The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1895-02-08
DUR rustic SCHOOL.

0uuA1phe mas called the publicechpo
"Ihe Lap of The Nation.'' In it' i
nurtured the future citizen Of til,
country, trained In all the truths a1nt
principles upon which real, true anc
sterling character may be established
Blt we notice that there is forma
tive period In the expansivsive epoct
OF his school days; in this period
while his eyes are opening to receiv,
the light of intelligence, he may be
come defective IN sight and hearing by
means of the impurities Of the mora
atmosphere in which he is forced ia
i've, that he may be known as the in.
habitant Of certain place called by
the sacred name Of home.
Here he walks between two guard.
lans and teachers, to whose giddy
height he looks up and sees the stature
OF his own future manhood; a perfect
ideal In his sight, because no other
paragon has been placed before him.
There Is no use of parents denying
the fact that every, child appears in
the schoolroom with the picture of his
home life upon his face and conduct,
True, it may be affected by street in
fluence, but, beyond a question, the
parental government is responsible for
any deleterious effect that may be pro-
duced by contact with this stratum of
vice.
Ii the home training has been loose
AND Eithout purpose, as soon as the
cl enters the school be will herd
VI that class that have the same
idtss of life which he has received and
those who are stronger in their power
of influence will overcome him with
their caprices, strategus and intrigues,
thus laying the foundation for trouble
in the schoolroom, that will more or
less affect the entire community.
This brings before us the fact that it
is absolutely necessary to have our
schools under the supervision and d.
rection of a principal who is teacher
IN every sense of the term, and also, to
zee that he is backed by a Board who !
haye the manhood and courage to see |
hat bis good work is sustained.
1t has been my privilege to investi- |
gate the present management of our
public schools and quietly examine the |
1asis Of certain complaints that have
been peddled about the streets by local |
akirs and store-loafers concerning Ger.
ain punishments that have been in.
1icted upon certain offenders among
he pupils of the schools.
Such examination has brought to
light the facts, that the punishments
siven, fell far short Of the proportions
md just deserts of the crimes. If the
school Board will now manfuIly do its
iuty In this matter, instead of wink.
ng at such conduct, and place these
ases on the docket of the courts, then,
lnder the evidence that stands ready
. be revealed at the proFer time, these
ulprits must find themselves behind
he bars of a felon's sell. There is a
awless element in this city, particu-
arly among the boys, that is guilty of
he mos; obscene and indecent langu-
ge that ever detiled the lips of a hui
can being, and they are the perpetra-
ors of the dirtiest and most devilish
eeds that ever blackened a mind.
'ou will find them on vacant lots, in
mpty houses, at the doors of the Il
hurches in the morning and evening,
nd on Saturdays and Sundays, ply
lg their arts of deviltry to the utter
isgust of every respectable citizen.
This is the element, which the wor-
~ principal of our schools is mani
lily struggling to eliminat from them;
nd we are glad to say be is succeed ,
lg, There is . large enrolment and
better average attendance than Is on
cord of any previous year in the his
ry of the schools.
AS patron of these schools, give =
cts as gathered by personal investi-
'tion and observation; and he who \
is IN judgment upon any other 4
ound, to say the least of 1t, is not =
ise.
The schools are controlled by the v
ndest vet tirmest discipline, and the ]
ethods of instruction used are after s
e very best to be found in the land.
y advice to those who are inclined to u
I'd fault, is wash y,ur face, comb .,
ur hair, then brush your clothes .
Q matter how common or thread :
re they are) and 60 up to the school -
use to see and hear for yourself. :,
~, tolfy NJ