Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-03-23
ABUSE OF THE TEA CHEERS
AUTHORITY.
Read before the Teachers Institute Of
1880.

AUTHORITY,
Read before the Teachers Institute Of
1880.
The teacher by right OF his pro-
fession is vested with an authority
requisite to govern any school which
he may be called upon to instruct.
And it is highly necessary that he
should have at his command all that
the law has given him, in order to
make his profession success in every
department. But in pursuance of this
with which he is vested, his authority
is greatly and shamefully abused.
And since most, or all teachers are cog
nizant to the extent of their rights, we
do not deem il necessary to expound
topic which is so generally under
stood, but will paso on and briefly
state few instances by which his au'
thority is abused.
In my estimation il is abused in
many different forms but as our time
is limited to few minutes, ! will sug.
gest but two ways, by which it seems
10 be wronged to the greatest extent;
FIRST. In a majority of the districts
of this great Commonwealth, the pa
rents greatly overstep the bounds Of
propriety and seriously injure the cause,
They should strive to promote, and at
the same time not abuse an author
ity they should seek TO perpetuate. In
generality of cases they have dis.
position to set aside the teachers com
mands and rules, by taking the part OF
their children in every petty case in
which they are corrected for miscon-
duct, and by advising them to act con-
trarily to his will and wishes. And
some parents have the presumption to
command, or dictate to the teacher
] Through their children) the course
they wish him TO pursue in the future,
or the privilege they would have their
worthy offspring enjoy. By this prac.
tice-which is carried TO much greater
extenttha many would suppose they
abuse his authority createa prejudice
between teacher and pupil; create
iealousies and disturbances, and in fact
do great injustice to our free school
system.
We have briefly noticed how his au-
thority is sometimes abused by the
parent, and will now endeayor to show
| in few words the method by which
some teachers abuse their own rights.
We believe that q thoughtless and
selfish teacher can abuse his own au'
thority much more than it can be
abused by others. II he assumes an
undignified manner pretends TO know
what he does not becomes too familiar
with his pupils, and acts in rude and
distasteful manner, he loses their re-
spect, dethrones his power, and re.
ceives their contempt in return. But
in guarding against this evil he must
be careful lest he falls a victim to
another and more dangerous one, by
assuming manner calculated to alien.
ate his pupils from him, by showing
prejudice, favoritism and partiality. A
teacher dangerously Injuries his au.
thority by laying down arbitrary and
unjust rules-rules that he fails TO exc.
cute by openly declaring he will pun
ish for certain offence and neglecting
to do so when the case presents itself
by q badly managed case of inhicting
punishment; and by acting in seem
ingly arbitrary manner when enforcing
his rules and lastly by a prolonged
torturing ofhis pupils such as holding
heavy book in the outstretched hand
standing on one foot, and by compelling
them to stand beside hot stove till
they are almost roasted. This is the
most evil and degrading practice that
has ever found its way into the halls
of the school room, and it should every
where receive the severest censuro OF
an intelligent people, and it would be
but few years till this heathenish
formality would be remembered only
as vice of tho past.
Ibelieve this question is TO be further
discussed by the Institute, and as such
is the case / will leave il TO my superb
, 0rs TO DISCUSS IN uelhll'
In conclusion | would say, we are
aware that the teacher has great
many difficulties TO contend with, and
overcome that be sometimes unthink-
ingly and unhnowingly abuses his own
authority. But he is not supposed 70
be perfect be is a iallible being and
liable to err, and as matter Of course
does not see all things in the right
light, and consequently makes his
mistakes along with the rest of man
kind. But Notwithstanding all his
frailties he is leading the advance
guard in defense Of education, and the
cultivation of the human mind.
As / said before tho teacher is not
expected TO be iniallible. But when
he takes charge of school he is ex-
pected TO be model man 10 set an
unquestioned example, and do his ut
most to ennoble the profession he has
espoused. That he will imprint the
first lessons Of love and liberty on
the young and tender mind ineulcate
principles that will lead them TO honor,
success and prosperity; engrave images
that will be carried down from poster
ity TO posterity" and be brilliant when
the names of Cromwell and Cesar
: shall have faded from the memory of
man.
r Fellow.teachers, permit me TO say
, this is my first attempt to speak before
: such n mass Of education as we see
presented here today, and / trust
You will excuse me for thus wandering
from my subject.
}, We closed the tour Of the county
at Grahamton, on Friday Of last week.
Huston schools were inspected during
the Summer season with the exception
of Penfeld and Winterburn. Fifty
tyyo d;rootora AMMAN naniad ua durinH