The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-05-05
ABUSE OF THE TEACHERS AUTHOR
lTY.

The teacher, by right of his profession, is vested
with 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 CON-
mand all that the law has given him, in order to
make his profession a success in every department
But in the pursuance Of this, with which he is vest
ed, his authority is greatly and shamefully abused
And since most, all teachers coguirant Of the
extent of their rights, do not deem it necessary
to expound topic which is generally understood
but will pass on and briefly state few instances by
| which his authority is abused.
First in n majority of the districts of this great
Commonwealth, the parents greatly overstep tho
bounds of proprety, and seriously injure the cause
They shond strive to promote, and at the time
not abuse, authority they should seek perpetu
ate. In generality of cases. they have DISPOSE
tion to set aside the teachers rules and commands
by taking the part of their children in their petty
| cases, in which they corrected for misconduct
and by advising them act contrarily to to his will
and wishes. And some parents have the presump-
tion to command dictate to the teacher Through
their ehildrenl the they wish him to pursue
in the future the privileges they would have their
worthy offspring enjoy. By this practicc-which is
carried to much greater extent than many suppose
they abuse his authority, create prejudice be-
tween teacher and pupil, create jeaousies and dis
school system.
We have briohy noticed how his authority is some
times abused by the parent. and will now endeavor
to show, in n few words, the method by which some
teachers abuse their rights We believe that
thonghtless and selfish teacher abuse his own
authority much more than it can be abused by 9TH
ers. If he assumes undignified manner pretends
to know what he does not, becomes too familiar with
his pupils and acts in rude and distaseful manner
he loses their respect dethrones his power, and
ceives their contempt in return. But in guarding
against this evil he must be careful lest he falls
victim to another and dangerous one, by as
suming manner calculated to ALLEVIATE his pupils
from him, by showing prejudice, favoritsm and par
tialty. teacher dangerously Injuries his authority.
by laying down arbitrary and unjust rules-rules
TINT he fails to execute by openly declaring he will
punish for certain oense, and neglecting to do 90,
when the presents itself; by q badly managed
case of infiicting punishment, and by acting in .
seemingly arbitrary manner, when enforcing his
rules; and, lastly, by prolonged torturing of his
pupils, such holding n heavy book in the out
stretched hand, or standing one foot, and CON-
pelling them to remain in certain position for hours
at time. This is the most evil and degrading prac
tce that has found its way into the halls Of the
school-room, and it should everywhere receive the
severest of intelligent people, and it |
mality would be remembered only n a vice of the
past.
In concluding, would say, We are aware that the |
teacher has many difficulties to contend with and
overcome, that he sometimes unthnkingly and un- |
knowingly abuses his authority. But he is not |
supposed to be perfect; he is fallible being, and
liable to and, matter of course, does not
all things in a right light and consequently makes |
his mistakes, along with the rest of mankind, But,
notwithstanding all his frsiltes he is leading the
advance guard in defense of education. and the cu
tivation Of the human mind. As said before, the |
teacher is not expected to be infallble. But when
he takes charge of school, he is expected to be a
model man, and to set an unquestioned example, |
and do his utmost to ennobe the profession he has
espoused that he will imprint the first lessons of
love and liberty on the young and tender mind, in
culcate principles that will lead them to honor,
cess and prosperity, engrave images that will be |
carried down from posterity to posterity,r and be
brilliant when the names of Cromwell and CPsar
shall have faded from the memory of man.
JONATHAN