The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-05-28
The Common School---What it
ought to do. Hg

taught to do something use
full. Boys should learn trades, girls
should be taught to sew if not at home
then in school. There was time when
aeedle.werk was taught at home, but late
ly this has become Questionable 10 some
of our best schools it is taught, and with
good results. Teachers should lead thei,
pupils to respect work-to never sneer at
honest labor. They should early learn to
be ashamed Of idlenesS. Our boys are grow
ing up with an idea that education will en-
able them TO avoid manual labor. They
seek for light employment in stores and
offices, instead of down right work in the
field or in the shop. Our girls despise house
work, and too often leave their homes to
get living in ways they consider more
genteel than helping to do the work of the
family. Our boys are reminded too often,
that some one Of them is to be president,
instead of that most Of them will 6s farmers
and that all Of them ought to be hard work
ing and intelligent citizens. Our girls
should learn that to be good wives and good
mothers 10 better than to be leaders of fash
ion. a 3
In training the mind, teachers should
teach knowledge Of common things. A.
man is not educated, however much he may
know, If he has not ''round about common
sense A genuine sympathy with all that
is true and good should be- cultivated, so
that children may grow up to be cheerful
and thoughtful. Teachers should guide the
reading of their pupils aud endeavor to cor
rect their tastes, not so much by TRADES
against the New York LEDGER as by purify
ing their hearts and cultivating their minds
The character of the instructor has great in
huence over the pupil. Teachers should
pay their debts, live within their means, be
simple in their tastes and pure in their lives
Intellectual discipline should be severe We
have too much superficial teaching, too
much of show, parade and sham in conneo,
ton with our public school. Let These things
be for fashionable boarding schools" Amer
lean youth are capable of the highest schel-
arship If we do not neglect physical
training there is no danger that we shall re.
quire too much study. Experience at West
Point shows that severe discipline is promo
tive OF mental growth, andsthat study does
not injure either mind or body
The common school should inculcate
feeling of love ard of country No narrow
conceited patriotism, that looks with con-
tempt upon those born in other lands but
patriotism consistent with the philanthropy
and with Christianity. Not that which |
leads man to get drunk ON the Fourth of |
July, bat that which leads him to post of |
danger when his country is in peril.
The common school should also incuIcate !
love OF truth; not expediency, but truth. |
in or -, -. 4
all that pertains to human life The success
of the teacher will always be measured by
bis reverence for truth. Children shou be |
taught to detest low cunning, to abhor de.
ception and to hate lie. They should early |
be brought to feel how much of infamy and
cowardice are constituted in the Uord- |
He
Our schools should also teach tolerance
and charity. Hence teachers should be dis |
creet-not welded to creed nor boisterous
defenders of political party. They should |
cherish an habitual respect for definite and |
honest opinions, however they may differ |
from their own. Our national welfare de. |
pendsupon forbearance, liberation and char
ity. ss 4.a,
Courtesy is one of the virtues we need to
cultivate in oureommon schools. Our child. |
rem are not taught to respect the old, and |
to help the weak as they should be. The
bOorishness observed in public places may
easily be traced to the neglect of teachers
and the indifference OF parents. If Repubi
can institutions are responsible for the rude
ness and vulgarity that our young folks
nowadays exhibit, then is the sheer SO of.
ten INDUCED by the monarchist to some ex.
tent justified.
All teaching should inculcate reverence
Tor the Supreme Being. Our schools should
not become Goddess. We need not teach 4
creed, we need not teach any dogma hu,
we must teach that God is the Ruler of the
Universe, that He loves US, and that we
should love and obey him. ~ 81
s HeN. j. q. MoMyNN