The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1881-02-18
"A TALK WITH PARENTS AND TEACHERS.


l found, the other day, this advice to
teachers
"Nevor talk much nor loud. Never
promise what you cannot perform. Never
threaten for anticipated offcnses. Never be
nasty in word or action. Never punish
when angry. Never speak i'll scoldinS,
frctful manner Never tell a pupil to do
ANYTHING unless convinced he can do it
Never attempt to teach too many things
Never compare one child with anoth a.
Mover use harsh word when kind one
will answer as well. Mover let your pupils
see they can vex you. Never allow tale
bearing. Never speak evil of others. New
or indulge in an anything inconsistent with
politencss.'
This is excellent advice for teachers aud
is admirably fitted for parents too. 1t is
remarkable how inconsiderate many parents
and teachers arc about children they fl-
low strictly Solomons famous sayinS-
'sSpare the rod aud spoil the child, but ut
terly ignore the mild st. Paul when he
says-"Fathcrs, provoke not your children
to wrath" Children are human beings,
with feelings and opinions of their own, and
should be treated ~ such, and not as mere
automatons, made to act as the governing
power Wills ! recently heard Professor
Dodl, Pre.ssSa,, p English Literature and IN,
He said: 81 have great sympathy for boy.
and sometimes [ want to deliver a lecture
on them. The first ten years 1 taught,
did not understand boys, but now think
know them thoroughly. TO make gen
tleman of boy, you must treat him as one
1t is too often the case that at home il
there is small back room with no fire. place
in 1t, that is given to the boy. If there is
an old worn out carpet taken from the sis
ttr's room or the dining room, it is put il
the boys room, and all the old plumber tha,
cannot be stored anywhere else, is put iu
the same place. consequently when he goes
into his mothers or his sisters room, he
feels awkward and embarrassed, and nc
wonder he stumbles over so many things
"Vanderbilt University spends every
year, 81 900 in beautifying and improving
the grounds, in order to cultivate taste fo
the beautiful and refined in the boys. Ev
cry few years the entire building is newl,
carpeted, and always kept in perfect order
The boys are not called upon to account fo,
their conduct for it is supposed that the,
are all gentlemen, but if the chaplain dis
covers that any boy is not studying, or il
misbehaving in any way, he simply writes
to the boys father that it will be best t.
take him home, none Of the tepchers or pu
pills know the reasen for the boys leaving
and he is thus saved the notification of being
expelled in their presence"
Parents and teachers. ask you all, is mo-
that noble method of conducting SCHOOL,
Alas too many teachers treat bows as il
they were galley slaves and had to be driver
to their work, but every thinking mind vii
see what gross error that is, and will in
stantly recognize how much better it is to
put boys upon their honor and trust them
to do right. A system of Teaching in which
a domineeriug will forces boys into obcdi
cnce, only crushes out that honor and self
respect which should be nstillcd into ever,
boy, and when I recall such teachers, my
mind involuntarily rcvcrts to tho brutality
of Squeers at Dotheboys Hall, which Dick
ems so faithfully portrayed iu Nicholas
Nicklcby."
As an evidence that this driving. grind
ing method Of discipline is not the best, the
largest and most hourishipg schools in tho
world are conducted on the plan adopted al
the Vanderbilt University God grant tha,
the time may soon come, when We may have
more such schools and teachers throughou
the country.
MAUDE Cook MURRAY.