Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-12-13
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For the Educational Column
Young America in School.

young men and ladies'; but any one who
goes into I'll the schools of this county, OF
into those in villages, will see, and hear.
and unhesitatingly believe that Young
America goes to school. And since he is
| there, the youth must be treated in some
way; how shall he be managed so as to grow
into real manliness, instead of becoming
thorough rowdy? This is practical cues
ton, and whosoever gives q satisfactory an
swer to It must be real beneiactor As
piring to that exalted character will suc-
gest one answer:
Young America is very lively youth,
full Of blood, ready for anything that prom
ises a little risk and a great amount of
noise. lie has undoubting faith in snow
bailing, skating, horse racing, and lively
dog fight. He is not necessarily vicious,
but his failngs" 90 not always bear to
virtues side Taken young enough, he
may be trained to habits OF active useful
ness, generous efforts for any worthy cause.
But if left unchecked. Of unguidcd, he will
invariably become an airoit villain sharp
, er, spendthriit, noisy nuisance, perhaps
politician. Now, when he is at school
| is just the time to give the twig that incli-
nation which is most admirable in the full
grown tree.
/ There are three courses open to the teach
er, either of which he may adopt First,
he may allow Young America to do as he
! pleases-to come to school when it suits
his mood-to go away when impulse
prompts him, and to act in school as his
fancy suggests.
This s free country; generally speak
| ing, a person has the right to DO what he
will. But genuine liberty is not lawless-
| ness, but ready obedience to rightful au-
thority. A man has right to do as he
plcases, when he pleases to do right but
no one has right to do wrong. lie may
have the po2rcr, but never the right So
Young America should learn that lie is not
lord Of all lie survcys-that he is respon-
slblc for his conduct; that laws, school laws,
are meant ior lin; that disregard for 9th
crs' rights and feelings is not decent, and
will not be tolerated This mode of treat
irg Young America is most injudicious it
fosters the very disposition which needs re-
straint, and prepares him for more reckless
! deeds on wider stage.
The second mode Of treating Young
America is by force-attcmpting to crush
out the impulse to lawlessness. 1t is based
on the theory that there is no native
goodness or sense Of honor in him, to which
the teacher can appeal. He is regarded as
i itrocous beast to be kept in subsection
By sheer strength, to be intimilatcd, to be
held down in pitiless contempt. So every
manifestation Of boyish exuberance Of spir-
its IS rigidly subdued no quarter is given
TO any unnecessary liyeliness. If he be-
comes involved in difficulty with another
scholar, no matter on what grounds, It is
credited to the agency Of the Evil Spirit,
who is supposed to operate through him !;
indeed, he is virtually regarded as young
demon. This mode Of treatment seems
wholly unwise and injurious. 1t appeals
only to passion, and excites rage, not re-
pentance; it stimulates Young America to
take revenge, to reqoEpense the person who
has TINS abused him 1t treats him as
brute, so, naturally renders him brutal; it
does not appeal to him as a reasonable be-
ing, and thus makes him unreasonable it
implies that be is fend, and makes him
fiendish. 1t may crush him into subiec-
ton, but it likewise crushes out all manly
feelings and aspirations, 1t is only Fit for
the internal regions.
The third mode of treating Young Amer
ica IS neither by indulgence nor indiscrim-
mate opposition, but by wise restraint, care
| ful guidance-in one word, training Some
persons repeat Solomons instruction to
train up a child in the way he should go
as if he meant to have the word train trans
lated aohip. | think he meant just what
he said-train. Training is judicious ed
ucation, giving right direction to the i'm
pulses, checking what is extravagant, stim-
ulating what is deficient, seeking to pro-
mote symmetrical, healthy growth
Young America is full Of life all he
needs, and what he must have, is to be in
structed to use wisely and congenially the
vigor which makes him mischievous. Ap-
peal to his sense of justice, to his love of
honest praise, to his ambition to excel; ;
show him how wide field, with how rich
rewards lies open before him, and how sure
honest energy is to win; treat him as if he
were your brother, and you felt an undying
interest in his welfare be sure to let him
see that you are laboring to secure his high
est good-that you wish him to become
wise, that he may exert commanding in
fluence; that you desire him to be manly
and honest, so that his influence may be
wholly good Young America needs re-
straint with firm, gentle hand he also
needs careful direction, and frank, courte-
Gus, Christian treatment. With these he
is likely to become an active, unselfsh,
trustworthy man; without these, he is al
most certain to become reproach and m
mitigated grief to his family, and scourge
! to society. s.