The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-02-09
/ School na'aln's pIalat.

4 School a'am's Plalnt.
From the Philadelphia Press.
When Twas II years old the direct
ors Of - County saw ft to give me
q school. had taught ono term. and
had got along 80 we'll that they felt
justified in giving me another. have
long since given up teaching, but my
recollection of that trying winter is 50
vivid it seems but yesterday.
had read a great deal on the cor.
rect way Of governing schools, and the
article ! modelled after advised govern
ing by love. I will say right here that
governing by love is delusion and q
snare-a pitfall for the feet of the un-
wary; and the one I fell into was very
much overgrown.
| The author OF this deluling PAM
phlet claimed that where corporal
punishment only commanded outward
obedience the conquor-by-love sys-
tenn brought out all the native
godliness, more or less of which
| schoolboy's heart. 1t may be so.
would not for the world contradict
the illustrious author. But I think
ifhe had analysed the scEoolboys Of
district he would have found very lit
tie OF the precious element in their
composition. But anyhow, the con.
quer by love system failed to developit.
I went to school the first morning
with a heart overlooking with love
towards the forty.odd intended recipi-
ents of that love. I resolved to set
good example before them by charity,
forbearance, patience and serenity
combined. If had only mixed with
these firmness and q resolve to Judi.
clously apply hickory oil when occa-
sion demanded, 1 would probably
have got along better.
My home was three miles away.
There was a path across the hill,
which 1had Travelled night and morn
ing. 1t was long walk, but had the
comfort Of being at home. The young
people in the neighborhood often gave
parties. always was invited, but
never went. My school duties occu-
pied my entire day, and wanted my
evenings to myself. This gave rise to
the report that thought myself
above the people.
One day one of my pupils, a little
girl OF l 1 came to me with the Informal
ton that her sister was giving a lit
tie party that evening, and had an
especial reason for wishing me to come.
declined for the reason that my
mother was in poor health, and was
expecting ME home, and would be un.
easy if did not come. ! learned aft
erwards the lady's especial reason"
was her brother. Ihad the pleasure
of mourning the displeasure of the
whole family by refusal.
One Of my rules was to have each
pupil who missed word write it g.
certain number of times on bis slate
or on the board. One day q pupil
fatty refused. Love fell flat, and l
was obliged to have recourse to the
old-fashioned hickory wand. After he
had gwen in and completed his task
sent him to his seat. saw his lips
move, and form the word-it don't
| matter what it was-under his breath.
1gave him a second dose, even more
liberal than the-frst. and he never
came to school another day. l was
SO glad. This caused a breach be-
tween me and that family.
There We're two brothers who had a.
rooted objection to looking at their
| books. kept one ofthem in one day
to learn his lesson. and at noon he
| went home. Next morning told him
as he had gone home without asking
my permission he could now make up
the halliday by staying in his inter-
missions and three-fourths of his
| incoming. This made his folks very
angry. They sent me a note, threat
ening me with expulsion, but l sent
for director, who told me to 20
ahead, and '.let 'em fire away" 1t
is needless to state "let 'em fire."
scholars was boy, whose father
told me one day to "knock him
down wild the poker" if I could not
master him. l shall always hold
that old man in grateful Remembrance.
He was q warm friend of mine,
and his daughter my most advanced
pupil. believe she is preparing to
teach now, herself. I only hope she
! has profted by the many blunders l
made that Winter, for I want il un-
derstood that do not hold myself
blameless by any means. No living
being is free from faults, and I can as
sure you that schoolteaching doe 8 not
tend to decrease them.
One of the many faults they ac,us-
ed me of-of which I was not guilty.
was partiallty. There was one little
girl, cousin Of mine, to whom l new
er had occasion to speak severely,
and who always had her lessons.
They said never scolded Lizzie, no
matter what she did.
One old hypocrlte said my school.
house ''just put her in mind of the.
atre, it. was so noisy" And she had
never been inside of my school-house,
much less a theatre. ! have often
wondered since what her idea of the
atre was to liken q school to it. 1t
must have been something terrible,
to judge by the construction of her
words and the emphasis she placed
on them.
Ihave no particular love yet for the
old lady. It may be that / have an
unforg'vine spirit.
had the hardihood to inquire after
Me. and tell my father ''how sorry
she was" She did not dream that
the same illness was to q great ex-
tent, brought on by worry caused by
a babel of uncharitable wagging
tongues. Oh, no! And had, morning
after morning. during the bitter cold
weather, taken Oft her little daughters
shoes, and held her feet in my hands
until they were thawed out.
! 1never would advise anyone pos
sessed Of conscience to teach. I
could neither eat, sleep nor enjoy my.
self in any way that Winter. But my
| experience was of value to me. I
taught successfully afterwards, but