The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-03-05

our schools. have selected an article
upon this subject from the Ohie Journal
Of Education, for May, 1856, which. if
you please. you may publish in this week S
paper. Respectfully yours.
J. H. HOLTON.
UP. SANDUsKY, March 9, SO.
Trregularity in Attending School.
NUMBER l..
Perhaps no evil is more destructive to
the vitality and efficiency of school exer-
cises, than the one named at the head ol
this article.
This arises chiefly from two causes
First. because in its nature and tenden-
cics, it is disastrous and second, because
of its universally. 1t seems to be the
crying sin Of the age. 1t lays its wither-
ing hand upon the teachers fairest plans
and prospects. and thwarts and blasts
them as effectually as though it had been
invented for that special purpose. Tc
the scholar himself, the consequences are
not less demoralizing. Itrobs him of his
confidence and dignity-destroys his in
terest in study--arrests him in career
Of success-and thus paves the way fol
future crime and degradation.
It's taleful influence is not only felt ir
the school room but the habit onct
formed. here or elsewhere, is sure to car
ry itself into whatever department of bu
siness the pupil may engage in after life
1t clings to him like putrid car cass. and
injecting more or less whatever he may
lay his hand to, he is driven from tn,
most honorable positions in life, and seek
refuge in the lazy herd.
The grand secret of success among
men, in any business whatever, may, al
most without on exception, be traced di
rectly to attention, regularity, and pune
tuality while their failures and disas
ters may as often be traced to an oppo
site cause. This may not be apparent tt
a casual observer but to one who exam
ines and weighs the remote as well as ths
recent causes, this problem of human life
and fortune is not of difficult solution.-
Because the penalty does not follow the
transgression Immediately. we are apt tc
overlook the real cause of suffering, and
blame dame fortune for our i'll luck
(when in fact there is no "luck" abou
it.) But because the penalty does no
follow Immediately, we have no right t.
infer that it wiH not, sooner or later, over
take the offender. though many long year
may intervene. When justice linger
long. her reckoning is most fearful.
If parents, therefore, knew and fell
when they were, for trihing excuses
keeping their children out of school 70
few days in week, or permitting then
to be tardy or out of season in their dali,
attendance. that they were genderin,
those habits in them that would rende
them unsuccessful in business, and mise
rable, perhaps, in their whole course {
life, they would at once adopt measure
to arrest this dangerous tendency the
would say at once. that the experimer
is too hazardous to risk in matters 8
weighty.
Now why cannot parents see this p
Simply. because they do not reflect upo
these subjects. They would readily tax
cognizance of an evil inflicted upon tn
person Of their child.
Suppose, for instance, that neighbo
had been guilty of maltreating little bo
or girl, and that in so doing an arm or
leg had been broken: would the offens
be lightly looked over? No, no l.
Speedy recourse would be had to th
law; courts of justice would be implead
ed for the adjustment of grievances
The poor neighbor would pay dearly fo
his imprudence, and perhaps justly, toe
But does that parent act less culpably
less unkindly to his offspring, who thu
suffers them to form habits in early lii
that will curse them as long as they live
Is he any less inexcusable :? 4 tell go
noy! Rather give me the maltreatet
the manned, the cripple flor what is th
physical cripple to the intellectual-th
body to the soul9) and will engage
make better. more useful and NOR
succesful man of him, than can be mad