The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-08-14
miscellaneous.
A SchoOlmaster's Story.
A LESSON FOR TEACHERS AND PUPILS

"Whcn l taught district school,
said lie, "I adopted as a principle to
give as few rules to my scholars as pos
sible. | had, however, one standing
rule, which was, Strive under all cir
cumstances to do right and the text of
right, under all circumstances, was the
golden rule, eAll things whatsoever We
would that men should do unto you, do
ye even 80 unto them
IF IN offence was committed, it was
my inyariable practice to ask, WAS it
right p Was it as you would be done
b. "
"All my experience and observation
have convinced me that no act of pupil
ought to be regarded as an offence, UNI
less it be when measured by the standard
Of the golden rule. During the last
year of my teaching, the only tests L ever
applied to an act of which it was neces-
sary to judge, were those of the above
questions. By this course l gained
many important advantages.
In the first place, the plea, You
have not made any rule against it, which
for long time was terrible burden to
INC, lost all its power.
:" La the second place, by keeping con-
stantly before the scholar, as standard
of action, the single text of right and
wrong us one which they were to apply
for themselves, was enabled to cultivate
in them q deep feeling of personal
responsibility.
" In the third place, | got stronger
hold on their feelings, and acquired
new power Of cultivating and directing
them.
I" In the fourth place, had the salts
faction of seeing them become more truth
tnl, honest, trustworthy and manly in
their intercourse with me, with their
friends, and with each other.
"Once, however, | was sadly puzzled
by an application of the principle, by
ono of my scholars, George Jones, large
boy, who partly through false feeling
of honor, and partly through feeling Of
stubborness, refused to give me some
information. The circumstances were
these:
ga scholar had played some trick
which interrupted the exercises. As
was my custom, called ON the one who
had done the mischief to come forward.
AS no one started, | repeated the re-
quest, but with no success. Finding
that the culprit would not confess his
guilt, asked George if he knew who
had committed the offence
| did not do it, was the reply.
Bat do YOU know who did .
Yes sir
who was it 2
L do not wish to tell
But you must tell. 1t is my duty
to ask, and yours to answer me-
! cannot do it, said George, firmly
Then you mnst stop with me after
school,"
"lle stopped as requested, but nothing
which ! could urge would induce him to
reveal anything. At last, out of patience
~i,h what believed to be the obstinacy
OF tho boy, | said:
'Well, George, / have borne with you
as long as | can, and you must either
tell me or be punished
g With triumphant look, as though
conscious that he had cornered me by an
application Of my favorite rule, he re-
piled, | can't tell you, because it would
not be right. The boy would not like
to have me tell of him, and III do as I'd
be done by
&C y few years earlier I should have
deemed reply thus given as an insult,
and should have resented it accordingly
but experience and reflection had taught
ne the folly of this, and that one of the
most important applications of my Oft
quoted rule, was-to judge of the nature
OF others as would have them judge of
mine. Yet, for the moment, was stag
gcrcd. His plea was plausible; lie
might be honest in making it. I did not
see in what respect it was fallacious. /
felt that it would not do to retreat from
my position, and suffer the offender to
escape; and yet, that should do great
injustice by compelling C. boy to do
thing, ifhe really believed it to be wrong.
after little pause, said, sWell
George, do not wish you to do any thing
which is wrong, or which conflicts with
your golden rule. We will leave this
for tonight, and perhaps you will alter
your mind before Tomorrow
&C saw him privately before school,
and found him more firm in his refusal
than ever. After the devotional exer-
ciscs of the morning, began to question
the scholars-as was my wont-on
various points of duty, and gradually led
the conversation to the golden rule.
" Who,' [ asked, care the persons
to whom as the members of this school,
you ought to do as you would be done
by! Your parents, who support and
send you here! your school-mates, who
are engaged in the same work with YOUR
sevlcs! the citizens of the town, who,
by taxing themselves, raise money to
pay the expenses of this school the
school committee, who take so great an
interest in your welfare your teacher i?
or the scholar who carelessly or wilfully
commits some offence against good order =
ga hearty eyes was responded to
every question except the last, at which
they were silent.
'Then, addressing George, I said -
Yesterday, asked you who had COM
mitted certain offence. You refused
to tell me, because you thought it would