Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-01-17

saturday Morning, Jan. IT, 1885.
IT is usual to recur to the practice
Of corporal punishment in schools as
relic Of barbaric ages. So far, in
fact, has civilization in this connec-
ton outrun itself that it is no longer
popular to speak of it with any meas
urs of appreciation.
Nevertheless, it is to be doubted
whether the generation now passing
middle life is morally or intellectually
in arrears on account of school lessons
accumulated by the rod.
In former times more than now our
systems and sentiments tolerated alb
solute monarchy in the school-room.
Then, as now, pupils, fresh from the
nursery, Or endowed with varying
quotas of human depravity, ordinarily
welded no submission to real or fan
cied equality. In many, many in
stances, therefore, the status Of SUBJ
lection had to be acquired and the
law of obedience understood prior to
any actual advance in study. The
teacher was master as we'll as tutor.
Suppose the bases for obedience
thus stated are still wanting, lack
bad in itself and worse as an example,
what is the masters remedy under
the current view Of corporal punish
ment? What shall he do, first, to
maintain his sovereignty, and, next,
to preserve the school from anarchy?
If he expel, so far as he is concerned,
a pupil is sent out as an outlaw I'M
deserving an education, and the gray
ity and psrsistency of the offence,
stated in justification, may amount to
the announcement of a candidate for
the penitentiary.
On the other hand, let us suppose
the teacher backed by sentiment
similar to that which justifies the
reign of civil law. He fights for his
rightful, indispensable supremacy !;
subdues the refractory ; compels the
respect and preserves the autonomy
of his school. Is it not plain that,
his capability granted, besides being
an efficient propaganda of scholar
ship he is also valuable conseryator
in system devised to mould and de-
velop all elements of society into good
citizenship? Does he not demon
strate that conquest, IN this case, is
better than surrender to an inferior !?
Does he not thus emphasize to his
charge the valuable lesson that they
must learn to follow who some day
expect to lead, and those to obey who
aspire to command?
1t is not commended, of course, that
chastisement for any cause should be
Incorporate and cruel, nor resorted
to except as measure of last resort.
A Frostburg lady, teaching near
Cumberland, incurred the indignity
last week Of being cited before mag
istrate for Furnishing child of eleven
years. The magistrate discovered
no ground for the charge and very
properly dismissed the case.
Parents who complain, particular
" those who thus endeayor to estab-
llsh INSTRUMENTATION at school, know
not what they do. With false idea
of their duty as protectors of their
children dragons teeth are sown in
their impressible natures to grow up
into rebellion at home, deviltry
abroad and disgrace all round.
Returning to the thought with
which this article begins, it is COM
mon to draw marked contrasts be-
tween ''old-tield methods" and new,
the advantages always lying with the
latte:. But comparisons ore odious
sometimes. The old log school
house, it'll lis Uncomfortable appur-
tenances, il;.i ca curriculum and
conserving birch is the 0lDl0 mater of
the practical scholars of this, the
greatest of utili,arian ages. From
within its walls have sprung, as from
Minerva, the leaders Of this genera
ton. Exhibits of its Alumni, dis
played in every field Of action and
area of thought, shine with intrinsic
lustre beside the gaudy products OF
pretensious high schools, academies,
colleges and universities-the mater
mites of base ballists, athletes, oars
men, dudes, snobs and snides.
For the sake of the teacher, school,
parent and child, in the case referred