The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-03-13
TheHSchoolmaster's Story.

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When taught district y,dool, said
he, I adopted as principle to give as
few rules to my scholars as possible. I
had, however, one standing rule. which
was: "Strive, under all circumstances,
to do right" and the text of right,
under all circumstances, was the golden
rule: "All things whatsoever ye would
that men should do unto you, do ye
even SO unto them.''
If an offtnse was committed, it was
my invariable practice to ask: "Was
it right ?" Was it rs you would be
done by 2"
All my experience and observations
have convinced NJ Q that no act of q pupil
ought to be regarded as an offonse III
less it be such when measured by the
standard Of the golden rule. During
tho last year of my teaching the only
tests ever applied to m net 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. I"
which for / long time was a terrible
burden to MO, lost all its power.
In the second place, by keeping con-
stantly before the scholars as a stan
dard of ac65n the single text of right
and wrongaas one which they were to
apply for themselves, was enabled to
cultivate in 4hem deep feeling of per-
sonal responsibility.
In the til trd place, got stronger
hold Oh thei feelings, and acquired Il
new power 81 cultivating ard directing
them. 4 Il
Iu the fpG Gh place, hud the sntis-
faction OF Going them become more
truthful lR Nst, trustworthy and manly
IN thelrfftS' 2urse with me, with their
friess3st 5>55xs.sY, "a tSii4oi. E
Once, ho1} pver, 1 was sadly puzzled
by an apnliG alton of the principle by
one OF my SCHOLARS. George Jones was
q largo boy, )gho, partly through a falss
feeling of honor, and partly from feel
ing of stubbb brnness, refused to give me
some INFORMATION. The circumstances
were these ~
Ascholar Mad played some trick which
interrupted {lo oSerctses. AS was my
custom, c8aled on the one who had
done the miSchief to come forward. AS
nc one start3d, I repeated the request,
bnt with nn.fuccess. Finding that the
oulprit wouff not confess his guilt, I
asked George if he knew who committed
tho offence.
II did not do it," was the reply.
"But do y ou know who did p
Yes, SIR
Who was it o.
ct do not wish to- tell"
'But you must tell. It is my duty to
ask and yours to answer tae."
ST cannot do it," said Georgo firmly.
Then You must stop with me after
school,"
He stopped as requested, butuothing
which could urge would induce him to
reveal anything. At last, out of pa
tience with what believed to be obsti-
macy of the boy, said
"Well, George, I have borne with you
as long as [ can, and you must either
tell me or be punished"
With q triumphant look, MS though
conscious that he had the better OF me
by an application of my favorite rule,
he replied ''I 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 Us I'd be done by"
A few years earlier [ should have
deemed reply thus given me an in
suit, and should have resented it &C.
cordingly; but experience and refec-
ton had taught me the folly OF this, aud
one OF the most important of my oft.
quoted rule was-to judge of the nature
of others as I would have them Judge
of mine. Yet for the moment I was
staggered. His plea was plausible he
might be honest in making it. Ibid
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 thaS should do
great injustice by compelling boy to
do thing if he really believed it to be
wrong.
After little pause said Well,
George, do not wish you to do any
thing which ia wrong, or which conflicts
with your golden rule. We will leave
this for tonight and perhaps you will
alter your mind before TO- morrow"
I saw him privately before school and
found him more firm in his refusal than
ever. After the devotional exercises
of the morning I began to question the
scholars, as was my wont, on tho va.
rions points of duty, and gradually
led the conservation to tho 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; yonr sohoolmates, who are
engaged in the came world with your
selves the citizens of the town who,
by taxing themselves, raise money to
pay the expenses Of this school /; tho
school committee, who take so great an
interest in our welfare; yonr teacher,
or the scholar who careleesly or will
fully commits somc otrense against good