Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-09-07
CORRESPONDENCE.
EXPERIENCES AND OBSERVATIONS or SCHOOL
KEEPING,
CHAPTER v1II-sCHooL GOVERNMENT.

Sarah B. was one of the most sue
cessful teachers that l ever knew.
She had an established reputation as
a skillfuI goyerness, and commanded |
the highest wages that were ever
paid female teachers. Some obser-
vations of her methods of school
government, will form the present
chapter, and complete all that l have
to say upon this general subject.
Her first aim was to interest her
pupils, not only in their studies, but
in the disciple of the school, as a com
munity. She would say to them in
the outset, ave are a little Common
wealth by ourselves, and we want to
have the bestsystem of government.
She would then in a plain, simple
manner, tell them how government
was necessary to promote the best
good of any community; and speak
of the different kinds of government
and their adaptation to different
ranks of society; thus enlisting their
attention to this subject. She would
drop a few seeds Of patriotism, which
could not fail of bearing fruit, and
then apply the subject to the case in
hand:
you see, my pupils" she would
say, what an interesting subject this
is; and now we want to make a trial
of it in our school. Every good cit
izen tries to obey the laws of his
country; helps the officers of gov
( eminent enforce the laws upon those
who are inclined to disobey, and uses
his influence to make everybody love
the laws and obey them. Now I
trust you are all going to be good
citizens of our little commonwealth
obey all its laws, help me to enforce
laws that need to be enforced, and
do all that you can to make every
body in the school love and obey the
laws"
She would then lay down a few
necessary rules or laws, explaining
their object and utility.
/ The natural and almost uniform
result of this course was that all
felt an interest in the school govern
ment, and a personal responsibility
in maintaining it. Thus the greatest
obstacle to successful school govern
ment, namely; lack Of interest in i
on the part of pupils, was removed
and an easy path laid open before
them.
In one of her schools, there wa
an unfortunate lad whose power o
! acquiring knowledge was not 81
, great as that of most of his mates
: and whose opportunities at hom
were not equal to those of any othe
in the school. He accordingly be
= came discouraged, and with the fee
c ing that he never could get the les
son assigned, he closed his book, an,
began to whisper to his seat mat,
q and do other things which had bee
forbidden in the schoolIaws. Mis-
n B. observed him, and understood tn
o cause Of his uneasiness. She spok
IS kindly to him, and asked if he ha
! his lesson learned. He immediatel
'' began to cry, and in language Of Il
" greatest despair, declared that /
: never could learn anything.
>. 20 yes you cam said Miss Z
+. don't be discouraged; keep tryin
d and do the best you can, and that
'. all that we want. But [ am sorl
u to see that you are violating o.
Mt laws; this, you know, is very wron
7 and fear that must punish you f,
it. That hard lesson IS no GOO
7e reason why you should violate o.
as laws. After school 1 wish to s.
he you alone about this; meanwhile,
n want you to think of what you ha,
Ill done, and tell me what punishme
as you think you deserve. As tn
lesson seems to discourage you,
of want you to take this letter over
% the post Office for me, and come
en- rectly back; after which I will he
-e- you out of your difficulty"
The post Office was about a gu;
o. ter of mile distant.