Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-10-27
MOhAMMEDAN SCHOOLS.
How Oriental SchoO1-MAsters Instruct
Their Noisy, Bare-Footcd Pupils.

How Oriental school-sGasters Instruct
Their Noisy, BAre-Footed Pupils.
II a stranger in Moslem country in
passing through the streets is attracted
by noise for which he can not salts
factorily account toward the building in
which the school is held, he will, on
looking in. probably see long and
narrow room, at one end Of which is
seated man with u long beard (school- /
masters retain their boards even when |
whiskers only are sactioned by general !
tlsage), while the sides are lined with |
little boys of various ages squatted upon
their heels on the floor, which is gener-
ally covered with thick mat, in addi- |
ton to which those parents who can af-
ford to provide their sons with bit of
carpet or felt in Persia, or with cush-
ion in Turkey, to place between them
and the mat Some OF the elder boys go
so far as to obtain a cushion to intro
duce between their backs and
the wall, but this luxury is
rather discountenanced by the
masters rs an encroachment on
their own peculiar dignities. All the
| boys have their heads covered, but
they are without their shoes, which are
left near the door, SO mingled and SO
similar in shape and color that it would
seem difficult for each to find his own;
but, on the breaking up, every one
seems to slip his feet into his own shoes,
without any of that individual hesita-
ton or general confusion which might
be expected. When the boys are learn
ing their lessons. or repeating them to
their MASTER they do so all at once,
with a loud voice, and with continual
movement they seem to conceive it inn
possible that any thing can be learnt.
The scene which this affords is ex-
tremely ludicrous to a European, par
ticularly as the zeal OF the learner
is estimated by the loudness
of his voice and the vio-
lence of his see-saw; and hence, when
conscious OF the approach Of u person
whom the master or pupils wish to i'm
press with favorable opinion OF their
application and progress, the noise in
the schools, which may previously have
sunk into low hum, rises abruptly to
the clamorOus uprOar of many voices.
1t seems that in reading all at once to
the master the elder boys, if the school
is large, are expected TO give some at
tention to the others near them. The
master can not in such a noise distin-
guish the individual accuracy of each
reader and his attention is, therefore,
directed to observe that time is as near.
ly as may be kept by the voices, and, in
some measure, in the motions also O
the pupils. The object seems but poor.
ly attained. This style of reading il
most unnatural. 1t is drawing chant
uttered in very loud voice. In the
East generally the tone of voice is very
high, even in common conversation
but in reading it is raised to scream
ing.
The quantity Of poetical literature
with which the mind of Persian il
stored is perfectly amazing, and thi
alone sufiices to show that books ar
scarce and reading difficult, while
4 also indicates what might be expectet
: from them under a better system. A
it is, the listening to tales and recita
: tions delivered by persons who make
!, a profession, occupies, in some meas
ure, the same place among Mohamme
dams as reading among ourselves; ant
Q any person is sure of an audience WIN
Q sits down and processes his ability ant
: willingness to afford amusement or in
n struction. In some places, indeed
: there is no instruction. beyond that o
reading and writing, to be obtained il
any other manner than from person
who exhibit their information for tn
= sake Of the farthings which maybe col
:, lected at the conclusion. In some town
: men of professed learning are accus
= toned to go to the porch OF the mosqu
: and there begin to read, lecture Q
preach to the people who there collet
: around them; and it is not unusual fo
two persons to seat themselves oppC
site each other and instruct their audi
: ors by a vehement dispute on any sui
: ject which they consider attractive
:. Such practices could only afford rem,
y neration where there is a thirst for be
:, ter knowledge than the ordinary char
= nels OF instruction afford. This thirs
seems more intense in Persia than
:. any other Moslem nation. n.--L0ndo
Standard.