The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1896-08-06
A Problem in Discipline and How II
Was Solved.

Corporal punishment may be abolished
from the public school, and some be-
lieve the panacea is to be found in the
following, which is copied from the
Western Teacher"
There was trouble down at Podunk, not teach
er could be found,
Although the district fathers had searched the
country round.
There were pedagogues in plenty, but never one
so rash
AS to undertake the Podunk school though sore
in need OF CASH
The schoolhouse stood deserted, its SCARED and
Creaked idly on its hinges and the dust lay on
the floor:
While through the broken window where a boy
had flung stone,
the place their own.
At last the school committee found plucky
little maid
Who thought that she could teach the school,
and didn't seem afraid,
Though they told her awful stories of the trouble
So, though they felt misgiyings, they engaged
her there and then
The big boys held a meeting up in Farmer
To discuss the situation. "WOnder if they
think we're soft?
No stuek-up city schoolma am can lord it over
So they put their heads together and planned to
''make Il fuss.
The school began on Monday and, when they d
done the chores,
The little head urchins and the girls in
pinafOres,
The rosy. country maidens and the boys who
All started tor the schoolhouse with books and
states in arms.
At nine the school was started and the teacher
worked with vim;
Each urchin in the schooroom felt her eye was
fixed on HIM.
Her quiet air of mastery made them all afraid to
And before they realized the fact each one was
hard at work.
The school ran on like clock work, with a hum
OF healthy noise,
And the teacher--fatal error = almost forgot
In working at the blackboard with class upon
She turned her back one moment and the
school was in a roar.
Twas the deacon's boy, Jem Saunders, the old
est of them all;
A stalwart, young backwOodsnan, and nearly
He had waited till her back was turned, then
quicker than wink,
He seized the boy in front of him and daubed
his face with ink.
The teacher turned as swift as light; her voice
was sweet and clear
Though her heart was beating wildly, "James
Saunders, please come here.
regret that must punish you,'' he laughed
So she walked across the schoolroom, and the
two stood face to face.
For moment both were silent, and with sus
pended breath
The scholars turned to watch them; her tace
grew pale as death;
Then she had an inspiration as she stood and
faced him there,
And before he could defend himself She-kissed
him fair and square.
1t wasn't pedagogical" !" she hadn't thought il
out;
But the effect was awful on that bashful coun
try lout.
The fiery crimson mounted to his neck, and
brow and ears;
He hid his face in both his hands and ther
burst into tears
And from that day, Jem Saunders mode
for the school
He studied like hero, and he never broke
rule
The other boys poked fun at first, and called hin
f'Jem Nilksop:
But when he'd schastised'' three or four, tt,
rest were glad to stop
The story spread like wildfre through all tn,
country side,
Atnill and store and 'smeetin, it was talked o
far and wide:
And some folks took, as some folks will, dep
recating view,
But the deacon muttered softly, stI guess tina
gain dew
LENVOI.
Now, If you seek moral where none was mean