Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1875-12-03
FOR THE AMERICAN.
From Washington Township.
REBUCK, November 26, 1875
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Iron THE AMERICAN.
From Washington Township.
REBUCK, November 26, 1875.
HOME GOVERNMENT.
| 1t is evident that al this season of the year
the public schools of this Commonwealth are
nearly all in session. Thousands of little chill
dren are daily gathered within the little school
houses of the State, to be instructed in those
studies which will develop and enlarge the
faculties of the mind +; and be of service to the
learner, in overcoming the multifarous difficult
ties of subsequent life. The children thus
gathered together to receive scholastic and
moral training are as different in their nature,
temperament and home culture, as they are in
their ,physiognomy. Some are obedient, mild
aud gentle in their manners which shows that
| home government in their case is just what it
! ought to be-. Others rude, uncouth, destruc-
tive, impudent and overbearng, which AS plain
| ly indicates that when at home they do about as
| they please. But again, some children are quick
of comprehension, get their lessons well, pro-
| gress rapidly, but chuck full of mischief.
though more for their own amusement than the
! annoyance of any one else. Others are sullen,
| iilnatured, lazy and constantly concocting some
mean trick to provoke the teacher. or create
! disturbance in school. And with this diversity of
! intellec. and disposition brought together the
teacher is expected to keep good and orderly
school, and Train up the young in the way they
| should 90. Bnt the question arises how is the
teacher to do all this, OBJ says one he must use
! moral suasion, moral suasion is The teachers
weapon. Yes, this sounds very WE'LL but it has
little affect upon children who never hear, or see
anything like moral discipline at home. The
teachers authority must be felt and acknowl-
edged, aud while his discipline should be kind
and affectionate, il must at the same time be
uniform, firm and decided. a child is supposed
to possess little knowledge, and less discretion
to guide his own steps, he must therefore be in
de5ted for salutary restraint to his elders
and more especially to those who are entrusted
with his training We are to-day the same de-
generate plants of a strange vine, and the
earliest budding of life. but to sadly prove the
corruption from which we spring, we go astiay
as soon as we are born.
Youth, children and even infancy need re-
straints TO keep in subjectou the unhallowed
propensities. which are made, and which would
otherwise break forth in acts OF misrule and
violence. Not long since / visited family of
this community, who | am sorry to say, have
such rude uncouth and disobedieut children,
and without exception the worst case l met in
all my travels. ! might say they are disgrace
to the neighborhood in which they live. But
how can it be otherwise, when the parents set
the example, and use such language in the pre-
sence of their children, that is entirely contrary
TO the rules of nature. Such people are too
ignorant to know that their children are the
objects of contempt and ridcule, and that they
will he brought with gray hairs in sorrow to the
grave. ! may venture 20 say that in no other
district in the county, the teacher has as much
TO do with the ignorant and uni, ned portion
of the community. as here. Were it not for
the reason and better portion Of the community
the schools under this charge would prove a
failure. Parents who do not govern their chill
dren at home, think the teacher has no right to
inaict reasonable punishment. Aud as soon as
it is found that the teacher has punished such
rude uncouth children, the parents are ready to
resort to law, and see what they can do with the
teacher in that way. But | would say let them
refer to the book Of books, and see what au-
thorty be gathered from it, in sup3e-r OF
corporal punishment when it Is needed, and |
surely no one will object to This or doubt its
truthfulness.
Humanity is the same to-day as it was in the
days Of solomon. when he said 'sloolishness is
bound up in the heart of the child, and nothing
but the rod Of correction shall drive it far from
him. Chasten thy son while there is hope, and
let not thy soul spare for his crying, correct
thy son and he shall give the rest, Yea he shall
give delight unto thy soul.'' Now / admit
that the teacher should govern his school by
appeals to the reason and better feeling of his
pupils if possible. Blu; Il teacLcr in the com
mon schools stands in place of Il parent TO a
pupil, and may administer correction to him un-
der the same restriction AS in the case Of
parent. The ri.ht of a teacher TO inGct such
punish ment founded upon The necessity OF the
case, and not upon statute. IL ia obsolutely
necessary that good order should be maintained ia
the schools and that all proper ruIcs, regulations
and commands Of the teacher should be strictly
and promptly obeyed. Hence IA necessity exists
for a sufficicnt power to enforce this duty, and
therefore it is held that the teacher may inaict
such reasonable corporal punishment upon his
pupil as the parent might innct for simular
cause. And in conc .usion | would say let teach
ers do their duty in good faith, and trust to the
reason and better portion OF the community,
and they will succeed, the schools under their
charge will progress, not only int ice ctuglly, but
in manners aud refinement, and finally prove
blessing to the neighbo rh0od in which they are
located. Teachers ''kcep plenty water in the
schooi-room.'' w -.