Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-12
TIL e BAD BOY.
Problems Which Public school Teach.
ers Have to solve.

| A TALK WITH A TEAcHER-THE TWO CLASSES
| OF BAD BoYs-A SAMPLE CASE OF YOUTH
! FUL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SMOKING, AND
/ DIME-NOvEL READING.
\ "The problem of how to manage boys is a
most difficult one" said a public school teacher
| to a STAR reporter the other evening. 81 refer
| particularly to boys who are mischievous, and
| whose inclination to be bad is ever present"
| he continued. There are two distinct types
| of such boys in our schools, and they require
| different modes of treatment while the best
| course to be pursued towards those in either
| class individually, is the puzzle which we
| teachers are required to solve. The two types
| or classes of bad boys are those who are
| naturally bad, although having good home sur
| roundings, respectable and religious parents,
never known anything but evil teachings and
associations out of school. There capital
Fankn and Of tho aser TYPE the Ana
tinued the wielder OF the birch. "but in
ment of bad boys who have had no
bringing up an easier task than of those
who know better but delight in deviltry. There
is sympathetic chord in the nature of the
former that if once struck responds actively,
and ii the subsequent treatment is judicious
are ignorant OF the existence of any such SYM
pathetic feeling or latent recognition OF right,
makes
it all the more difficult to find exactly the direc
ton in which it lies. But it is there, and can
be discovered to the advantage of both the
teacher and the pupil. Many ragamuffin from
the less favored localities OF the city can be
brought to terms If you appeal to his
SENSE OF sQUARENESs.
Give him to understand that if he will treat
you on the square You will treat him SO, and he
will, as like as not, stand by the agreement.
Continued and severe punishment will bring
b1m TO terms through fear and make him or
derby while in school, but his disposition is I'M
improved, and when freed from school re-
straints his wicked traits are given full play to
make up for lost time. 1t is this sympathetic
chord referred to that is struck when some en-.
nobling sentiment spoken or some manly or
great deed represented on the stage, brings forth
IN, the cheers from the boys in the gallery. be-
iieve in that applause. 1t is genuine. They are
strangers to such things but they recognize
them and respond from the bottom of their
hearts. L have in mind u well-grown boy who
was considered by far the worst in his district
Teachers could do nothing with him. He would
thWart them at every turn. He finally came
under capital disciplinarian. a thrashing
such as only strong man can give gained the
physical control over him, but the subsequent
lecture and treatment appealed to something
in his nature, and he is now a model pupil. He
often asks the supervising principal when he
visits his school if he gets any reports about
try to fix it,
THE OTHER KIND.
1.-THE other kind of bad boys, though, is differ
ent," continued the teacher. "This sympa-
thetic something in them can't be reached 1t
is dulled and dead. 1t has been played upon
ever since their infancy, and it's an old story
with them. Their deviltry is inherent It has
in all probability will the strictest discipline
OF school, For the schOOlmaSter TO uprOOt it is
herculean task. 1 call to mind an instance of
this kind of bad boy. The little fellow is but
ten years old, of a most lovabe disposition
vet he has a streak of wickedness running
through him that deties the teachera and his rod
character. of
his little life would throw Peck's bad boy far
into the shade. He is ola respectable family, but
Is beyond the control of his parents. To play
the truant is his delight, and to try to shield
himself with cleverly cOncocted lies when
caught is as natural to him as sleeping or eat
ing. He is bright and has unusually WINNING
ways, but he has an indomitable will which
Will either make fine man of him or bring him
10 the penltentiary. Caught at playing truant
and brought back to school, he will say to the
principal: Il swear by all that's holy, SIR (rais-
ing his little clenched fist if you send me into
that room, nothing under Heaven can keen me
there nve minutes. When left in the room
he Is apt TO perform in the most outrageous
manner tie Will jump up on his desk, yell like
a mad man, tear his hair, roll ON the floor i'm
apparent commissions and
STAMPEDE THE SCHOOL.
When sent to the principal for some offense
ne Will do his best to throw him off the scent
Without waiting to be called to account he will
begin TO tell in the most enthusiastic manner of
some recent eXperience-hOw me and a col
ored boy has got secret cave with a swing
get IN. we tunnelled it up under a house, and
are going to do so and So Or he will tell of his
latest trip to Alexandria and what befel him
there; anything to divert the principals atten-
ton from the subject in hand. When called to
account, though, he owns up that he is beaten.
but is ready to go at it again next time The
little fellow talks well, and no one who does
not know him can be convinced that he is w.
llg. HIS excuses are manifold and cunningiy
lights to thrust his little hand into his little
POCKET ana pun out suspicious little package
chew. It's only iicorice, but he likes to
appear as bad as possible. His only tear is of
public opinion. To be punished before his COM
the effect is not lasting. He is gone from home
sometimes ior days at a time. He thinks moth
ang pt m on an engine and going to Alex
orakemen all know him. He has ridden away
with don't know how many bicycles He
70 sell them, but will jump on one and take a
ride If he sees 1t handy, and will leave il inst
, Wneie ne happens TO be when he is through,
placing III against a country fence or "a lamp
post at the other end of town. The station
house is an old friend of his, and mind Won. me
Is now only ten years old. / believe that now
ne is liable TO be arrested If caught off certain
beat between home and school so that his
roamings are quite limited. How he can be
mace tractable is puzzle. am only afraid
that ne Will be an inmate of the reform school
peiore long There are many similar instances
nun 10 snow you sample of the bad boy who
ought TO be gOOd.''
VICIOUS HABITS OF BOYS
"The habits of boys make very interesting
ana constantly changing study" said the
teacher, In answer to q general remark of the
reporter. "The cigarette evil is hard one to deal
Win, but you can't scare some boys out of tie
nablt, Notwithstanding their realization of the
dangerous consequences. The principal of one
Oh the schools at recess the other day turned a
nelghbOring corner and discovered about Ar
teen boys grouped together in the middle of
the sidewalk and a cloud of smoke rising from
their midst. They hadn't cigarettes enough tn
go round, so pieces were being passed that
every one might get a Whit. The principal
look nis stand, undiscovered, at q tree-box ONLY
l lew feet distant. The boys discovered his
\ presence one at time and the effect was
| varied, but in every instance ludicrOus
| One boy would suddenly drop his cigarette and
/ as quickly put his heel upon it. Another would
/ discover something OF Interest up the street
| ana start on on q dead run, with his head down
l SO as 10 avoid recognition. One boy was lust
1 ABOUT 70 receive cigarette between his Tins
| from the hand OF q companion, when his eve
| ushteo on the principal. Quick as q flash an
expression OF utter disgust came over his face,
/ anu !ne cigarette was Indignantly refused for
l enect. some were SO astonished that thew for
got 10 take their cigarettes from their mouths
All were told TO report that afternoon On
\ looking back, when further down the street
4 the principal saw them with violent gestures
/ eagerly discussing the chances Of not HAVING
1 been recognized. They evidently Thought they
/ were good, for not one reported at the honr
i named. 'Ao Ao"A
JOKE ON THE TEACHER
"lf the boys can get a Joke on tho TOO ,bo. 81 49,,