The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1857-11-26


But | see no hope for right education I'M
til we reform the manners of our children
in the family and Common School
/ Thirty to thnty-fve years ago, in my
childhood, [ found myselfliying in farm
ing community on the Penobscot, com pos
ed Of families from old Massachusetts
Every principal man was white headed
with age, and every elderly woman Of the
community was q grandmother. These
have all passed away now long ago The
men bad all seen George Washington and
lived with him for years during the ardu-
Gus struggle for Independence One of
them had been publicly thanked by his
COMMANDMENTS Chief before the army, for
his prowess. We, who were children
then, were taught to love those old men
We did love and honor them. We al
ways were required to take off our hats to
them when we met them and make our
bows to them. 1t was what good man
ners required. And we were expected
TO do this to every stranger we passed in
the road. think this was right So
were the girls required to quake their
courte$y," as the boys were their "bow." Z"
In our days of rapid transit, of telegraphs
/ and railroads, perhaps the like cannot be
expected. But good manners are ,rorth
as much to the gentleman or lody now as
then. We used to bow, or courtesy, as
we entered and left the School. | wish
! the same were done now. Or, at least,
that as true and hearty msnliness and
refinement of manners could be cultivated
now as then. The want of good breed
( ing Is one Of the trials and discourage
ments in the way Of the faithful Teacher
at present | charge you to attend to
this matter every one of you this winter,
and always hereafter.
/ 5th Go into the houses Of yoar pupi2s.
You rW t;nd the cause Of dH tie mis-
chiefs there. Exert all the good influence
there, which you can. You must do
what parents neglect to do And you
must keep doing it, over and over again,
till the good habit is formed in your pu-
pills, of acting rightly. This, l know, is
hard and thankless task. But some
one must do it. You are the chosen one
in Gods Providence for this purpose. II
you cannot DO it, you are unfit for your
work, and ought not to undertake it.
I 9th. Look around the school house
and premises, and you will find evidences
of what | have been speaking. See the
benches cut and scratched and distigured
perhaps by obscene images. The books
will be torn, mixed, and written ever
Will you allow these things? And who
is to prevent them, if you do not The
task is difhcuIt; but it must be attended
to, if you would do your duty. The
world needs your services here very much.
" So, too, the Intercourse of your pupils
with each other will be often rude, un-
kind and immoral, if you do not see to it.
VIII you permit lying, or profanity, on
indecency among them? viii you even
countenance boasting, and pride, and en-
Wy, and evil-speaking among them?
hope not. If you are modest, sensible,
correct person yourself, | am sure you
will not do So Like Teacher, like pu-
pills, in all these respects Watch well
then your own heart and life; and let
your pupils be followers of you, even as
you are of Christ.
F, 7th. You will be diigerted from you,
appropriate srork in the school-room,
some Of YOU, fear, by outside influences.
Parties Of pleasure, courtships, marriages,
and other employments Of life than teach
ing, will engage your attention too much
1t is right, perhaps, that they should oc,
cupy YOU somewhat. Some Of the hap
piest ties are formed by you about this
time when you are teaching. | would be
the last man in the world to discourage
YOU or dissuade you from them. But
understand me well. | wish you to be
wise and good, true and conscientious
worthy to be loved and esteemed, and
every way highly useful. 1t is desirable
that you should 90 into society somewhat
!, this winter. But be wise and prudent il
/, it. Go to do good and get good there
, Do not go to dissipate. lou may recre
ate yourselves thereby. But never g
anywhere unless you can retire better thar
YOU went; and never unless all others cal
: do SO whom you will meet there. No
only be correct yourselves, but aid il
/ making others SO likewise. You may b'
cheerful, even jovial, but never can yor
: be INN oral, nor immodest, nor thought
, less even And this leads me to say,
: 8th. That both you and your pupil
: need to be, and ougItto begenuine Christ
5 ians. | do not ask you to be Presbyte
rians, nor Methodists, nor Baptists, no
a Episcopalians, nor any other OF thes
+. names of sects which men have devise'
: and used for themselves. Some who us
e these names are no Christians at all
e And there are, / believe, real Christian
$ in all the religious sects of land lik
!; ours-those acho beIicue IN Christ for til
4 pardon Of their sins and the saloati0's Q
: their sOots. | wish you to become suci
5 believers. God wishes you to become SC
Il l. Il mo