American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-03-18
THE OLD sCnooLMAsTER's STORY
A LESSON FOR TEACHERS AND PUPILS

"When l taught district school" said
he. L adopted as principle to give as few
rules to my scholars as possible. ! had
however, one standing rule, which was,
Strive under all circumstances to do right
and the text of ril ht, under all circum-
stances, was the golden rule. 'All things
whatsoever ye would that men should do
unto you, do ye even so unto them
II ain offense was committed, it was my
invariable practice to ask, WAS it right"
WAS it as you would be done by?'
All my experience and observation have
convinced me that no act OF pupil ought
to be regarded as an olfense, unless it be
wien measured by tho standard Of the
golden rule. During the last year OF my
teaching, the only attests l ever applied to
an act OF which it was necessary to Judge,
were those of the above ques tions. By
this course gained many important ad-
vantages.
In the first place, the plea, You have
not made any rule againat it, which fol
long timo was a terrible burden to me
lost all its power.
In the second place, by keeping con
stantly before the scholar, as standard o
action, the single text o right and wrong
as one which they were to apply 10 them
selves, was enabled to cultivate in the n
deep feeling of personal responsible
ty, ,
In the third place l got stronger hole
on their feelings, and acquired new pow
err of cultivating and directing them.
In the fourth place, had the satisfac
ton OF seeing them become more truthful
h onest, trustworthy and manly in their in
tercourss with me, with their friends, sn'
with each other.
Once, however, was sadly puzzled b!
an application of the principle, by one o
my scholars George Jones, large boy
who partly through false feeling Of stub
borness, refused to give me some intorma
ton. Tto circum stances were these:
A scholar had played some trick whicl
interrupted the exercises. AS was m
custom, called on the one who had don
the mischief to come forward. AS no on
started, l repeated the request, but wit
no success. Finding that the culpr
would not confess his guilt, asked Georg
if he knew who had committed the o
fense.
Il did not do it, was the reply.
But do you know who did?'
Yes SIR
| .Who was it?'
Il do not wish to tell
But you must tell. It is my duty
ask, and yours to answer me-
Il cannot do it, said George firmly.
Then you must stop with me aft
school, =
He stopped as requested, bnt nothin
! which could urge would induce him
! reveal anything. At last, out of patienC
with what believed to be the obstinal
!, Of the boy, said.
well, George, have borne with yc
Q as long as can, and you must either te
NE or be punished
with triumphant look. as though co
sc,ous that he had corne1ed me by an
plication Of my fayorite rule. he replied:
can't tell you, because it would not
q right. The boy would not like to ha
me tell on him, and I'll do as I'd be do
by
A few years earlier should have dee
: ed a reply thus given an insult, aud shou
: have resented it accordingly; but expe
: enoe and reflection had taughtme the 10
of this, and that one Of the most impo
: ant applications Of my oA-quoted rule, v
= to Judge Of the nature of others al
would have them judge Of mine. Yet,