The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-02-16
THE OLD SCHOLARSHIPS STORY.


When ] taught district school. said be,
l adopted it as a principle to give as few
rules to my scholars as possible. l had,
however, one standing rule, which was,
"Strive, under all circumstances, to do
right" and the text of right, under all cir
cumstances, was the Golden Rule "All
things whatsoever ye would that men should
do to you, do ye even so to them.
If an offense was committed, it was my
invariable practice to ask Was it right =
''Was it doing 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 offense, unless it be
when measured dy the standard of the Col
den Rule During the last years OF my
teaching the only tests ever applied to an
act of which it was necessary to judge,
were those of the above questions. By
this course gained many important ad-
vantages.
In The first place. the plea, "You have
not made any rule against it," which. for
a time, was a terrible burden to me, lost all
its power.
In the second place. By keeping constant
ly before the scholars. as standard of &C.
ton, the single text of right and wrong as
one which they were to apply for them
selves, was enabled to cultivate in them a
deep feeling of personal responsibility.
In the third place, I got a stronger hold
on their feelings, and acquired new power
Of cullivating and directing them.
In the fourth place, / had the satisfaction
of seeing them become more truthful, hon
est, trustworthy, and manly In their inter
course with me, with their friends, and with
each other.
Once, however, was sadly puzzled. by
an application of the principle, by one Of
my scholars, George Jones-a large boy
who, partly through false feeling of honor.
and partly through feeling of stubborn
ness, refused TO give me some information.
The circumstances were these.
A scholar mad played some trick which
had intercepted the exercises. As was my
custom, called on the one who had done
the mischief to come forward. As no one
started repeated the request. but with no
success. Finding that the culprit would
not confess his guilt, asked George if he
knew who committed the ofense
al did not do it, was the reply.
''But do YOU know who did it p
Yes, SRA
WHO was it ?"
81 do not wish to tell"
But you must; it is my duty to ask
and yours TO answer me-"
I eau not do it, sir" said George hrm
ly.
Then you must stop with me afte
school"
He stopped as requested. but nothing
which could urge would induce him TO re
veal anything. At last. out of patience
o@I,o
the boy, L said:
'Well, George, have borne with you as
long as can. and you must either tell me
OF be punished" ,.,....
With triumphant look, as though con
scious that he had cornered me by an appli
cation of my favorite rule, he replied: 81
a can't tell you because it would not be right
the hoy would not like to have me tell oil
him, and I'll do as I'd be done by"
A few years earlier I should have deem
ed reply thus given an insult. and shoulC
have resented it accordingly; but expert
It ence and reflection had taught me the folly
of this, and that one of the most importan
applications of my oft quoted rule waste
Judge of the motives OF others as woult
wish to have them judge of mine. Yet
for the moment, was staggered HIS pie
Is was plausible; he might be honest IN max
ing it; did not see in what respect 1t wa
8 falIacious. I felt that it would not do to re
treat from my position and suffer the often
der to escape, and yet that should do
great injustice by compelling boy to DO
# thing, if he really believed it to be wrong
l. After little pause said, "Welt, George
do not wish you to do any thing which
he wrong, or which conflicts with our Colder
Rule. We will leave this for tonight, AM
perhaps you will alter your mind before 70
morrow"
= saw him privately before school, an
found him more firm in his refusal than ev
-, err. Alter the devotional exercises of th
1T morning. began to question the scholar
-as was my wont-on various points
duty, and generally led the conversation
3 the Golden Rule.
"Who," I asked, ''are the persons
whom, as members of this school, 20
r ought to do as YOU would be done by
Your parents who support and send 20
~ here? your schooimasters who are engage
IN the same work with yourselves the ci
: izens of the town, who, by taxing then
selves, raise money to pay the expenses
this school? ,he School Committee wh
We take SO great an interest in your welfare
he your teacher or the scholar who careles:
=. r. ~ or willfully commits some oftense again
er good order %
he A hearty Yes" was responded to ever
is question.
IL Then. addressing George. said, Eye
terday asked you who had committed
- certain offense. You refused to tell m
because you thought it would not be dom
~ As you would be- done by. ] now wish "
u to reconsider the subject. On one sid
ara your parents, your schoolmates. 81
!. citizens of this town. the School Comm
IN tee, and your teacher, all deeply interests
,p. in everything affecting the prosperity
nd this school. On the other side, is the %
lsr who by his act has shown himself ready to i
% iure all these. To which party will you {
- as you would be done by 90 h.Ea sas
After q moments pause. he said. al
- the FIRST. Il was William Brown who did it
My triumph, or rather the triumph of {
principle, was complete. and the lesson "
as deeply felt by the other members of Z
lis' school. as by him for whom it was special
. designed.
HINTS ABOUT PERSONAL COMFORT
A thin shawl NAV he made warm nv foldi