American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-12-05

is to hare precedence in, ,ohile IL is at the
same time TO be, as far as practicable,
promotive Of all their other necessary stu>
dies, pursuits, exercises, and employments.
1t is in no wise aud at no time to be cur>
tailed or interscred with, either for profit
in employment, for the ease of instruc>
tors, under pretext of pleasure or exer
else for pupils, or for any other cause,
except sickness and those pei iodieal in
termissions and vacations which are the
right of youth.
This rule is to be without exception.
And, when it is considered that only five
hours work in tie school room during Eve
of the seven days in the week, are re.
quired of the pupil, and that consequent
ly all the rest Of the time is left for phys
ical labor. and recreation, for eating, rest
and sleep, aud for religious instruction,
exercises and worship,-it cannot with
truth be asserted, that an undue draft is
thereby made, either upon the pupils
time, energies or patience, or that the
teachers labor and professional skill are
unduly taxed by devoting eight hours to
the school room.
The nature OF these schools which
industrial instruction and employment
are to be connected with. intellectual,
moral and religious traiuing,-renders an
additional fundamental principle or rule
imperative; and that is, -.
ii. That eUery pupil shall hare an
equal duration and oportunity Of school
room instruction, soith all the others and
that such instruction shall be adapted TO
his or her intellectual condition and ,eonts.
Therefore, neither is any larger pupil to
be detained from the school room for the
purposes of labor, when the time for at
tendance has arrived or during such time
Except in regular turn to which all shall
be subject nor is any junior pupil to be
eurtailed in the number or duration of
lessons, under pretext of the superior or
more pressing wants of the elder. Each
is to have the degree of instruction and
attention proper for his OF her age and
state of advancement, and sufficient
force of teachers is to be provided to eff
feet this objeot.
|
The rights of children in matters of
sleep, rest and play, are as well founded
in reason, as those of mental or moral
instruction. They cannot be violated
without injury as well as injustice. There's
fore,
III. Rising before daylight, IN a!schoot
or institution for children at least, as
neither pron,otiUe of health, comfort, study
nor econrmy. The damp air Of the morn>
ing and the cheerless rooms of the school
before either sun or fire has rendered
them pleasant, are as unwholesome as
they are comfortless aud unpropitious to
mental effort. The same candle light
wasted in the dark hours of the morning
or rather of the latter part Of the night,
if properly employed during two or three
after sunset, will effect much pore in the
way of study. While the school room is
vet warm in winter or begins to be cool
in summer, and while the studies of the
day are still fresh in the memory and
their accompanying instructions recent,
as much may be effected in the evening
as in double the time during the dark
and probably chill morning hours; or, If
miscellaneous reading and voluntary i'm
provemept be the york of these hours,
as they shoul. mainly be, the body, the
mind aud the spirits will all be in better
condition for effort in the latter part of
the day, than at any other time. Ac.
cordingly, that kind of early rising,
which is really getting up and perform
ing or attempting to perform the first du
ties of the day in the dark, is to be
avoided.
". As rest, play and exercise are also
rights of childhood so they are to be not
only allowed in due quantities, but so
Tegulated as to promote moral and phys
ical improvement. 1t is therefore, the
duty of instructors TO regulate without
improperly restraining the amusements
of the pupils, and to see to it that while
cheerfulness and relaxation prevail. moth
ing detrimental to health or COED mo ais
| is practised.
Soider's Orphans, like all other chill,
dren, are subject to evil influences, and
will occasionally be guilty Of improper
conduct. These influences are, as far as
possible, to be corrected and this improp-
er conduct punished. In cases in which
no other corrective is faund to succeed.
corporal punishment is to be administer
| ad Rut in order Ia Drevert fLs abuso