Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-10-01
The Lecture or NIr. Brown upon
the GOvcrnmcn AM Discipline Of
Schools.

I MoxpaY EVENING. Education, derived
from the lltn Elucc. signifies to lead forth
or to develop. To educate ehild is not 70
crowd the mind with rs much as possible,
but to lead it out: and as tree unfolding
itself aud bearing fruit. is at the same time
taking root downward; 50 the infant mind
is made stronger by the unfolding and lead
ing out process.
/ How important is the teachers calling
unfolding the infant mind. How important
that the teacher should lead out the mind in
the right direction, and develop the right
qualities. Teachers are under a great re-
sponsibility, and cxertins great influence
over minds who will one day take the lead
in the moral and political world.
Next was considered the m,thod of gov
crning schools. The first principle is in
governing ourselves. The success of the
greatest military commanders was in moth
ing more than this Washington's crossing
the Delaware and battle with the lIcssians,
is an example. The drunkard cannot com
mand himself no better than he can com
mand our respect Order was the first law
of Heaven, 50 should it be the first in the
government of schools.
There are three methods used in governing
schools. First, Corporal punishment, or
Force; Second, Love in its restricted school
sense, and Third, Character.
Force, in school government, is the lowest
order of discipline; and teacher measures
his capacity to teach every time he uses cor
poral punishment. | do not say corporal
punishment can be dispensed with altogether.
Few teachers who have taught two years
say this; but as general rule, the better
the teacher, the less he uses the rod and the
longer good teacher teaches school, the less
he uses force in school government. If any
of you use corporal punishment more now
than when you commenced teaching, you
have mistaken your calling. As your ca
paeity to govern school when you com
meneed, is to your capacity now; 50 is the
force you use now to the force used when
YOU commenced.
Second Love is the most inefficient method
of government or school discipline. 1t spells
men and women, and may well be compared
to .yellow covered literature" weakening,
instead of developing the mind. If We
would have strong minds, dismiss such f,sh-
ionablc reading, (New York Ledger and ally
and read like men.
Third. Character. Govern by what You
are, not by what you affect to be. This is
the only way you will govern successfully.
Notice the progress, Of government in the
world from the age CT barbarism to the pres
ent age; to the age when the MANNED. the
vice in the wars were killed, to the present
age; when the blind are made 10 see, the
deal to hear, and the dumb to speak, when
the lame are cared for, and the idiots have
intellccts given them. In England in the
days of the Mormops, there were more than
forty crimes considered capital. The pun
ishment for killing a deer in the kings para
was greater than for Killing q man at the
present. Now capital punishment is being
abolished, and the unfortunate of our race
arc cared for. This is tho glory of our
age
Remarks were then made by Mr.. North
end upon the qualifications of teachers o.
primary schools. Exercises closed by sing
in Old Hundred.