The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-11-14
Common Schools.
tCommunicated.1

This subject has employed the pens Of
many men of the FIRST rank in the educa-
tional department Of both the eastern and
western worlds. Essays, lectures and books
without number, have flooded every country
of christendom, having for their direct OBJ.
ject the advancement of Common School
Education and the proper molding of the
earliest impressions Of childhood. Yetsad
grievous to say the mass ofthe parents and
guardians Of childhood of the land, have
never read or reading, have not understood
or understanding, they still disregard their
own interest, that of their children and the
future Of the country by negligence alike
unaccountable and reprehensible.
Observe what is passing every day in our
midst, in regard to the teachers of the
country common schools, very properly
,ycleped day schools" for like the mush-
room they are conceived in darkness ;
mature in q day; and in the darkness
perish.
The causes Of this are various and OBJ
vious. The object with a large majority Of
trdncient teachers, is to relieve presen,
pecuniary wants, as soon as this is accom-
plished they leave the section or engage in
some other pursuit, in which to use their
own expressive phrase :" there is more
money or to which their restless desposi
tons Or versatile genius inclines them for
a season. These men, are good at almost
anything but best at NOTHING. For you
will frequently find one Of them who has
filled all, or most of the various positions OF
barkeeper, SLOW ordinary clerk, parrochial
politicians Of the small demagogue order,
backslied preacher or quasi genteel ioafer ;
and almost always accompanied by q scant
of carbon flesh and "bust head !" beautiful
ly blended.
Those who are interested with the edu-
cation Of the rising generation should be
possessed of that moral culture of the
heart which manifests itself in a strict In.
tegrity Of principle--upright business
course, with q courteous and kind deport-
ment. Their minds should not only be edu-
Gated in "book lore" they should have a
knowledge Of human nature, especially as
manifested in children. The character and
capacity Of each pupil should be understood
in order to select proper studies and appor-
ton the tasks. Illustration by parallel
and comparison, and by example from every-
day life, should be cultivated as a science
and practiced as the surest means of en-
gazing earnest attention, and method Of
OF imparting instruction, at once the most
pleasant and attractive. All this can
only be accomplished BY constant applica.
ton, and application will not be observed
unless interest Of an abiding kind is felt f;
and interest will not be felt, unless the
teacher intends making education the great
business ofhis life.
Corporal punishment should only be
applied as de''nier resort. Moral suation
is generally productive Of better results in
the pupil, and far more agreeable to tbe
preceptor.s At all events parents sbould
give q teacher discretionary control, for he
is fool, who sends his children to man
in whose discretion he has no confidence.
Has any one failed to observe the had
effect of this endless succession Of tran.
cient teachers !? your child is under the
tuition Of each Of these persons two OF
three months each Of them commences the
child at "the first :" it grows up with a COM
naenced education, and as natural result
its life is scarcely more than commence
nsent. d
Then, with this state Of affairs as the re.
suit OF transient schools, in the name Of
common sense and progress assist in the
building up Of established schools in prefer
ence to the catch penny pedsgogues Of q
day by patronizing WORTH.