The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-01-09

|
peat, the common school has taken great
step in adyance.- Coma. Co0ana2n School
Jour. Ill. b. B.
Morals and Manners in our Schools,
From the observation and experience Of
my whole lie and especially from diiigent
inquiry among the most intelligent men and
women Of the county 4or the la8r six months,
I am satisfied thatthe chief obstacle to tho
progress and elevation OF the Common
! Schools, has been and now is, the fact, that
! bad morals and bad manners are suffered TO
preyal in and about them Parents oE.in-
| telliqonce and refinement have oItea sail 10
me that they were afraid to send their chii-
dron 10 them:-that il they did, their chill
dren were there brought III immediate con-
tact with profane swearing, and rudeness,
and vulralqty in words and actions, Of the
most disgusting kind; that if this feature,
in those schools, could not be changed, they
never could be made suitable places ior the
proper education OF youth. Is not this So j?
/ have publicly interrogated teachers and
scholars on this subject in the schools that
| have visited, and in every instance, but
one, the admission was freely made, that
profanity and valgarity were vices that pre-
vailed among them.
| have invariably directed all tAe rhcto-
ric that I possess against these >ices; but
the difficulty OF oradicating evil habits IS
very great, and can only be accomplished
By proper instruction and course Of rigid
discipline. Common Schools viii never en-
10y the confidence and respect Of people Of
Intelligence and refinement, until morals and
manners receive much greater share Of at
tention in them than they now do. Has
not the time arrived for greater efforts in
this direction? What is scholarship worth
when associated with vulgarity and depray-
ity? Ought there not to be as much pains ta-
ken, in the schools, to make boy gentle
nan, as there is to make Inn q scholar !?
In the term gentleman include purity Of
morals as well as gracefuluess Of manners.
Parents desire their sons TO be gentlemen
and their daughters to be ladies', as well as
to be scholars And it is my opinion that
efforts in this direction will be warmly Sec
onded and sustained by both parents and
children, How shall we go to work then
to effect this change in opr schools, and BE-
cure what Milton calls the ''virtuous educa-
ton Of youih?"
Many things are to be considered: There
should be pleasant and well furnished school
rooms the grounds about the school house
should be enclosed and adorned; separate
yards should be provided with priyles for
the different sexes to prevent improper eX-
posurc and to preserve delicacy OF feeling.
| So much should be done by the Districts in
their corporate capacity. This is their part
Of the work, and is merely preparatory, but
essential, to be in harmony and auxiliary
to the part to be performed by the teacher.
What is the part of the teacher and how is
he to be qualified to perform it? There
must be O system; The teacher must under
stand It and be trained TO carry it out. The
teachers part is 70 improve the minds, the
morals; and the manners Of his pupils. How
is he TO teach morals and manners? There
are principles Of a1aaaers as well as of mar
ais, that could be reduced TO a suitable form
for school use, and be taught to the pupils.
This code of school morals and manners
might be taught and practiced in the schools,
with the same efficiency and with the same
success, that arithmetic is. A person of in
telIirenco and refinement can easily be found
to prepare such code, with Instructions
how TO use it and carry out its principles.
1t should be made expressly for school-usc,
with lessons to be studied and recited, with
such exercise for practice in manners, as
good taste might suggest. If we had such
a W orF, one every way suitable for school
use, then our teachers would have to be train
ed in that as well as in other subjects of school
study; and being so trained, in all requisite
school studies and discipline l can see no rea-
son why our common or public schools should
not be carried TO the highest degree of perfec-
ton. Then the objection could no longer be
urged, that the morals and manners Of the pu-
pills werc neglected in the schools Wisconsin
Journal Of Education.
| Hmm t5e N'py Vo,h Wo1,I1 Jec. 81