Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-01-19
LErrra rRoM MoNreoMrnY rNp.
SCHOOLS GOVERNMENT.


"Whats up, SIR" said fire mtn 10 the engin-
ecr. The answer was brief and satisfactory,
"This machinery won't run, that balance wheel
is out NJ fx." just so. All machinery needs a
regulator, an lnono moro than district school.
In republican government ii swell to know
where is the balance of power. The school Ia
the eptome OF the State. Tho forces that control
the one, controls the other. What is The rcgule-
tor? Says one, It is tho teacher Let us
see. In the State il is the citizens Not the
chiefmngistrate. True he is, called the govern
or. But the people haze put upon him cousti-
tutonil checks wldsh holds him ~ a,subject in
their power, Ifthc machinery Of Estate does not
run well, it is because 'the balance wheel is out
OF fix" The people are atfault Perhaps they
have given up the central power to the chef
magistrate. At that moment they cease n be
republicans. lh republic the people rule. The
officers Of the State are public servants. They
listen to and obey the voice OF the people. But,
sys one, tha! is not the case in my political dis
tict. Ali Perhaps you have been so busy in
raising potatoes and pork that you have lo,t
sight Of the Statr government, and gwen up that
business to demagogues who play some sharp
games on Uncle Sans checker board, If So
the balance wheel Of your democracy most as
suredly needs fixing. The citizens OF eur repub.
/ lie need to con over and often rcpOat the
! eatechsmpf our political creed, which is: a." W,
tie people, The ps'pie, and yon The officers of H.
State including The President OF he Unlttd ,Sates
are oar humble serran,s to some and 90 and do ou
bidding" But, says one, the people Of farepub
lie are pretty hi igh. up. Very true. They si' IL
the highest seat. No man can rise to higher
Office than that Of private citizen, however higl
may be his aspirations. Why then, says one
are there so many ofIi,e-scekers who spend thei
last cent for the mere honor Of being President
Couldn't tell my friend. These desperate office
seekers have SOM screw loose in their poli,ca
machinery. We must 60 to the district schoo
to mend up. Etch scholar goes to make mp 1
fractional part Of the great balance wheel thu
regulates the nation. Then each scholar shoul
b. taught the art Of self control or scf-govcrn
ment. II Nv shall this be done We ask ou
educators TO put their wits together and to de
wise ways anl m ,ans to accomplish this result
Are not our present m.thods ofgoverning school
defective? do MT now refer to the ferulery q
the cat-o-nine failing or beech sticking Of earl
er times. Thank heaven, and earth too, thes
outrages and denominations are cut. Of date. Bu
[ do refer to the very common and universal hat
it of putting teacher into the school-room
watch the scholars as cat does mouse. I
say the least, does such practice add to the dig
nifty of the teacher? We are not conscious
: entertaining any prejudIces ag Inst 'tabby' q
one Of the feline race. We rather Ike to hea
her purr and to see her put on airs and think sh
is admirably fitted for her sphere--that is,
catch mouse. But If our voice could be hear
r we would like to sly to our schoolmaster and ou
school-marn, don t do so, don't The effect
such cat eyelng must have a bad effect upon I'll
scholars, big and li,tle. Especially II they shoul
once get it intn !heir heads that the school hous
is a 'mnuse trap, and that they are the 'mouse
/, AMI the teacher a 'mauser.' We once called 8
( a school house where some such i 'eas SCENE
, to prevail. The teacher was standing outsid
of the door on the step when we heard quite
: hustle within. By the noise We judged that e'
5 erything inside Of that school-house had e
E loose. The teacher excused himself and as b
opened the door IN 60 in, he gave me KNOWN
2 wink, and SAID "ILars to Keep my eye OK EN-
. The thought occurred 10 me that the orchard
e and melon patches in the neighborhood OF this
school-house suffered continually and that n
+ honest farmer would want such an estaLl list
ment on the corner of his lot, and further thi
II any one Of those boys ever got to Congress {
into the Treasury Department, where the pee
pie couldn't "keep an eye on 'em," there woul
be some political "niJJliag" whisb would con
pei Uncle Sam to say: "Politcians, hold to th
doctrine of total depravity if it can be lived u
to-" Ex-