The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-01-25
Night Entertainments.

Editor Home Journal
The first proposition which is sug.
gested to my mind on taking up my pen
to write on the subject which | here
present is rather personal to myself, and
is this What interest sit to me-what
business have in mcddling with the af-
fairs of others? Well, perhaps none I;
but allow me to indulge Il eacoethes
scribendi which am very occasionally
assailcd with.
| was present several weeks ago at a
debate among the "boys of the Normal"
in which | was exceedingly well enter
tanned, both with the manner and the
matter of the polemics. / would much
like to comment on the merits of the
young gentlemen who entertained us so
well on the occasion, bu. | have not
space to do them the honor they de-
serve. merely at this time desire to
suggest that | thought the hour of the
day was well chosen, for many reasons.
First, it was in the day-time-not at
night Why do our schools hold their
concerts and literary entertainments
usually at night? say that | not only
do not think night exhibitions for
schools quite proper, but the audience
and spectators would be better pleased
with daytime exercises. 1t would be
more convenient to visitors TO attend
day exhibitions, at well MS to the stu
dents themselves. In fact, it seems to
me it is kind Of interference with the
regular duties and habits of scholars IA
thing much TO be deplored by teachers,
| have always heard teachers say that
Monday morning recitations were the
worst of the week, on account Of the
brcak-of' that Saturday gives to the
course Of discipline IN the school-room,
and these night exhibitions where the
restraints Of the schGol-room ara broken
off are of this nature. They increase
the anxiety and responsibility Of teach
ers. A student little disposed to i'm
prudent habits here finds opportunity
for indulgence, knowing the eye of the
teacher is not upon him. In fact, the
practice is condemned by the declara-
tons of the faculty itself in their annual
catalogue, and good reasons advanced
against it. Yet, why practice one thing
and preach another? 1t would be
much better to be consistent. Especial
ly should examples of consistency be set
before those whose conduct We are en-
ployed to supervise and direct All
who have the management Of children,
or keep clearinghouse for schools,
know what trolic the children make of
these night entertainments. call them
entertainments because | think they en-
terrain the public more than they bene-
fit the scholars. Viewed in that light,
have the teachers any right to take the
time Of their scholars away from study
to make show for themselves? They
could have their regular reviews, at
which visitors would be received, and
thereby much better awaken the omula-
ton of scholars, than at these night
shows, without any ripple in the cur
rent irregular instruction or charm in
the rules into which the unrestralned
might fall | merely wish to call atten-
ton to this subject, believing that while
many objections can be urged against
the practice | have criticised, not one
reason can be found IN favor of it. OF
course teachers cannot keep order
among unruly outsiders who often take
the opportunity for disturbance, if not
always by open interruption yet some
times by il-mannered applause which is
not consistent with the decorum which
should always be observed before schol.
ars. LAW and ORDER SHOULD govern in
a school-room. 1t costs one day to get
ready for the show, one day to exhibit,
and one day to recover order again. So
each night show costs nearly one weeks
loss from study, besides the trouble tc
the teacher in hearing bad lessons 70,
several days and getting back to study
and proper channels of thinking. And
all for what? There is no gain in any
way to the scholar. 1t simply amount.
to holiday, one of the worst plaques
that annoy teachers or aitlict schools
Then why continue to have them?
cannot see one good reason for them
and do not think one can be given.
These views may conflict with thu
) feelings of some persons, but certain.
f not with the judgments of true friends
Of education. SEMEN