Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-04-26
School Management.


rules and all his rods, belongs to the
past. Though a blundering despot, he
did what he could. Peace to his ashes.
The goodtsh modern teacher with no
rules and no rods is the opposite ex-
treme. The efficient teacher will equal
ly avoid these mistakes. The coming
teacher with necessary regulations, iu-
diciously enforced, is the true mean
Great principles underlie all educa-
tional processes. These, not whim or
caprice, determine plans and methods.
School regulations should accord with
the following principles:
l. PRINCIPLES
l. Fer. The regulations should be
few but exhaustive. Simplicity is Of
primary Importance in school manage
ment. Many rules occasion much fric-
ton and cause vast amount of waste
labor in education.
2. General. The regulations should
be general rather than special. They
should be- equally adapted to the prima-
ry school and the college. Special reg
ulatlons with specific penalties are usu-
ally educational mistakes.
j.. Populor. The regulations should
merit the approval of all. They should
be so evidently just and proper that
they will command the approval and
support of all teachers, patrons and pu-
pills. The influence of public sentiment
is immense.
T. Practicable Regulations should
be such as the teacher can and will en-
force. Rules or laws not enforced tend
to bring all rules and laws into con-
tempt.
D. Elucatioaol Regulations should
tend to form desirable habits. The
school trains the pupil for citizenship
and achievement. The object of school
life is to prepare for real life.
II. GENERAL REGULATIONS.
The following regulations are the out
growth OF educational thought and ex-
perience. They accord with the above
principles, and though few, cover all the
ground. They are now in general use
and tend to become universal:
l. Regularity. Teachers and pupils
must be regular in their attendance.
When at all possible, each one must be
present each day
2. Promptitude. Teachers and pu-
pills must be prompt in the discharge of
every duty. Regularity and prompti-
tude are the foundation Of good manage
ment
3. Decorum Teachers and pupils
must observe strict decorum Decorum
means proper conduct, good manners
and becoming behavior. 1t means to
do the right thing at the right time, in
the right way.
4. Morality Teachers and pupils
must sustain good moral characters.
School government should be positive
1t is not enough that pupils aroid all
immortality. The positive virtues must
be developed into habits. Truthfulness,
honesty, benevolence, fidelity, etc, must
be Systematically cultivated.
5. QWetude. Teachers and pupils
must study to be quiet In every work
ing school there will be the hum of
business. But teachers and pupils
study to avoid unnecessary noise, and
to produce pleasant stiffness. The
boisterous school is both unpleasant and
injurious. The deathlike stiffness of in.
activity is equally to be avoided.
g. Communication All communica-
tion during school hours must be
through the teacher The observance OF
this rule prevents large proportion OF
the disorder often noticed in schools
Pupils must not communicate by talk
ing, by writing, or by signs.
The above general regulations art
exhaustive. | have never met CASE
that did not legitimately fall under ont
or more of these rules. But the pecu
liar circumstances, the special applica
ton, the necessary details, and the pro
per enforcement of rules may requir,
special regulations. Attention is called
to the following considerations;
l. Special regulations are intended to
specify and enforced general regulations
1t will save much trouble to have it un
derstood that they are not new rules
but simply special applications of the
general regulations.
2. Special regulations should be adopt
ed only when necessary The necessit!
should be apparent to the school,
There is always danger of an accumula
tion of such regulations.
3. Special regulations should b.
thoroughly digested before adoption
Will the tendency be good Will the,
be enforced? These questions deman,
the most careful consideration.
4. Special regulations should be lik'
angels visits. Many a schools weight
ed down and almost ruined by thirty
forty, fifty or more special regulations
Nv. ADOPTION OF REGULATIONS.
In this country the school is a pur
democracy, in which the young are train
ed to the habit of making, obeying an,
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