The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1873-11-06
Teachers Department.
Conausreh Mi,hnntWhinninu

Conquered Without Whipping.
When 1 first took charge of the
school, finding that the teachers oe-
casionally employed corporal punish
ment, 1 strictly forbade it. After a
time, the master of the oldest boys
class said to me one day: Il find
it impossible to control these unruly
rascals. They know 1 AIN not allow
ed to fog them; and when I seek to
enforce rules of order, they defy me. >
1 sought to show him how he
m ght manage them without a rod,
but he persisted: eff you try it
yourself for few days, Mr.. Owen,
you'll find out that 1 am right"
"Good," said L sri take them in
hand for week or two"
They were rough, boisterous, law
less set; bright enough, quick of OBJ
servation; capable Of learning when
they applied themselves; but accus-
toned to free swing, and impatient
of discipline, to which they had
never been subjected. I said to them
at the start: Boys, Iwant you to
learn; you will be very sorry when
you come to be men if you don't.
But you can't learn anything worth
knowing, without rules to go by. 1
must have you orderly and obedient-
I won't require from you anything
unreasonable, and I don't intend to
be severe with you. But whatever l
tell you, has to be done, and shall be.
done sooner or later" Here I OBJ
served on one or two bold faces
smile that looked like incredulity; but
all I added was, you'll save time if
you do it at once"
Ny lesson, often oral, interested
them, and things went on quietly for
few days I knew the crisis would
come 1t did, in this WISE 1t was
May, the thermometer ranging tow
ard ninety, and resolved to take the
class to bathe in the Wabash, much to
their delight. 1 told them, in ad-
vance, Shat, by the doctors advice,
they were to remain in the water ff-
teen minutes only; that was the rule.
When I called "Time. up!" they all
came out, somewhat reluctantly, how
ever, except one fellow, named Ben,
a good swimmer, who detained US ten
minutes more, Notwithstanding my
orde.', several times repeated, to come
on shore.
1 ssaid nothing about it till we re-
turned to the school-room; then
aske the class, '.Do you remember
my telling you that whatever 1 told
you to do had to be done, sooner or
llter!" ''Yes." Then 1 went on: 81
am determined that if I take you to
bathe again you shall stay in fifteen
minutes only. How do you think
1 had best manage that?" They look
ed at Ben again and seemed puzzled
never, very surely, having been asked
such question before "Has no
one any plan?" I said.
At length youngster suggested,
II guess you'd had best thrash him,
Mr.. Owen"
II don't wish to do that, replied,
'I think it does boys harm. Besides
1 was never whipped myself, I never
whipped anybody, and 1 know it
must be very unpleasant thing to
do. Can't some of you think of
better plan?"
One of the class suggested:
"Thare's closet in the garret, with
a stout bolt to it. You might shut
him up there till we get back"
''That is better than fogging; but
is the closet dark? I think Ben
would not like to be shut up in the
dark for nearly an hour"
''No; but then we don't like to be
kept from bathing just for him"
Then one fellow, with some hest
tation, put in his word: ''Please, Mr..
Owen, wouldn't it do to leave him in
the Playground"
"IfI could be sure that he would
stay there; but he might get out and
go bathing, and remain in half an
hour perhaps" !"
At this point, Ben, no longer able
TO re restrain himself-he had been get
ting more and more restless, turning
TO one speaker, then to another, as
we coolly discussed his case-burst
'ortE: 'Mr. Owen, if you leave me
n the play ground when they go to
oathe next time, N not stir from it.
vent. You'll see I won't.
'ENVell, Ben," said l, 'Ive never
you to tell falsehood, and
III tlke your word for it this time.
But remember! If you lie to me
,nce, 1 shall never be able to trust
rou again. We couldn't believe
,nown liars if we try"
So the next time we went bathing,
left Ben in the play ground. When
We returned he met me, with eager
ace, at the gate ''Ive never left
,ven-for minute; ask them if have:
pointing to some boys at play.
your word is enough. I believe
ro1.' Thereafter Ben came out Of
he water promptly as soon as time
vas called; and whenever any OF his
:omrades fingered, he was the first
o chide them for disobeying orders.
-CR. D. Owen.