Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-08-30

| of xctlon--the little edifius 0f learning ct
| the edge Of the viilage--the idea that waa
TO reign supreme there, that others were TO
obey me and be taught by me, gave rise TO
stood still IN the road for lew moments
and gaxed at II incredulously. When
entered the school room, found Il crowded
with curious and expectant young men and
maidens, and little boys and girls. I
walked through the aisle 70 the desk, with
der their gaze When had removed my
hat aud gloves, I wondered what should
do next I glanced at my watch. II was
ten minutes before nine O'Clock. l sat
down and looked about me. My eyes fell
upon Bible which lay upon the desk.
picked 1t up eagerly.
"I can begin by reading a chapter Of
this, thought" and occupied the few
minutes before the time Of opening In
making suitable selection. Then rang
the bell. The groups about the room broke
up, and the pupils took their seats. 1tricd
upturned to mine, and my heart beat fast.
When read, the sound OF my own voice
upon the silent room was really painful to
me, However, went bravely through
with 1t.
But, alas! when had closed the book,
! had not the least notion what to do next.
almost concluded, at that moment, that
had mistaken my vocation. for remember
having wished even for such aid as might
have found In Prof. 'Sham's Methods and
Theories. All this, however, lasted but a
moment. Then, with q mighty effort,
taxed my ingenuity. and said:
The first class may come up with their
reading books, while the other pupils will
please take their states and write me an
exercise"
They looked rather mystified for
moment, but obeyed finally, as well as
they knew how. I found their ignc rance
forted me, for Il left me in no doubt as to
how 1 should proceed. / saw what was
needed and by noon had learned enough
to enable me TO classify MY school, make a
programme, and systematic my work.
began, also, to obtain an insight into
the capacity, mental traits, and various APP
titudes of most of my pupils. An anus.
Ing illustration of this occurred when
called up an infant geography class. Their
textbook was a primer containing ques-
tons and answers, illustrated with numer-
Gus wood-cuts, and the lesson was upon
the subject of " Direction" The class, with
one exception. was made up of bright,
koen-witted children but it contained one
overgrown, stupid girl of fourteen years
named Maggie, whom I found IL almost
impossible TO teach I verify believe that
only by a snrgi al operation could knowl-
edge of any kind be inserted into her
thick skull. Yet, her very blunders some
times proved that she could reason little
The first question was "What direction
on map or globe is north?" And the
little boy at the head Of the class answered
promptly, Towards the North Pole"
After he had illustrated this on the map,
next question: What direction on a
map or globo is southp" Towards the
South Pole," answered bright little girl,
who also proved that she thoroughly un-
derstood her answer. TWAS now Maggie's
turn. .'What direction on a map or globe
Is eastP' Towards the East Pole!" ans
wered Maggie, with the prompt confidence
of absolute certainty.
| suppose that every country schoolmis-
tress can tell her little story of how she
conquered with steady, calm and judic
ious look" the bully of the district. saw
throughout the morning that the pupils
were watching me closely, as though cal
culating the consequences of insubordina-
tion. They were evidently surprised and
puzzled at my demeanor. 1t was novel
thing to them to have II assumed as mat
ter of course, by their teacher, that they
would behave themselves. The greater
number were gratified at my treatment of
them, and naturally fell into good order
making their conduct meet my eXpecta-
tions.
But some few of meaner spirit could not
miss the sport of giving the "new teacher
~ u
lubberly youth Of seventeen years, was the
bully of the school. I saw fear and aver
sion in the face of every child he approach
cd. He domineered over the smaller chill
dren, especially the little girls. in way
that made my blood boil. They obeyed
every word he uttered, and even every
motion he made. During the morning he
regarded me at first seriously, aud then
with defiant sneer, which both amused
and troubled me, though feigned not to
see it. In the afternoon he took most
decided step towards open rebellion.
About ten minutes after the school had
been called he strobe in noisily, banging
the door, and then looking at me curiously
to note the effect. The other pupils glanced
up from their books, eager for a scene. l
must confess that I felt very powerless. as
lie strobe across the room, threw himself
into his chair, flung his books upon the
desk noisily, and then, quite to my confu-
sion, tossed his hat across the aisle toward
a little girl and said, in loud, rude tone 4:
Take that into the hall and hang it up,
quick
The child rose Immediately to obey.
Keep your seat. Mary said firmly,
as l arose and looked steadily at Bob.
" None of you must leave your seats with
ont my permission. Now, Robert, return,
close the door quietly and then walk back
TO your seat like gentleman"
Bob laughed out scornfully. Mind her?
pointing his finger at me and looking
around upon the other pupils.
"Obey me-" / said cody, "or / shall
report your conduct to the directors, and
have You expelled from the school,"
Mrs. Zeke had told me that this same
Bob had once been expelled, and had in
thereof been punished by hM
father with terrible severity. He looked at
me hesitatngly. My words and cool do
termined manner surprised him, and he
began to realize that he had made quite a
serious miscalculation. 1t was terrible
"cave-in," to obey after such open
defiance, but the coward had not for
gotten the strength of his faith
er's arm, and after a moment arose
ba oas an ngSy yobsr sGow and 9S9SSeS SSeI
they reioiced. / stood quietly by the desk
until he had returned to his seat. Then
said " Hereafter forbid you making tho
girls or little boys wait upon you. No
brave, manly boy would think of doing so.
Such conduct is natural only to a braggart
and a coward. You should wait upon the
smaller and weaker than yourself. To
impose upon hem is mean, cowardly con-
templible. For your conduct this afternoon
you shall lose your recess every day this
week, and on every Friday evening shall
send written report of your conduct dur
ing the week TO your father"
Bob was completely cowed. 1t felt
strange TO subdue and control a great,
strong boy like him, but the struggle told
on my nerves. Though outwardly calm,
| had nevertheless been greatly excited.
and suffered in consequence, during the
rest of the day, from a severe nervous head
ache.
In those first days of my teaching, very
tritling things served TO amuze me; such