The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-12-11
Punishment in our SCHOOLS. :

q :
our article last week, on this subject, excit.
eo good deal Of inquiry, both among parents
ana children. "What does your teacher do o.
what do they do in your school p hos been
asked and answered probabably some hun
dreds OF times in one short week. The REPLIES
nave been such as to indicate that there are
great Universities of mode In some schools
the rawhide is in frequent demand. In Others
there is cutting or cracking of heads together,
&C. Such is the representation.
Now we wish TO be understood in this writ
ing' that we have nothing to complain of. We
DO not wish to find fault. We believe orr
schools, on the whole, are well managed. and
that, as compared with schools elsewhere the
government is in the main judicious. So far
as we have had means of knowing, we believe
our teachers are faithful ambitious and deyot
ed TO their work-not mere hirelings. Our
schools are acquiring high reputation and
esteem as efficient and thorough, well ordered
and differed, never more so. Our te,cbers
many OF them, are held in high esteem by our
best citizens, who, in their families, are doing
what they can to sustain them IN their work
ana to secure for them the respect and conf.
dence of ther children. But all teachers are
not equally judicous; and as respects disci-
pine, are not always fortunate in LEAVING an
on the scholar that punishment Is
administered with manifest regard TO tbe
good order and best interests of the school and
OF the child concerned. Let child get the
impression that the teacher wants to hurt him.
without any thought Of doing him good let
the school see that the "discipline' is fruit
Oh passion, resentment or pride, or of not over
good temper, things are in bad way there. |
Nothing can be more important than to teach
right selfgovernment, the true princip]es Of |
night department. The cultivation of good
disposition. spirit of honor and of truth in n
child, is quite as important as that he shonld
earn to spell. The safety of the individual
ma the security of our institutions, are to be
provided for in our education and training Of
he young.
FOR this reason in particular, parents ought
lot to lack confidence in teachers. or to trest
mem as Keepers of a penitentsry or house of
correction. Teachers ought to share in the
hospitality OF their homes, and to mingle with
mem socially at the tire-side. They should
lou De forgotten at the family dinner, or left
ut In the Invitations to tea To be bounti-
ully helped to a slice of fat turkey, (oyster
auceO to be served out with cake and sweet
heats little cold tongue, with the biscuit
'ea' Will 90 great way in helping them to
ear easily the trials of daily contact with a
overnmcnt OF all sorts of children, with oil
'rts OF tcmpers, habits, ways in lie, and of
[" sorts Of Parents. Parents who totally neo.
'ct those little acts of courtesy and attention
worthy teachers, deserve to have their chill.
rem logged by them, though the children
may not deserve it, NOTHING
'ould improve on schools just now mere than
KIND exhibition of respect and sympathy
evating and improving the social status of
our well deserving teachers. A basket of /
ult, handful of flowers, picture for their
'om' book as Christmas gift, little things Z
lowing that they are appreciated would be
ot less dear to them than creditable to the
miles for whom they are doing great life
ork.