Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-07
FROM PRINCIPAL MANN.
A Plain Statement of School Government
and the GsnLemAn's Position.

A Plain Statement of School Government
and the GsntlemAn's Position.
To the Editor of the Gazette.
wish to say to the people of our city
aud especially to the patrons Of the Bel
KNAPP street school, that 1 have never
voluntarily made my name the subject OF
newspaper comment. But since it has
been recently brought into such notoTiety
through the columns of our local press l
desire to make few statements, and offer
some suggestions for the consideration of
all thoughtful people. 1 wish primarily
to refer to the rules snd regulations by
which ear schools are 10 be governed,
and to call especial attention to the duties
and responsibilities thereby imposed upon
principals of schools. Tee rules and
regulations give specific directions to De
observed by pupils, teachers and prisei-'
pals, respectively, and expressly declare
that the principal shall be held re-
sponsible for the management and
he shall establish such special rules and
scouting good order, and that WHEN the
usual disciplinary means fail to secure the
proper observance by the pupils okthe
may inhict or cause to be inflicted such
corporal punishment as he may
think the case demands. "Rules
governing principals, Article 20
The principal of each school is vested
with authority to carry into effect the
rules and regulations of the board, and it
Is made his express duty to enforce their
observance" "RuIes and regulations
governing teachers, ARTICLE 81. Teachers
are required to maintain strict order and
discipline In their schools and class
rooms at all times. ANY neglect OF this
requirement will be considered good
cause for dismissal" l desire to en-
phasize the fact, that it is the expressed
and bounden duty of teachers and prin-
cipals to enforce strictly the
rules and regulations established
for the government of our schools,
and wish to say in this connection that,
l have heretofore earnestly endeavored to
fearlessly and impsrtisliy enforce "the
spirit" st least, of their direction. And
while it Is possible that l may have
sometimes erred in judgment, or con-
founded the spirit ana the letter Of the
same, am free to say that l hold myself
subj ct to the influence of no whimsical
pubic sentiment, but subordinate only to
my individual conception Of what issfight!
In the premises, and to the rightfuf diree-
ton of duly constituted authority And
without referring in detail TO the incident
which has SO recently msde my name the
"topic OK the conversation for the hoEf,"
l will merely suggest inst the case isSun-
der the consideration OF the proper au-
thoritiee, viz: the school board, and l
trust the public will see justice fully vim
cic1ted. hold myself cheeriully subject
to their decision, and am ready to
quietly surrender my position at
any time it may be found
t1at l have been guilty of
NAL administration. However, wish to
present few suggestions ard some facts
for the consideration OF all thinking
people. First, school government is like
1ny other real government position, and
does not leave the matter Of compliance
to the will or discretion Of the subject,
but simply directs the proper cou Sc, aud
imposes sufficient penalty to secure an
observance of the direction. Teachers
must secure that degree OF discipline
which they are required to enforce, and
any weakness, INDIGESTION or vaccillation
upon their part will at once manifest it
self in the school. But upon this point
there is great difference of opinion with
reference to the prerogatiye Of the public
school, viz: First, that an observance Of
the rules ana regulations shall, be con-
dition OF membership; snd when ready
obedience is not rendered the offender Is
10 be excluded from school. Second,
that one Of the chief OBJ
iects of public school training is
to inculste the habit OF obedience
and respect for authority; and to this
end, in cases where obedience is not rem
dered under proper management, ths
teacher may resort TO the extreme meas
ure of infIcting bodily pain. And from
q somewhat extensive experience coupled
With y very careful investigation and