American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1859-06-30
For the Lancaster Gazette.
Our Commas, Bchools---Why so Little
Pfosrsss is made among tho Pupils.

: ARssRs. Ebs.-Hayine been engaged
about ten yssrs in the laboTioas work Of
sdneaiion. : shall not be thought aIiogeth.
or incompetent to assign SONS Of The rsas
sons. why SO little progress is made By tbs
pupils in our Common Schools. ThefTs
cause deserving notice is. the ineompsten-
oy OF teachers. Despite our many insiitu.
tions Of learning-the web devised systems
OF mental edueAIion-the ensctment of rig
idGomtnou School laws-and faiihfGlnsss
and impaftiality OF their execution, We
have some teachers Of indiifertnt attain.
menss. They possess but running Or
smesisFing knowledge Of the coRmon
branches. and are far from beng adopts
iu tsaehing them How many Iof Them
really understand the genius md structure
Of the English language? How many are
perfect N 0rthogfaphy? Their letters,
reports DC, satisfactorily answer the pre-
ceding inquiries. I-onoe saw the follow
ing phrasetn written sale bill: "The sale
to he held at C--n's, known as the
iarm OF s Snilh's saw w,mill. - Another. a
teacher Of Fairfield II blush TO say it, made
the following ridiculous blunder: "For
sale FIVE head Of horses, too setts Of cheers
and (now reader you may well laugh one
COX stovsl's Shades of erudition hide,
us from snch prsceptors. II isas pbilo.
sophical truth in nature that no stream
can rise higher thon its source. Cempar-
atively speakng.,ro ordinary pupil can
acquire more knowledge than his teacher
possesses, while under his care alone for
instruction. How, then. can pupils under
such guides, make rapid progress, or &C..
quire good education? ] rejoice, how
ever. TO know that the tokens Of geuer-
al waking up are apparent and q new era
is dswninS upon usI The dark clouds Of
ignorance which have so long o'erspreAd
our sky.are being dispersed by the gentle
winds OF intelligence. Oil that the winds
might blow along the entire circumfer-
snce Of the kingdom. until not single
mist or stain appears upon the olearness Of
Tire sky TesohsSs have learned, or are
learning, the important truth that, this is
an age OF progression; and that they too,
must improve themselves, il thoY would
continue TO pursue their delicate and re-
sponsibIe occupation. This is ominous Of
better times, Scientific, literary attain.
nlents. howeysFsre notahe only necessary
qualifications for good teacher. a
knowledge Of the principles Of sehgoy-
eminent is highly essential indeed it is
the first great fundamental quaIiG cation,
the browning sttritute Of q model teacher.
For he who cannot govern himself, Is in !.
capable ofgeserhing aud instrpctiDg others
Some teachers are aot only. deficient in lit
eTaTy atthinments. but 10 government and
ruling. Phrehologically speaking. the or
gan OF Hurnsn Nature (if such an organ ex-
lists, is small. or but impsriectly develop
ed in their creniums. Some who are 9th
erwisc well qualified 10 teach, fail in gov,
eminent. The reason is obvious They
cannot read the dispositions, characl ets,
DO, oftheir pupils. or in other Words they
don't uuderst.hd 'Humao Mature. Heuea
shey adopt the same mode OF punishment
for all They invariably ipfiiot co,poIeal
punishment upon their pupils for every
trivial offence; whether committed Ly d
timid ora daring pupil, And what is the
result? The thid young ufchins feel
keonly, that their natural and inalienable'
rights ars encroachsd upon, and that the
teacher isnottheir friend, Such treat
mehs NAL srestmsntj Of pupils bsgsts in.
thsm a fear which will end ia positive la,
tired. / do not argue that corporal nun
ishment should be abolished, but that il
should not be resorted.o for every and sny
offence that may be committed by the in
considerate and incogitant youth, Teach
ers should remember the maxim "youth
may bethoughtful but it is not common
'Phat government is best which governs
least. said certain politician, maxim
equally true when applied 10 Common
Schools. i am well aware, that teachers
oould. by a rigid discipline, have an Or,
derly school; but il would be al the exr
pense Of The healih Of their pupils. at the
expense ofths greatest of earthly bless,
ings. Who has not observed that chill,
eten instinctiyely obey one OF the great
fundamental laws oftheir organizations,
the laU OF exercise. A teaoher could
scarcely iniicta q greater punishment npon
his pupils, than BY keeping them, closely
oou6ned 10 : heated and uhvsntiIated room,
Why have we some incompetent leaohers?
Evidently because some teachers are not
sufficiently compensated for their labor
live would have thoroughly qualified
teachers, wo must increase their wac es. SO
that they can make teaching a profession,
and thereby obtain the means for making
an honest livelihood. IN e -. q !
The second cause is irregular attend.
ance. No parent can reasonably expect
his child to improve rapidly unless II
is sent regularly. In Common Schools
pupils are, or at least. should be arranged
into classes, 10 economize time. If some
OF the class are absent two or three days
in the week, Il must necessarily result in
the division Of Che class TO the great incon-
venience Of the teacher and 70 the con.
sumption Of precious time, II such
class is not ldivided. Its progress will be
slow, The reasons are obvious to every
intelligent and reflect ting mind. 49,. 4,
/ assign as tho third cause, q, want oi
proper OF suitable text. books. Although
the country is literally flooded with many
new aud supsgiof, sehoo J. books both on
the oommonsend higher branches OF learn,
ing, yetmanyg Of them are i'll adapted 70
the wants Of the young learner This're.
mark applies especially 40 someaof the ser
ries Of reading books. now in general use.
McGptfey's series OF readers, ere unexcsp-
tiopable as 70 the kind ofIeading matter