Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-11-10
QuackerY in Schools

We take the following production
from the New York Herald. The
Schoolmaster has always been consid-
cred fair game from the days of Hor.
ace down to the present time. Almost
every author has had a fling at him,
almost every artist has ridieuled him,
all. no doubt, hoping TO avengc them
selyesior their sufferings in carly days.
The much-abused profession, however,
has moro than held its own, and to.
day nourishes among us like the fa-
nous "green bay tree While the
old-idshioned, hard-working teachers
barely make pittance, the new
schoolmasiers prosper and lay up
money.
Although we bear the greatest re-
spect for the profession, so useful and
in the main so deserving of praise as
it is, we wish to enter our protest
against some of the abuses that have
crept intoit. As a nation we are a will
ling victim 10 all kinds OF ouackery.
Patent medicines warranted to euro
all the ills that human flesh is heir TO
food the land we have quack law
yers, who are forever tinkering at OUT
constitutions, State and national:
quack judges, who are ever engaged
in upsetting old precedents; quaek doc
tors by tho hundred and now quack
schoolmasiers have Joined the crowd,
who propose to teach everything in
no time at all, and who have complete.
ly revolutloniRed tho old methods Of
teaching the young idea to shoot
They almost rival corn doctors in dis.
tributing haming prospectuses. With
the cnterprising ardor Of the tract dis
tributors they force their little books
into every Office and dwelling house.
These little books tecm with long
lists Of present and past pupils, rein
forced with fictitious names If needed;
with long columns Of credentials sign
ed by prominent people In fact, the
testimony of interested parties as TO
the number and condition of pupils
who have been made presentable, and
who have been endowed with any
amount Of information, is very much
like that which generally accompanies
the notice Of some new bitters or 9TH
er nostrum, or IS like wonderful re.
forms effected by enterprising temper
ance lecturers. They tell US in what
fearful condition the patient was
and how strong and healthy he now
is--in fact, according to their state
ments the only way 10 ever get well ia
10 get some frightful disease and then
undergo a course Of special treatment;
the only way to ever know anything
is TO 90 to Professor Blanks great in
stiiute in most deplorablo state of ig-
norance, and in a short time you will
figure among his wonderful cures.
They arc forever developing somo
new feature, and are always engaged
In onlarring their bills and increasing
tho number Of 'isms' they profess 10
teach We forever find them stand.
ing in the shade Of some fashionable
clergyman. There are such things as
clerical quacks, who pat them on the
back and give them lots Of moral sup.
port. The schoolmastcr in turn fills
the pews with his pnpils, and is a
prominent member Of the vestry; is
always foremost in voting funds TO 81.
low the pastor TO 80 Europe for his
health. ln fact, the two constitute
mutual admiration society for each
others benefit.
The wonder OF al Is that the public
don't sec through il But no, dear
people send their children and cheer
fully pay the enormous bills, aud al
every finiastical caper tho pedagogoe
cuts little knot cheer and encourage
him And what becomcs 6f the pu.
pills in all this Well, they arc taught
everything and learn little or nothing;
moral suasion is employed 10 cram
knowledge into their unwilling brains;
90 vulgar thing as hogging is not to
be thought Of. aud so tie lazy or stu
pid boy rolls from school to school,
learning nothing ard doing nothing;
secure from the ouly punishment he
really breads, he grows up with a
slight smatering of a multitude Of
things and takes bis place in the world
utterly unfit 10 do anything The clev-
or boy is kept as n show piece for re.
ccpiions and prize distributions, and
the Clergyman and schoolmaster trot
him out On every possible opportunity
and complaeehtiy zit back and call on
every one TO look al their work This
sort Of work ought TO cease, for Of all
unendorAble things Gusoksry IN edu,
cxtlon Is TIE vors,