Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-05-29
Teaching Government.
PROF. T. @ KARNs, UNIVERSITY OF
TEN NESSEE.

1t is by no means certain, even
yet, that all the most important
things are taught to children in school,
The teaching world has long been
struggling in the direction of best
things, but progress has been slow.
When we reflect that every boy
must become citizen and exercise
all tho rights of n free American, is
it not a little wonderful that nothing
OF the nature of government and
the duties of citizenship is taught in
our common schools?
1t is not, of course, practicable to
introduce into the schools elaborate
works on political economy and the
theory of government, but it would
be easy for any one to give simple
oral lessons i'll government. They
need not come oftencr than once in a
week. Let the teacher givc,-say one
every "Wednesday morning, or at any
other convenient timc,-a general
exercise on this subject. He gets the
attention Of the whole school and
begins
"Children, what is civil district L?
How many can tell? Hands up!"
Everybody is silent. The line of
thought is new. And then, while
some of the older pupils know, they
can't readily shape a definition.
cit is the smallest division of to-
rltory set apart for the purpose Of
governments" says'thc teacher.
"What is it called in some Statcs?"
"a township" says lad who
lately moved down from Ohio.
"What arc the officers Of civil
district" (By degrees several hands
go up.)
"Evcry district has two 'Squires,"
says Mary Jones.
"Justicc Of the peace, is the right
namc," adds Il small boy.
"Vcry well; what do the justices
do? What is their business ?" CA
long silence.)
"They have trials" replies Mary,
at last.
eyes; they try all cases that arc
too small to go to the courts" cx-
plains the teacher. cat fixed peri
ods they also meet in body, at the
Court House, to legislatc for the best
interests Of the whole country. They
levy taxes, appropriate money, care
for the poor, and look after the roads"
"What other officer has the dis
trict %
"My father is a constable" says
liVtIe johnny Greene. "IIe serves
"',rrants and arrests people,"
eyes; and helps collect the back
taxes" adds the teacher
1t is here that the teacher explains
the school district, which is some
times the same as the civil district
and sometimes not. He talks of
the district directors and their duties
the hiring of teachers, the build
ing of school houses, etc.
Some Of the children think this is
4 part of government, and some
think it is only an arrangement for
carrying on the schools.
"What is one of the most impor-
tant county Offices ?"
"Sheriff % shout three or four bows
"Nlr Lones was elected last summer
lie arrests people and keeps the
jail"
eyes; he enforccs the law" adds
the teacher. "What other county
officer can you name ?'
"County court clerk"
"What arc his dutics?"
The large boys in the roar arc
aroused by this time: "Kceps the
records" says one.
"lssues license when people want
to get married." says another.
"Takcs acknowledgement of all
Deeds" says third.
The teacher, now and then, adds
much by way of explanation and
develops the subject fully. The
duties Of the register, the trustee,
The county superintendent of schools,
Ihc clerks of the different courts, the
coroner, and others, are discussed IN
detail.
The above, when amplifcd, will
furnish abundant material for one
exercise.
III the same manner tic mach
lcry of State government is taken
up the following week, or perhaps in
,hc second week. The various Off
.crs are named and their dntics
discussed. BY and by the National
government is discussed in like man
or. lis well to ask the children