The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1869-03-18

ing any thing oyCr before thought
OF by tho great master minds o.
this or any other age. Would that
it were true, that this city should
produce that greatest Of great
minds; the one who should perfect
our school system and render such
uDspcakablo service 10 this great
people. 81
Bus did he display that long
sought and much desired wisdom?
| fear not for instead Of proving z
that he was capable Of Jnlighten !.
ing our teachers and our people,
he clearly demonstrated that he
knew nothing at oil of our schools
and Of the deficiencies of which he
speaks so knowingly. Lot him
teach any department Of our city
schools for ono year, or for a long
or period, and he will fully satisfy
bimsolf and others of like bolief,
that to carry out the principles
laid down in his articles would re.
quire superh1mdn pOuers. He
would ascertain that the beautiful
theory would fall to the earth.--
Before pupils can DO entirely gov.
erned in the manner advocated by
him human nature must be chang.
cd and much different influence
must be brought to bear at home,
and tho child we'll controlled at
home. Much, uery much Of the
punishments administered in our
public schools might be avoided if
the child was properly trained at
home. How often do we hear par
cnts say in the prcseSee of their
children, and often to them, that
Tho rules of the school are unjust,
tyrannical, and that it the teacher
attempts to make his children
obey those rules that he will have
something TO say or that he will
wiring bis neck for him, or some.
thing else equally absurd thus
right at home doing what is calcu.
lated to bring trouble to tho school
and punishment upon the child.
When achild hears such language
from q parent is it any wonder
that that child gots in trouble and
receives punishment? The child
feels at great deal of liberty when
1t hears its parents take sides .,
gainst tho teacher, and ii il is de-
ludcd with the belief that right or
mrong, papa will be on bis side,
lido not intend TO cay that all
parents act and talk thus, or that
rery. many do; but | do say that
some do, and that number, howev-
or, small II may be, will have a
great influence against the good
discipline OF The school, ,-and with
all due respect for the opinion of
Scxtus, fool confident in asserting
that the language Of bis letters
was calculated to bring about
more Of that opposition to teachers
than is safe in any system of
schools, Persons may talk Of the
tyranny Of teachers and of tho in
Justice Of the rules Of school; but
| have yet TO see that teacher who
would not GLADLY hail tho day
when punishment would bc un.
known in our'schools, andrules un.
necessary, Before that can be, a
mighty change must como over
the pooplo with regard to schools
and to school government.
III understand the language Of
Sextus, articles, he would entirely
abolish all kinds OF punishment IN
the school-room. and would even
abolish the rule of suspension for
no thinks that punishments are
degrading, and on tho other hand,
that suspension kills tho energy
of tho pupil, Now l would ask the
learned gentleman what no would
do, ,wrre he " Teacher, with a pu
pil that would not respect his acts
Of love and kindnessp for such
thoro undoubtedly are. We're
he 10 teach, no would noet with,
pupils that no words Of encourage.
ment or cn,rCaty, however kindly
givon, would for u moment suffice.
They had made mp their minds to
have u good tlmo" and "little
fun" and by tho aid Of moral gu.
asieDists' and "thoorists," they
would haze their "good time" and
their "fun," all at the expense Of
tho tcachcr; and he, poor soul |
would DO mado tho scapc.goat
Tor some body clsc'5 false tho0rlz
ing and wrong influence.
lie speaks about. bdrbdrsm in
the schoolroom, aud undertakes to
show that all'pOnishmcnt OF what,
ever character is barbarism OF
fetal theorizing is splendid
thing in ils place; but in this age,
and at this stage Of advancement.
no theorzing, however beautiful
in itself, williakc the place ofhard
earned experience; and the less
tho public have OF such, tho better
Tor all concerned.
There is already too much oppo-
sition to teachers and school OH, /,
ccrs, and if those o6icious advisors
would use their influence for the
teachers, instead OF dgdia ST them,
much good woulc DO done, and
our educators would feel encourage
cd 10 60 on in their noble irork,
and would feel that their labors
were appreciated, which 10 itself
would tend to soo,he the many us