Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-03-09
Tno ola Sch . oIlnasIer's story.
A LESSON FOR TEACHERS AND Pupils.

few rules TO my scholars as possible. l
had, however, one standing rule, which
was, "Strve under all circumstances to
do right and the text of right, under all
circumstances, was the golden rule, "All
things whatsoever ye would that men
should do unto you, do ye even SO unto
them"
If an offense- was committed. it was my
invarablepractice to ask, "Was it right?"
"Was it as you would be done by!"
All myeA periehce and observation have
convinced me that no act of pupil ought
10 be regarded as an offense, unless it be
when measured by the standard of the
golden rude. During the last year of my
teaching. .ithe only tests ever applied to
an act Of which it was necessary 10 Judge,
were tLose of the above questions. By
this course gained many important adj
vantages.i
In the first place, the plea, "You have
not made any rule aganstit," which for
a long time was terrible burden to me,
lost all its power.
In the second place, by keeping con-
stantly before the scholar. rs a standard of
action, the single text of right and wrong
as one which they were TO apply to them
selves, / WAS enabled to cultivate in them
u deep feeling of personal responsibility.
In the third place, got stronger hold
on their feelings, and acquired new
power of cultivating and directing. them.
In the fourth place, l had the sa isfac
ton Of seeing them become more truth
iul, honest, trustworthy and manly in
their intercourse with me, with their
friends, and with each other
Once, however, l was sadly puzzled by
an application of the principle, by one Of
my scholars, George Jones, large boy,
who partly through false feeling Of hon
or, aud partly through feeling of stub
bornness, refused to give me some infor-
nation. The circumstances were these:
a 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 request, but with
no success. Finding that the culprit
would not confess his guilt, asked George
if he knew who had committed the Of
fense. .' .tr ID +.- t.E!-i
Il did not do it," was the reply.
but do you know who did?''
"Yes slr." tt rs ,--s
"Who was it?"
IL do not wish to tell"
but you must tell. 1t is my duty to
ask, and yours to answer me-"
81 cannot do it,, said George firmly.
: Then you must stop with me after
school"
lie stopped as requested, but nothing
, which could urge would induce HIM 10
reveal anything. AT last, out of patience
, with what | believed 10 be the obstnacy
Of the boy, l said:
'Well, George, l have borne with you
rs long rs can, and you must either tell
me or be punished.
,, with n triumphant look, rs though
conscious that he had cornered me by al
application of my lavori.e rule, he replied
Il cant tell you, because it would not bt
S right. The boy would not like to have
/ me tell on him, and III do as I'd be done
by" .. ......- 3d.. . a.
? A few years earlier l should have
! deemed reply thus given an insult, anc
should have resented it accordingly bu
experience and reflection had taught IN,
j, the folly of this, and that one OF the mos
important applications of my oft-quotet
rule, was-to Judge Of the nature of Others
as l would have them judge of mine
Yet, for the moment, l was staggered
His plea WAS plausible; he might be hon
o es; III making it. did not see in wha
y respect it was fallacious. felt that i
It would not do TO retreat from my position
it and suffer the offender to escape and yet
a that | should do great injustice by com
II peilins boy 10 do = thing, if he really be
Iieved it to be wrong. .r
A Alter a little pause, said, "Wel
h George, l do not wish you to do anythin.
which Is wrong, or which conflics will
your golden rule, We will leave this 70
i tonight, and perhaps yoW will alter you
I. mind before Tomorrow"
saw linn privately before school, an,
found him more firm IL his refusal thai
II Ver After the devotional exercises Q
e the morning, began to question the schol
ars-as was my wont--on various point
Of duty and gradually led the conversa
tion to the golden rule. ..I...
Who" l asked, care the persons t
whom as the members of this school, yo
g ought to do as you would be done by
Your parents, who support and send 20
l. nere' your Schoolnaes, who are engage
Y in the same work with yourselves? the Gil
n zehs OF the town, who, by taxing them
selves, raise money to pay the expenses {
this school? Tie school committee VIII
= take SO great an interest in your welfare
your teacher? or the scholar who care
- lessly or willfully commits some offens
against good order?"
A hearty yes" was responded to ever
10 question except the last, a! which the
~ were silent.
i Then, addressing Ge:rge, said: eyes
terday, asked you who had committed
e certain ofle use. You refused to fell me
a because you thought it would not be doin
10 as you would be done by. now wish yo
TO reconsider the subject. On one sid
II are your parents, your schoolmates, tn
- citizens Of This town, the school committe
- and your teacher, all deeply interested i
! everything affecting tie prosperity of thi