privileges of Others
l. SO in Common School government, the his
" tory and experience OF all time teaches tha
t. it cannot be entirely accomplished witiiou
S. the Use of the ROD; for giddy school girl
Il and hoys must be restrained in the cxercis,
. vi hat they might dern their rights an
~ privileges. Aud here was diverted at th
Il, gentleman quoting the Declaration o
ly American Independence. to prove the schul
lie ar's berry in school. 10 Wit; "a men ar
y, created equal; that they ure endowed b
he their Creator with certain inalienabe rights
rs that among these are life, liberty, aud rh
II pursuit OF happiness, SC. Th;s is the frs
le time we ever knew the regulation of hoo!
is xss en-, budied in the ''Declaration of Inde
he pendence." and if SO. what is the use of al
v. our present School laws! But let US motto
IN The gentleman little further: He seem
Il 10 think We wish to deprive persons of thei
s. "lberty and the pursuit of happiness. -
IT. Far be this from US. Yet c should hav
ds borne in mind that the youth has not tn
he "lberly' to act according to his inclinstions
re but is az all times under the restriction an
ne control of the parents, and, consequently
ry they are responsible for his Of her conduct
he hence the necessity of guardians for per
II sons until they are Of cerlain age, " he
to they are thrown out from under the shiel
il q! the paren: or guardian, and no long r re
n strained in The exercise OF their ibert, -
The gentleman should have borne in min
la that il was school girls and boys of whic
er he shoald have betn taking and tlia
TO, which now treat, and not persons 4
in matcrer years. The most natural conclg
~ sion Is, our learned friend "Amicus" wa
Al confounded, or he was ignorant of the N
ne port of the powerful language he emp oye
lie throughout his article.
lSs But We must hasten TO notice the .prt
N, found question addressed 10 HTeuchers a
an well as lwhu have been taught in schools,
he to vii: "lf we ever knew of a floggnr m,
ng king a scholar of any person!" No, No
,r ,E S;- ,1a ,,F -