Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-04-20
school Government and Disci.
pline.

An Essay read by Mr.. A. p. Vance before
the Arcadia Valley Teachers Association,
April L, 1882, and published by request.l
1t is safe to say that while there is
reason to think an educational philoso-
ply is now in process of formation, and
that ere long there will be q rational
escape from many of the uncertainties
which now beset all varieties of school
work, educational methods are still
chiefly empirical; teaching is, for the
most part, an art without principles
q handicraft exercised from convent
ence or from necessity. In other pro-
fessions there is, generally, a course of
preparatory training, designed to un-
fold the scientific principles which un-
derlie the arts in question:; and in
actual practice there is constant refer
ence to the laws which are involved in
the various cases presenting them
selves, an an effort to discover that
which is abnormal, and thus to proceed
by rational methods. In teaching,
dominant, and teachers differ from one
another chiefly in industry and tact.
To be successful teacher requires con-
siderable executive ability, some
what complete knowledge of the
branches taught, and last, but not
least, ready skill in discipline.
MAINTENANCE OF DISCIPLINE.
The strength, or. it may be, weakness,
Of teacher is nowhere so clearly shown
as in the general discipline of his school.
Teachers must sustain healthy de-
gree IF discipline, such as the surround
ings may require, and in no case show
q weakness or indecision, for such will
Immediately show it's effects in the
school. / hold that it is not necessary
for the maintenance Of discipline that
there should be great severity in the
punishment of offenses. The absolute
certainty that the teachers authority
will be invoked is, in most Gases,
enough to hoid the evil propensities of
the pupils in check. On the contrary,
q want of firmness will encourage the
spirit of revolt and make necessary II
frequent resort to punishment of one
kind or another. The sense of justice
is strong, even i'm the case of vicious
children. They know that disobedi-
serve punishment, and, provided the
good intent Of the teacher is manifest
and the degree of punishment does not
exceed its just bounds, no feeling of re-
sentiment will be cherished towar him
who infiicts the penalty. While chill
dren soon learn to feel a contempt for u
superior who does not insist on q re-
spsctful obedience, they instinctively
admire that manly energy of character
which metes out to offenders their de-
served punishment. If, however, the
pupils are punished in anger or beyond
measure, it is probable that evil, and
not good, will be done. Every effort
should he made to convince pupils that
they will encounter the consequences
of their own wrong-doing that if
trouble must come, they and not their
superors will be responsible for it. TO
to this end it is often necessary to defer
a punishment, giving the offender time
to amend his evil ways. In this case
there is danger, of course, that the pu-
pil may presume on such forbearance,
and feel encouraged to pursue his evil
course; but the remedy for this is the
well-known firmness of the authority
which can afford to walt but which is
neither forgetful nor neglectful.
While am conscious that many ju-
dicious educators discard corporal pun
ishment as means of discipline, l am
free to express my con nviction that it is
the teachers only availa-
BILE resource to secure to the school and
the offender their respective rights.
A school must be preserved from dis
order and the contagion of bad example;
and there is no more sacred duty bind
ing ON parents and teachers than to
require Of children prompt and respect
full obedience. Children should be ex-
horted and encouraged i'm every proper
manner to do right. for the doing ofright
is in itself a virtuous thing; but when
aud expostulation fail, what
is to be done? Surely that degree of
force should be employed which win
conquer obedience. All will allow that
a cheerful, voluntary obedience is the
truly desirable thing; but is not an en-
forced obedience to be preferred to dis
Government is positive,
not negative; it does not cansist in
advising people what to DO, leaving