The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-02-02
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The French Minister Ct Fuslie Inssrsesi. i As0u'
10 iusersics ths use Of tssans in any form In the
etucaticrai estan.iSsneatset Frsnae.-zns Pspers-
| Coed for France! What blessing 1t
would be if the ministers, or directors, or
trustees, or whatever We may call them, Of
public instruction in this country, would
follow the noble example Of this French
Minister, ard ssinterdic. the use of tobacco
| in our educational establishments" What
happy thing i. would be for parents, If IN
sending their children to school they could
feel assured tina, they would not learn as
much of evil a. of good, and that they would
find in their teachers, patterns OF propriesy
and goodness.
Its very evident thu. those who stand at
. the head Of educational matters in this
country, are not in all cases as careful in
this particular as they should be. They do
not, as they ought, select those OF tho high
est standard 10 moral purity-those exempt
from every debasing viee-as guardians OF
their childrea's morals, az well as instructors
of their minds.
Ii 10 painful to those parents who truly
feel their responsibilities, and who endeaver
to guard their little ones from the vices OF
tobacco chewing, profanity, &C., to know
that the teachers selected for public schools
are not always, or altogether, exempt from
these vices, and that many of the boys, even
of tender years, in attendance on the schools,
are permitted to smoke and chew, and use
all sorts Of profane and indecent language
thus setting an example to the younger, and
as yet, unnitia.ed once, which, if followed,
will be fruitful Of moro Of evil to them,
than all their book learning will do them
good. So long as teachers are themselves
addicted TO the use of tobacco, and to the
use of low slang phrases, if not actual pro-
family, of course they cannot demonstrate
with, or punish their pupils for doing the
same thing. But, with teachers of pure
morality, it could and would be done.
Teachers may plead ignorance Of the do
ing Of these things by their pupils; but,
surely, if they keep their eyes and ears open,
they must know something Ct what is going
on on the play ground. Again, they may
say that they have nothing to do with the
III erals of their pupils-that they have only
to do with books. But hold that, as the
children are committed to their care and
guardianship for the greater part of the day,
they stand for the time being in the place of
parents, and are in duty bound to look after
their morals q. carefully and as faithfully
as they look after .heir lessons. hold that
the use of tobacco and profane language,
are greater crimes, and more deserving Of
punishment, than whispering, failing to
commit a lesson, or missing word in SPELL
ing; aud that it would be we'll if teachers
would be little more sparins of punishment
in the latter cases, and little m ore prompt
in bsstowing it in the former. And, be-
levs it Of more Importance to the pupils,
and to the community at large, that half
two in each week-be devoted to the giving
of lecture by the teacher Of the school, on
the subject of tobacco and kindred vices
as to their effect upon the health and NOR
als-ihsn that the same time be spent in
reading compositions, 'Ispeaking pieces,"
&c; and, if time can be found for but one,
let that tim. be devoted to the intoxicating
of good principles and sound morality.
know that the use of tobacco has become
80 prevalent in this country, that many peo-
pie have come to look upon it as harmless,
necessary habit. But there are many Others
who look upon i. as an evil, second op,y to
that Of drunkenness-to which it oft,n leads |
and who dread the formation o. the habit |
of using it in their children, with almost as
great dread as they do The forming an |
appetite for strong drink. To these, the |
examples set before or youth, no. only by
their school-teaches,, but also by religion.
teachers, is matter of regret and pain-for |
an sorry to say the pulpts Of cur country
bear evidence that ministers of the gospel |
ara not always free from this filthy vice.
As to effect Of the use Of tobacco on
the health, the evidence of medical writer's,
and the statistics furnished by those who
have Investigated the subject, present fear
full record; and it behooves both parents |
aud teachers 10 do what they may to prevent
the further spread of SO great an evil. The
step taken by France is noble aud timely
one, and it is TO be hoped that this move
ment on her part will attract the attention,
and engage the serious consideration of the |
directors Of I" educational establishment" |
ywhere-both in our own and other |
countries.
The above remarks are not intended to |
apply particularly to the Directors and
Teachers in this city-though, of The coat
fits they may PIT it or" The evil is wide
spread and general, and the remedy is, to |
iuterdict the use Of tobacco in teachers-to |
appoint none to that Office who use the filthy |
weed and then to make it incumbent on |
tho teacher to intcrdiet its use among his |!
pupils. ASTi-ToBAcCo.
GOOD THING FROM An UNEXPECTED
The Missouri Republican, through whose
columns Washington lester-writer was
permitted to empty the bitterness of his
disunion gall upon the brave aud patriotic |
Scott-makss the following handsome |
apology: ....... ..