Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-02-18
The SCho0Imaster's Story.

do right" and the text of right, under
all circumstances, was the golden rule:
"All things whatsoever We would that
men should do unto you, do ye even SO
unto them"
If an offense was committed, it was my
invariable practice to ask: Was it
right9" "Was it as you would be done
by"
All my experience ard observation
have convinced me that no act of pupil
ought TO be regarded as an offense I'M
less it be such when measured by the
standard of the golden rule. During the
last year of my teaching the only tests |
ever applied to an act of which it was
necessary to judge were those of the
above questions. By this course gained
many important advantages.
In the first place, the plea, You have
not made any rule against it, which for
a long time was terrible burden to me,
lost ali its power.
In the second place, by keeping con-
stantly before the scholars as a standard
of action the single text of right and
wrong as one which they were to apply
for themselves, was enabled to cultivate
in them a deep feeling of personal re
sponsibiiity.
In the third place, got stronger
hold on their feelings and acquired a
new power of cultivating and directing
them
In the fourth place, had the satisfac-
ton of seeing them become more truth
ful, honest, trustworthy and manly IN
their intercourse with me, with their
friends and with one another.
Once, however | was sadly puzzled by
an application Of the principle by one of
my scholars George Jones was a large
boy, who, partly through a false feeling
OF honor, and partly from a feeling of
stubbornness, refused to give me some
information The circumstances were
these:
A scholar had played some trick which
interrupted the exercises. AS was my
costume, | called on the one who had
done the mischief to come forward. AS
no one started, | repeated the request,
but with no success. Finding that the
culprit would not confess his guilt, [
asked George if he knew who committed
the offense.
:" | did not do it, was the reply.
But do you know who did,"
Yes, sir"
Who was it?"
do not wish to tell"
But you must tell 1t is my duty to
ask and yours to answer me-"
cannot do it, said George firmly.
Then you must stop with me after
school"
He stopped as requested, but nothing
which could urge would induce him to
reveal anything. At last, out of patience
with what | believed to be the obstinacy
Of the boy, | said:
Well, George, have borne with you
as long as | can, and you must either tell
me or be punished"
With triumphant look, as though
conscious that he had the better of me
by an application of my favorite rule, he
replied: . can't tell you, because it
would not be right. The boy would
not like to have me tell of him, and I'll
do as I'd be done by"
A few years earlier | should have
deemed a reply thus given me an insult,
and should have resented it accordingly:
but experience and reflection had taught
me the folly OF this, and one of the most
important applications of my oft-quoted
rule was-to judge of the nature of 9th
ers as would have them judge of mine.
let for the moment | was staggered.
His plea was plausible; he might be
honest in making it. [ did not see in
what respect it was fallacious. | felt
that it would not do to retreat from my
position and suffer the offender to escape,
and yet that | should do a great injustice
by compelling boy to do thing If he
really believed it to be wrong
After a little pause | said: "Well,
George, do not wish you to do anything
which is wrong, or which conflicts with
your golden rule. We will leave this for
tonight and perhaps you will alter your
mind before tomorrow"
saw him privately before school and
found him more firm in his refusal than
ever. After the devotional exercises of
the morning | began to question the
scholars, as was my wont, on the various
points of duty, and gradually led the
conversation to the golden rule.
Who" asked, care the persons to
whom, as members of this school, you
ought TO do as you would be done by?
Your parents, who support and send you
here; your schoolmates, who are en-
gagged in the same work with yourselves;
the citizens of the town who, by taxing
themselves, raise money to pay the ex-
penses of this school; the School Com
mittee, who take so great an interest in
your welfare; your teacher; or the
scholar who carelessly or willfully COM
mits some ofense against good order?
A hearty yes" was responded to
every question except the last, at which
they were silent.
Then, addressing George, said: " Yes