Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-02-12
13009AGQ0QAAo
Edited by A. SMITH, County Superintendent
For the Educational Column.
The Waste of Time.


Not long since heard very sensible
old gentleman, in speaking of the schools of
to-day as compared with the schools that
iourished when he obtained his education.
say that after all, those who 90 to school
nowadays have not as much to show for
the time spent or for the opportunities they
possess as those who attended the moor
schools in the wretched old schoolhouses
forty years ago. The remark struck me quite
forciblyj both as being true, and as show
ing how much time is squandered by pupils
at school In the old times, when school
houses were like angels visits, few and
far between" when teachers possessed very
little knowledge, but vigorous, we'll exer-
clsed right arms, those who were so fortu-
nate as to attend school thought it neces-
sary to make the very best possible use of
their .scanty opportunities. To be sure,
they did not become specially learned in
books, but they formed such habits of in
dustry as have been greatly useful to them
in after ife q % ti a' t aa -
Any person who visits schools, cannot
fail to be impressed with one fact, that
yery few scholars learn as much as they
can; very many pass week after week al
most Eithout any perceptible progress, vast
ing their time in idleness, or in ANNOYING
the teacher and creating confusion in school.
This sad, almost universal fact is of suffi-
cient importance to justify us in inquiring
where the faslt lies; for every peason. will
admit that it is utterly sad that SO much
time and SO many priceless opportunities
should pass away uaimproved We may.
blame the children or youth, and affirm
that they ought to be wiser than to mis-
spend their time and, to certain extent,
we should be right in so doing. But, IN
less 4 am greatly in error, we must look
elsewhere for the principal blame. Do not
many teachers praczicdtly inenieate the
idea that time is of small value, by spend
ing their evenings and leisure days 10 mer-
riment or useless reading? Do they not
realty give the lie to all their good words
urging their pupils to diligence and care
ful study, by naisusiRg the time they them
selves might devote to self-improvement?. 2.
Are there not many teachers who hardly
advance single step in actual scholarship,
or make any progress in successful teach
ing, from the first day of their school to
the last? Is It possible that pupils shall
not be somewhat influenced by. such per-
nicious examples, and deem it no wrong 60
idle away the long evenings and the pre-
cious hours which the teacher finds so
worthless 2 tNA Il III
Again the fault must be charged not
family upon parents. There are some pa /
rents who impress upon the minds of their
children the importance of rightly using
their time, who encourage them to improve
the evenings in study, who aid them in
their studies, and who set them good ex-
ample by using wisely their own leisure for
selfculture. But to one parent of this
sort, are there not fifty who seem to be to-
taiiyflndltterent to the progress and intel.
leetual growth of their children, who use
no effort to induce them to study, to en-,