Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-12-02
TAXING POS EIs 0 4 sEW caas
An Es'ay read by Ernest sshanan before the
Teachers AssOci q at L. nard own No.
vember 10. 1857

Mr.. Chairman and FsIk0r- Teachers of
~. Iargs County :--The subject that
have selected to discourse upon for a
few minutes IL one taat Ye all have
dreaded and have wished some sugges-
lions from experienced teachers. This
dreaded ordea; Is 1.-THE taking possession
Of q new school," Can any teacher say
that he or she does not detest the day Of
entering q new scboolroom a. peda-
gogue. and especially an inexperienced
teacher? Aud well may he or she feel
some anxiety. as much Of his or her sue
cess as u teacher of said schoe,. depends
upon the impression made by him or her
upon their pupils. The first object and
aim Of a pedagogue should be To gain
the love and respect of the children; and
II he succeeds In this he will have no
difficulty In obtaining order, which 10
requisite and necessary In order to be-
come an efficient teacher. On entering
on your duties make yourself familiar
with the children, their dispositions and
names. A good way to become acquain-
ted with the names OF the pupils, is to
get them to write short letter on slate
or names and address on black board. Do
not make any radical changes In manner
OF teaching, bat follow in the old rut of
your predecessor and introduce new
methods gradually, rs too much and sud-
den changes viii give your pupils the i'm
preston that your manner OF teaching
Is SO strange and new to them that they
will have to begin and learn over again
what was taught them by former teach.
crs; and once they have such an idea they
get sullen and don'tcarish. a bad state
to find your pupils in. You will find
children Of all kinds Of disposition and
training, and the same treatment will
not do for all. The only guide to dis.
cipline Is to study the different DISPOSE.
lions of every individual child. Il would
also help you greatly could you visit the
homes OF your pupils ere you entered
the schoolroom, rs the manner of rails
ing has much to do with forming the
disposition OF a person. For example:
The child OF ignorant and dissipated
parents has much less 'sn acute concep-
ton OF right and wrong than one born
OF educated parents. You will also find
some pupils. especially boys. of strong
and determined will, who will give signs
OF rebellion; and further, you will east
ly see that these same children are looked
up to as leaders by the whole school,
and that the more timid are ready to fol-
low their example, whether il be in the
right or wrong direction. Now, you
must gain these over to you by all means;
and kindness Is the b.st and surest meth
cd, and this may be often done by ask
ing them in your pleasantest manner to
get bucket of water or do some other
trivial act.
Have few or no rules written out and
posted up in u conspicuous place, with
penalty attached To each, because BY so
doing you often suggest misdemeanors
that mayhaps would never have entered
the Uranium Of the child. and by forbid
ding the same to be done, you make the
temptation doubly strong by letting the
child know IL is forbidden. We all are
aware Of:his andknow well that we strive
harder anc enjoy more those things that
are acquired through peril. This was
proved long, long ago when mankind
was in It's infancy, for Adam and Eve
craved the fruit of one tree. though they
had access to all the others, merely be-
cause IL was forbidden them.
Give but few laws to be obeyed and
never, on any occasion, tell child IL he
commit that act any more you will pun.
ish him severely: but should you make
such an assertion, be sure that you exe-
cute same should tho pupil violate your
command. III once the child finds out
that you say thing and do IL not you
are unconsc -ously encouraging him to
repeat the nc.
The question naturally arises, Do I
believe In corporal punishment. and do
believe IL should be prohibited in pub
lie schools: To the FIRST question an
~-f N~~e ~sAa Opf"sScu w C'tpuTAl pun
ishment. To the second, saw that I
think the teacher should have the power
to whip the child Il he deserves IL. but
that he should never think the child has
been 6 malefactor great enough to iusti-
~ the using of the rod On the other
hand, children should be convinced that
were an occasion so present itself when
the switch was necessary. that the teach.
er would not hesitate to use the same.
Children knowing as much will be kept
from doing things they otherwise might
do. III you have spirited. self.wiIled
and inquisitiSe pupil, encourage him. ex.
plain 90 him. lead him on rather than
subdue him. and get not vexed at his
questions and non-reliance upon your
word. Such minds the world is in need
of. and such boys are the ones who make
the first men OF the State. II was tn his
iron viii more than any one thing that
Jackson owned his success TO. Frank
lin and Webster 20 their curiosity. New