Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-02-04
Darkesville.

Ledu jury, piedoeS every II mere
The oyster supper, at Mr.. Shep-
herds, under The auspices of the
Mite Society, came off, and was a
gratifying success, notwlthstand-
ing the very inclement evening.
Much praise is due to Mrs. Shep-
herd for her splendid management
of the affair and the indomitabIe
energy displayed by her.
The following named persons,
wer selected by Excelsior Lodge,
/. O. g.. r. on last Saturday night,
az its officers for the ensuing quar-
ter. Jno. B. TATE, w. G. II; Miss
Sallie Mi3h, w. VT NJ T. Bow
en-, VS.; NJ. l. Barr, w. F.. $;
G. w. Underdonk, w. L.; Il. +
Mish, w. c.; Miss Lena Mish, w.
l. G.; Charles Thornburg. w. O.
CT; Harry Thornburg. w. M; Miss
Nellie Tim5erlake, w. II. III. 5;
Miss Ida Likens, w. l.. II. s.;
Miss Ida Thornburg, w. A. s.;
Miss Laura Likens, w. A. NJ. The
Lodge is in a fiourishing condition
and exerting II good influence in
the community.
The heaviest snow fall OF the
| season commenced Tuesday last,
and is about a foot deep, Sleigh
ing is now in order.
Scarlet fever is still towering ov-
err us and q number of new cases
in the vicinity, though none just
in town. A sprightly daughter of
Mr.. Lea s, fell a victim to it. The
funeral took place Wednesday.
In regard to the bill of Mr..
Evans, on School government, /
have come to the conclusion that
is very useless legislation, to say
the least. This is, in my judy
ment, manifest, from the fact that
we have no statutory law, re-
curing or calling for corporal pun
lshment, but hare a clause in the
school law, permitting the school
authorities 10 dismiss d teacher for
cruelty To scholars, which can east
~ be made TO include corporal
punishment. 1t seems farther to
be- Useless from the fact, the habit
Of infic ing such punishment, is
rapidly growing into disuse by
the prOfe ssiOn and every %cOnceiva-
ole mean is resorted to, to avoid
the infection Of it. 1t seems USE
less also, from The fact that from
no section OF the county or state
have | heard complaint that the
rod was 100 freely used, but what.
ever comment has been made has
been of the opposite character, 1t
is therefore in my judgement, 90
jectionable legislation, because it
is useless and that so many USE
less and frequent changes III u
school law, has tended greatly to
i'm pair It's efficiency and crippled
IT'S success. a parent in commit
ting his child to the custody of a
teacher commits his parental au-
thority during the hours Of schOOl
and holds the teacher fespOnsi-
BILE. He sends him to scnOol for
the purpose Of securing for him
an education, and not unfrequent-
Iy says 10 the teacher, II want my
child TO learn and if ne will not
study nor obey your orders, pun
ish him and make him do it even
if you have TO fog him. There
fore | hold, that if you attempt to
legislate against the authority OF a
teacher, you legislate against par
entail authority, in seeking 10 %
| specifically le9islate ON -chool
| - FErntAf H,ntt SApily a az fA1NilXy
government. pney are TOO inIim-
ately associated with each other to
avoid it. The prestige Of the au-
thority 10 USE the rod. prevents
the necessity nine times out Of ten
and destroy that prestige and all
the beautiful theories of your NOR
al SuuSiOniStS fall to PIE es. In
giving expression to these crude
| ideas, / desire to say that in the
whole profession in this county,
there is not one so brutal in his
instincts or so destitute of the feel
Jugs of humanity as 10 ever infict
corporal punishment upon a child
unless it were actually necessary
for the proper government of his
scho0l.and in so doing he was more
deeply panied 10y the inhic ion,
than Was the child 1 fully and
heartily endorse the sentiment, at
is better to rule by love than fear
but a sufficie"t authority vested
in a teacher to inspire fear, aids
materially in ruling by love, last
ly some of the moral oudSi0niStS
that would be Mortified at the
sight of a rod in a school room,
would use language to a child, SO
cutting in its sarcasm, so diecour-
aging in its effects as TO smart and
rankle in IA sensitive heart, until
the pain inflicted and the injucy
done to the poor innocent, would
be far greater than could possibly
he inflicted with the rod. If YOU