The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1868-02-06
tfOn im jackson County
NUMBER 8.
BY u. MACKLEr.

i The school masters in Jackson coun-
ty forty or fifty years ago had rather
hard time of it. True, they had on an
average, less than twenty pupils; but
then you must consider the fact that
they had nearly twenty different kinds
Of books. The houses were such as |
have described Often the tirewoOd
gave out, and then the teacher and the
large boys had to go TO the woods and
cut and carry supply until some one
came and furnished his quota. The
school house was generally located in
the woods, SO that the wood had not to
be carried any great distance.
The master was held responsible for
the conduct OF his pupils from the time
they left home in the morning until they
/ got back home again in the evening.
Hence any violation of the well known
rules of school was punished by him, it
committed either at the school house or
on the road to or from school. If a
couple of boys had difficulty during
the term, as boys often would have,
they agreed to fight it out on the last
day of school. When dismissed on
that day, they would start home, as
usual, and as soon as they were out OF
the masters sight, the long contempla-
ted fight would take place. | have
seen half dozen fights on such occa-
sions. In arecent number OF the Allan
tic Monthly there was anarticIe headed
"a Young Desperate" In the story,
it is related that one school boy wrote
on his slate those words, and exhibited
them to anotherboy: "Ime goin to lick
YOU at reces." And he did attempt it,
but got licked himself This explains
why boys are SO often seen fighting or
fher way to and from school, and al
recess in these days. The teachers ap.
pear to exercise no control over pupils
when not in the school room.
The teachers Of the first schools were
) expected to keep perfect order, A
mother who could not control one chile
= at home, expected the school master t
= control twenty, all of whom were lik
her own. The master was required an,
j expected to whip great deal, no mat
u ter whether the children deserved it o
. not There was alway3 some one o
moro complaining of a want of orde
D in school, Ask any one how he like
his school, and his school master, anC
the universal answer was, che bring
= the children along frstrate, they lear
. . fast, but then he keeps no order at all il
. his school"
= The teacher had one thing IN his ia
" vor. The children had acquired no ba
habits He had clear. field in this re
: spect. do believe that the majorit
" Of children in those days, in such hou'
II es, with such books. and under sue
teachers, would learn more in four win
il ter schools, of three months each, tina
children now learn in four years, goin
h to school all the time, winter and sun
d mer.
d School masters did not board aroun
o in those days, That was reserved ia
,f the district schools, of which | sha
Is speak after while. The master wa
al nearly always an old man, and had
family, and boarded at home.
rs Teachers now complain about the
:, wages, They only get from $50 to SO
, per month. Then the master at tn
A. most only got $40 for three month
w and often not the half of that sum; an
d. may say that he aever got any none,
70 lie most generally got his pay in worI
such as making rails, grubbing, {
G. breaking flax. Sometimes he got fla
,r or tow linen, feathers, maple sugar, gin
! If seng, tobacco in the leaf, coon skin
h deer skins, yenison hams &c.