The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-03-09


soiled. 1t is true that when once soileC
il then gets reckless, and is ever ready {,
60 into the dirt. But yet, naturally, i
likes to make good appearance, and t.
have things about it neat and tidy. 1t j.
a point of no small matter of importance
to have the school room always neat anC
clean, with some display of taste about it
To have the children hang picture grace
fully, or arrange flowers, leaves, grasses
and books tastefully is teaching refine
meut, and cultiyating love for the beau
tifnl. Walls adorned with pictures and
flowers give q cheerful aspect to the whole
room.
Not long ago had occasion to remove
our pictures, wall-pockets, hanging vases
dc, in order 10 dust the walls and give
the room a good airing. As this was
done on Friday, they remained out of
place until Monday Many were the re.
marks made by all about cold bare walls, y
and that complete change was made,
though not to their fancy. They even
expressed wishrfor me to. hurry. and
have them put up. One little fellow who
could scarcely speak my name plainly,
came to me and said, "Isn't we doing to
have any more picters, nor nothings 2" L
did not answer his question at first, but
said, "Why, Johnnie, we do not need the
pictures or flowers, do we?"s His ewes
glistened as he hastily replied, 'sOh, YES,
we do" "What good are they q" / asked.
"Why, Ican't see nothing to study now.
when | look of my book, at the walls or
the windows" This child had my idea
exactly. Books are certainly dull tools
and our minds will run away
from them frequently, but if they wander
away and ponder over pictures, flowers,
&c, it is time probably employed. A
mismanager would call il a loss of time
and piece of foolishness. A school
room neatly swept and busted, its furni-
ture well-arranged, a full and regular at
tendance, and every countenanee expressive
of pleasure, comfortand contentment, with
progress written upon the pinnacle of
learning, must evidently be more charm
ing to our venerable and tasty old Exam
liner, and our refined and keen-obserying
Commissioners, than filthy room with
the floor earpeted by the debris of vari-
Gus articles; the stove assuming cardinal
tinge, its Hearth ornamented with ashes.
shells, paper, pieces of wood, aud very Of
ten this mixture is moistened with the
tobacco saliva; while beneathand
around lie wood, chips, poker and shovel
in great disorder; the spiders are left uu-
to weave their fine textures
across the upper window panes; numerous
aud lengthy cobwebs are suspended from
the ceiling, interspersed with a quantity
Of paper pellets, sent there by set of in
dolent, uncomfortable and untidy children
during school hours.
Parents are much better satisfied in
sending their children to a school where
they are trained in habits of neatness and
All this is a step towards
promoting good order; and every one will
admit that this is one of the most essen
tial marks of a good school. I am net an
advocate for severity of discipline, but l
do strongly urge the Importance and me-
eessity Of good order during school hours.
Ordinarily, severity is not necessary to Sc
cure this; sometimes it becomes necessary.
Order is an essential feature of a good
school; if we do not have it we do not have
good schools. Yet many teachers don't
seem to recognize this fact; quite indifFer-
eut to the order of the school. IF things
are allowed to 60 on as they may, they
are not then very apt to go on well. If
We have some particular thing on hand,
which draws our attention, and leave the
school to take care Of itself, it generally
does not take good care of itself, but be-
comes idle, noisy and turbulent. Strict
discipline always promotes good order.
Severity is seldom needed, but there must
not be any license. Very favorable and
important results can be accomplished by
having some general principles of right
definitely stated, and by making an ap-
peal to the better sense and feelings of
our scholars. We should have frequent
.alks with our pupils, kind, good-natured
talks, to show them what lis right and
proper, and gently leading them in the
direction and within the limits of proper
discipline and order, little indulgence
will not injure.
We must expel from the minds of the
children the idea which seems to be innate
IN scholar, that the teacher is their natu-
al enemy, and that the normal relation
them is an antagonistic one. If
The teacher has the right sort Of a heart,
will soon dispel such an erroneous idea
entirely. We must have our pupils to un
ierstand that they attend school for the
purpose of study-that study is their ap-
'ropriate work, and they should be held
% that during study hours. If they show
themselves refractory, incorrigibly inclined
o be idle and. noisy, then we must draw
he lines of discipline somewhat tightly.
Order must be secured in some way, if we
would have a well-managed school. We
must not be indifferent on this point.
Another link to good order is punctu-
llity. They are very closely connected.
The State law requires us to keep our
schools open six hours on each school day.
The hours are fixed by the authority of
he State Board at from 0 A. NJ. to II.
ind from l to 4 P M.
Now, | think we ought to be in cur re-
peetive places, ready to begin the work
If the school promptly at the hours named.
Only absolute necessity should cause us to.
DC tardy, aud when such is the case, we
ought to state the fact to our scholars, so
hat they will not have our example to
plead, and we should require the same
hing of them. 1t is a vexatious habit for
! school to fall into. Many schools have
really habitual. Tardy boys and
girls, growing accustomed to Struggling in
1ne after another, from 8 to 10 o'clock.
J ust as it is important for school to be
Iull at the beginning Of session, SO it is
important for a school to be full at the
Of each day. The hardness of
botis teacher and pupils disarrange the
work of the day, and it is very difficult to
get it set right again. And if we want
The machinery of our school to work nicely
md successfully we must observe puuctu-
llity.
The Bylaw says at shall be the
luty of teachers to have the school rooms
swept, busted and ventilated every day,
and warmed, when necessary, at least IF
.een minutes before the hour of opeuing.