Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-10-24

School Discipline.

School Discipline.
II isa singular fact that scarcely one Of the ad
mlrers Oi solf government has thought Of ap
plying IL IN schools. In recent number Of the
Atlanhc .Noahiy a very interesting account
was given oil Won Fellenbergs experiment at
I0twyl. An account Of somewhat similar
ex 9erment IN one Of our city schools may not
be out OF place
One morning, during a recitation, the boys
oi certain school were asked What is the
government OF tbs country we are speaking
Of ~" A monarchy" " " hat s the govern,
ment Of our own country % A republic. "
" WHAT Is tae government OF our school 81
|" A republic" No." What is It then.
-r2" A limited monarchy" why we
are not your subjects, slr." " Yes you are, -
replied The teacher, your parents have delegated
10 me cerirIn powers, and you must obey my
orders as long as they see tt to leave you here.
" Well, sir, but We don't like to be any ones
subjects we prefer to be republicans" ''Do
you think yourselves capable Of self govern
men,2p "Yes, sir" " Well, said the teacher,
\" have no objection to trying you but we
must 20 by degrees. | will Try you at fret for
one hour What SIR, won't you mark US
at all lOr anything We dol No, always
provided that you % not disturb the business
OF the school, ior that must 70 on" Very
well, sir"
1t was tried for an hour, then for two hours
then tor day, then for a week At the end Of
the week the boys were told writes the teacher
that | was much gTauhed With their power of self
government, and proposed as reward that we
M t4y uff fo ha
pers book printing establishment but alas
on Monday thsy received two warnings, ana
were told that third disturbance would cause
the downfall OF their republic The warning
was not needed third came-orash went the
republic, aud the old monarchy was restored
upon It's ruins. Tho contrast was dlsagreeible.
Tue Tree republican Ot moment ago, who had
been u law unto himself, was a subject
" eabned, cribbed, confied," his mornings and
his outgoings noted and all his shortcomings
carefully marked.
One bright. open faced youngster soon came
up, however, ana said = lt Isn I lair TO expect
81 much Of Us On Monday, because 1t comes
right after saturday and sunday, aud i. takes
us some time to get into the school ways again"
" Then you are not 10 be considered as capable
OF self government unless you can resist the IN
huence OF Monday as well ss all the other
days? " Yes sir" We tried again. They
succeeded III governing themselves lor the rest
OF the week, and the Monday following we
went to the Harper establishment ani enjoyed
II. Then, however, grayer questions arose,
Ii tue boys were to govern themselves entire
ly they must decide about everything YET the
less0hs must be learn.d AMI recled, order must
be kept, and the school work must % on 10
satisfy these different ideas 1t was agreed that
the teacher should be just Us absolute as before
that the boys should be marked for conduct and
lessons as before, prompt obedience should be
required, and no discussions allowed during
school time but at recess or after school, any
boy might appeal from any one Of the teachers
decisions to jury VI three boys, one chosen by
himself, one by the le.eher, and third by
these Two ami from the decision OF the jury
there should be no appeal. The teacher writes
Ihis seemed hazardous experiment, and
1t was 50, Their virtue was not strong enough
at first TO resist the temptation. The trouble
some boys appealed to have their conduct marks
Cancelled, and the lazy boys to have their reci-
taton marks Increased Their comrades on the
juties obeyed their fellow feeling rather than
their sense OF justice. protested against many
Of the decisions as outrageously unjust, and
warned them that continued injustice would
necessarily cause the downfall Of their republic
" l submitted, however, to all the decisions
Jl the jures, wliing patiently for the tide to
turn; and it did 50. | hal previously
prepared their minds for this state OF things
by conversations, the drift OF which they had
not perceived Their own conscienees whis-
pered to them of their own injustice to
)ne who submitted while he protested, and the
boys began to see that the lazy iel.
lows were &c ting just as high marks as they
were, without the trouble OF working lor them.
All these causes combined to turn the tide.
My patient submission TO unjust decisions was
rewarded.
"When the culprits grumbloi at the jury
men who decided against them, could say to
them with unction, " Protest ii you choose, but |
you must submit as did.
Our experiment succeeded, and for seven /
years our school has been thus governed. There
Is an appeal ltOm every teacher 10 the principal,
lni an appeal from him to three jurymen, or
Judges, as they are more commonly called.
" Ii has proved an admirable method OF train
ing boys judgments, aud IN all cases where
Partially Is charged, it has proved specific
Tor, when boy is condemned by his comrades
also, all such charges lall TO the ground. Some
very droll scenes have occurred at these trials,
anu some curious developments OF character
nave been made
"0n one occasion six boys were on trial for
having detained another boy by force in the
play room. Our play room is large enough to
play base ball in, and several boys were palying
lier school, Four o'clock came, and one OF
the boys said be had orders 10 60 home at that
lime His side had just been caught out, and
The other side declared that he must stay, and
lot them have their innings. lie resisted and
they insisted, but finally let him 20. Next
morning my housekeeper told mo that there
lad been q disturbance in the play room that
some Of the boys had been keeping another
here against his will, and that he had been cry
ng u good deal. She did not know his name,
but pointed him out to me. | asked him II he
lad any complaint to make against any one.
lie sald no, and, Of course, did not press the
natter. After prayers | asked those who had
orclbly detained William to step for
ward Six oi them Immediately did 80. Igave
Nj parties notice to appear before me at TWO
o'clock. The case was regularly tried, and my
leclsion was that the six young gentlemen in
question were in the wrong, and must b. OK.
,luded from the play room for one week.
They were dissatisfied aud appealed. One Of
he judges chosen was chunky spunky fell |