Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-02-20
EDUCATIONAL-No. ..
SCHOOL DISCIPLINE.

There is, as every one knows, marked
difference among human bein gs in then fac
ulty of controlling Others There are some
who appear to have been "born to command
Their very appearance, voice and eye have
something that causes an involuntary and al
most unconscious obedience It is to be no.
ticed, however, that it is not always those
that appear TO be the most forward and CON-
manding that are the most successiul--espec-
tally in difficult cases. While much must
depend upon strength of character, and of
nerve, dignity, frmness and original tact,
still there are certain principles which can be
learned and put in practice; and il not un-
frequently happens that teacher whose first
appearance ~asf pm promising, and who
made failures in his first attempts, has, by a
careful review OF his own Mistakes and
thorough study of the true principles Of gov
ernment, finally gained a complete triumph.
Peter the Great, after having been defeated
by Charles XII, remarked that he was grad
ally learning from his enemy how to conquer
At the battle of Pultowa he showed that he
had made very commendable proficiency
in his studies. While on the one hand
young teacher ought not to be discouraged at
one or two cases of partial failure, on the
other hand he would do well to consider
whether he may not have mistaken his cal
ling. 1t would be pity 10 spoil good me-
chanic or laborer to make poor teacher
. So far as livelihood is concerned, a person of
good common sense can do better in almost
any other employment than he can do as
mediocre school teacher.
What are some Of the ways and means of
securing good order in school?
A good school room is an essential requl-
site. The teacher however will for the pres
ent have to take his room as it is, or as he
? himself can make it. He should be in the
school house at least fifteen minutes before
school time in the morning, and the last to
leave it at night. By this means he can fore
stall considerable amount of mischief. He
should see that the room is kept clean, dry
and warm; d temperature of 70 or 75 degrees
Fahrenheit Is not too high tor the comfort and
!, contentment of most scholars. At the same
9 time 1t is absolutely necessary that there
! should be some means of admitting pure air,
, and expelling impure. In the absence OF any
a proper ventilating apparatus much may be
done by lowering the windows on opposite
sides Of the room about two inches, thereby
admitting pure air on the wlndward side and
driving out the hot and impure at the other
side. If the tops Of the windows are as .s'gh
as they ought to be no harm will arise from
y currents. A careful attention to these little
4 matters of warmth and pure air will have a
9 wonderful effect in obviating nervousness,
headache, dullness and uneasiness on the
: part of both teacher and scholars. Care
:, should be taken not to lower the windows toe
much we do not want to let in all that is out
doors.
81 The teacher should if possible have his
e scholars always before him. The seats ough
to be SO arranged--but if they are not, why
3, of course the teacher must do as well as he
= can.
i Everybody knows that it is important to be
pin right. When new teacher calls hi!
scholars to order for the first time, he will al
y most invariably find them perfectly quiet anc
q attentive. 1t is important that he should
lie avail himself to the utmost of this good be
a ginning, and make it q continuance If possi
a BILE. Let him Immediately after the opening
IN exercises give them all something to do. |
he has good blackboard let him indicate
some complicated operations iu fractions, ant
request all that think they can perform th'
!. same to signify it; then let him place two 6
" three problems that are more simple. and Civ
Oh out lessons in the reading hr.,ok and spallin
D. book, till all that arr. old enough shall be bus,
es In this VIZ he will be able to attend to tn
lg Organization Of his school, and suppress an
It. incipient outbreaks at the same time.
m There is a gre at diversity among practices
al teach .ers as to the expediency of laying dow
lr1es for the school. We may safely say th'
( ru,es which cannot be enforced are wor'
60 than nothing. This one maxim, very con
prebensive and somewhat quaint, will 60 I;
to secure good order IN school if fairly unde
q stood and fully observed: "Let every scho
ION ar mind his own business" 1t is importa'
that every scholar should have plenty
do, and that his work be such that he can
oh it. Care and good judgement are necessal
w. in assigning lessons, that they be neither t
difficult nor too easy. The more perfect