Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-01-08
For the Standard.
The New School House.
" Wake up BoyS!- Wake mp Girls"
BY E. HARRINGTON.

The architectural improvement in
school houses of recent construction is a
relicitous circumstance, and although they
are not precisely what they should be
none of them being rightly ventilated,
nor having as convenient furniture as
they might haye-yet we may rejoice at
the advancement achieved, for it is so far
encouraging and will lead US toward per-
lection.
New school houses being now occupied
for the first time, it seems a suitable oc-
casion for making a few friendly sugges-
tons in reference to their preservation.
1t is the duty, and should be the pleasure
of all the inhabitants of the district, and
especially of the teacher and the pupils,
to prevent the house and its furniture and
surroundings from being married, and to
keep it in a condition Of as perfect clean
illness and purity as is practicable. 1t
should be the most elegant and attractive
place in the neighborhood, except the
family home. And there should be per-
feet unanimity of all the parties that are
interested in its preservation. The teach
er, by careful example, and patient and
discreet instruction, and if necessary by
absolute authority, may do much for the
preservation and cleanliness Of the prem
/ ises; but the scholars must be chiefly re-
lied on for the safe-keeping and neatness
of the house and everything appertain-
ing to it. The older scholars should be
specially cautious not only that their con-
duct be right in itself, but that it be ex-
emplary to the younger pupils. It seems
to be prevailing opinion amongst schol-
ars that they may do things at the school
house, and to the school house, that they
do not do at other places, and to other
buildings. Look at the old school house
Compute, if you can, the amount of idle
ness that was necessary TO produce all
Sbose unseemly knife-carvings. Follow
out into the busy world the footsteps o.
the scholars that have preceded you, ant
observe the deIeterious effect of that idle
ness upon their characters. But do no
, follow their example of idleness and MAJ
, the beauty of your school house witt
your jack-kniYes. No, not even with S,
much as a pencil mark or an ink-stain.
Some scholars are never happy onl,
when they are in rough-and-tumbI
scufle. Scufling should never be at
tempted nor permitted in the school house
whatever the temptation may be. Whe,
: tempting chance is presented to knoc
i off playmate's cap, Or knock an appl
: or SNOWFALL out of the hand, or do any
J thing else that might by possibility resu
: in scuffle, you must not do it. Scufl
to your hearts content at the right tim
Z and place but the school house is NJ
the right place, nor study hours the rigf
time. And you must not play hop-skiI
and jumper the seats and desks. Thel
: is no good reason why you should tax
L liberties in the school room that wou
be improper in the parlor at home.-
Some scholars have the habit of dro
ping their apple cores and the crumI
- from the dinner basket upon the foe
- and throwing away pieces of bread al
butter on the floor with the butter ST
always down, and Of dripping the was
water of their States on to the floor, al
even the disgusting habit of splitting
i the floor. You must do no such thin
II With the best Judgment, and the utmt
nc care, the atmosphere Of q school room
oI unhealthy; and every pupil-and eve
other person who goes into a schC
house-shouId cheerfully do all that c
To- reasonably be done to preserve the bea
he ty and purity Of the entire premises.
And if anybody is so abusive as to bri
M tobacco into the school house, and t
INT teacher does not peremptorily prevent
'ly Or if anybody brings tobacco there
w. an evening or Sunday meeting-go to t
IRE trustees with a complaint and if tn
an do their duty they will put the tobat
users out Of the house with as mu
IN. promptitude and as little ceremony as
drive the cat out of the harder or the D
out OF the gardener a skunk out of
-, cellar. And if the trustees have a Il
some chew in the mouth and filthy D
'9a in the pocket, and therefore do not he
- your complaint, 20 10 the chancellor
tile an injunction against the nuisance.
ov As it is of great importance that
= ground around the school room should
suitably ornamented with trees and shr
ing berry, if it has not already been done
may pleasantly amuse yourselves SOM
the stormy nOontimes by drawing pl
ate on your states, showing, after the fol-
a. trees have been duly placed, how
'"0 will plant lilac in this spot, a snow
an, in fhat an epIanfina r1Ddar ono ,y;ndo,