Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1872-07-25


L. The teachers of sectar;an schoo,s
supported in the main by y~oluntarv con
uh:' are obliged to yield to the
|nrn;ls. ana ioiies of both parents and
pups. Hence. the pupils rule the school
aI:,S sne parents rule the teachers, and the
onilaren rule the parents: and. bad as an
aosolate monarchy is, in the sehool-room
anarchy is worse.
2 In private, or sectarian schools. the
.eaeners must make their pupils believe
snas lucy are learning a great deal, whether
a. oe the case or not. And, generally.
.ne more superficial the training. the
greater the display of ill assorted ~acouire-
nents- The less put in the store-room.
the more show in the shop window So
many. pages in the Textbooks mnst h.
passed over, in consideration of tbeousre
terly tuition. 'ne quar-
Q. teachers in sectarian schools trueLle
20 the wealth and position of their patrons.
ana, as the children of wealthy people
are In many cases very dull, and since
TINS duilness must be screened. the result
Is demoralizing to all parties concerned
q only hope of saving the children of
Hnoddy tests in rating them according to
eneir own merits, and making them strug-
gie With their intellectual peers, unfavored
on account OF he accident of birth.
f.. such schools are obliged to keen up
a system of rewards of merit, prizes. pre-
mlums. gold medals, silver medals. pic
lures gift books ~and"honorable mention,.n
when is as facilitating to a school as a
national lottery is to the industry of a
country /; and which tells the story of their
Weakness as among vigorous, independent,
successful competitors. The pride of
every paying patron. must, by some hocus-
pocus, be rewarded a premium. If the
teacher cannot conseientiously (and those
teachers are as conscientious as could be
expected in their unhappy situation) give
a pupil a prize for proficiency in any
branch of study,there must be a premium
given him for his ability to play base
ball ; and if he have not the skill to merit
a reward for base ball, he will be awarded
a prize for good health, or good nature.
Indeed. were there no other excuse
for giving Master Shoddy Simpleton a
premium, be would receive one for the
excellence of his digestion, or the COM
mendable action of his kidneys! In this
connection, too, their demoralizing Exhi-
billions should be mentioned. In those. the
very worst scholars, by dint of brass. win
the highest encomiums. The last term
of each year is worse than wasted in the
preparation of farces that are often too
broad for a second class theatre; and to
raise a guffaw, not to excel in scholarship.
becomes the ambition Of foolish boys. All
may exhibit their histrionic talent in three
silly shows, and if a youth has not mem
DRY to commit or retain a part" of a re-
citation, he will be allowed to display a
more taking species of ability in a comic
song, or a clog hornpipe.
.. They divide their schools into'select"
and Stree" departments. This is un-
American and injurious as hurtful to the
puffed-up students of the select school, as
it is degrading to the down-trodden MEM
bers of the pauper class. On the contrary,
in the public school, all are on the same
footing-higb and low, rich and poor !;
and the tendency is not to degrade the
high, but to elevate the low. The public
schools are the mystic vessels wherein
humble water changes into the wine OF
animating self-respect and exhilarating
ambition.