The record-union., 1898-11-25

Is concerned, but where's do the children
learn to say ought" for '.naught"
Nest Of them have no name whatever
for the cipher before they attend school.
and it is the exception rather than the
rule, for them to name it correctly
Why do they insist on declaring that
II divided by 3 equals to Az And tel
me, o, my fellow-sufferers or fellow
criminals-is it our fault that some OF
them state of number that they
times 1t by another instead or multi
plying 1t? Is it through our example
that they take and multiply. take
and divide" take and add" and take
and subtract" until one grows so tired
of that innocent but often superfiuous
little word as TO be tempted to take
and Danish it entirely, even when It's
presence is justifiable? These are
schoolroom errors, not so serious as
the others, because they do not so per-
wade the speech of daily life, but err
ors for us to regret, and to strive TO
overcome
Fortunately, faulty forms of speech
do not necessarily indicate faulty ac-
tions, but when we turn to graver SUBJ
jects, we say, What can we do for the
children?'' with an anxiety that is deep
and real
Can we arouse public sentiment
against copying during examinations,
or making use of the prepared work
of others? To this question | frank
ly- confess myself unable to give
hopeful reply, and ask for any sugges-
tions tending toward a satisfactory So
luton of the problem. The habit Is a
miserable one, ruinous to independence
and degrading to character, and al
though rigid oversight and various de-
vices may and do lessen the opportu-
mites for the commission of the Of
fense, they do not destroy the germ Of
the difficulty
The matter Is a peculiarly puzzling
phase of child character, for the pupils
who copy are not necessarily untruth-
full, or deceitful in regard to anything
else. The standard of personal truth
fulness, and quickness in acknowledge
ing fault is, feel assured, steadily
rising among our pupils, but when
find among those engaged in copying
their work, boys who would put their
hands in the fire sooner than tell me
l.
and almost discouraged
Can we help the boys who have fallen
victims to the miserable cigarettes that
are dealt out whenever they are de-
nanded, in calm and contemptuous de-
fiance of law that still exists, only TO
be broken? There is no sentimentality
about my feeling on this subject, but |
know from personal observation that
for a boy to be a habitual cigarette
smoker means a miserably enfeebled
body, a dulled brain, a weakened will
and a deadened moral sense. II could
select from all the grades the habitual
smokers, and put them in one group,
the most careless observer could not
fail to be struck by the similarity OF
symptoms-the pallor of. complexion
and the general air of listlessness.
1t seems to me that in effecting any
real and permanent Improvement, Sc
verify of punishment is of little benefit.
have talked with many boys about the
matter, and a casual remark made by
a lad who came to us from another
town gave in concise form my own con-
clusions. Said he, 1.-The teacher there
used to watch around, and whenever
| he caught a boy smoking he whipped
| him, and then lots of US boys smoked
every chance we got just to get ahead
of him.
If the desire to overcome the habit
can be aroused, and If the weakened
VIII can be gradually strengthened
until the horrible craving can be re-
sisted. there is hope of reform. The
| first condition can generally be achieved
/ n a.
! tience can be literally expended; but
Strengthening the will of a habitua
cigarette smoker often seems as hope
| less and exhausting rs hammerins
empty air. The workers force is spent
and no result is visible. Yet some
times success does come. and even 81
occasional victory is well worth muci
labor and anxiety.
/ have neither the splendid enthusl
asrn of inexperience, nor the high hop
that springs from ignorance of the Oil
ficulties to be encountered, but or m.
own knowledge I can state that it is
possible thing for a. boy to overcom
the habit after it has held him in It
clutches for five and six and seve'
wears and when he has done it he ha
fought a harder battle and suffere'
lmore in mind and body than anyon
can realize unless he himself has agon
lied and striven, and sometimes, i
shame and humiliation, has failed. II
can do it, and he has done 1t, but u
will not accomplish the work alone. II
needs your help, and your thought an
your sympathy.
l. Do not dismiss his case with singh
trial. thinking of him with bit Q
contempt when he fails. Do not sa
of him. or even think of him Tor Of an
other offender) that it is strange TO
a person to have so little self contre
and self respect. 1t IS strange only
all humanity Is strange. OCCASIONAL
I have been tempted to wish that jus
a. few of the people who consider tn
weaknesses and the failures of thei
fellow creatures to be so surprising
would fall from grace far enough to si
q. real genuine sin themselves-not on
of the petty meannesses or every da
offenses that we consider justifiabl
because they are general, and that mos
of us have in mind when we cheerful
announce that we are "aM miserabl
sinners" the all classifying us with tn
rest Of polite society, where we fai
, ! would be, put SIN Inat tnSy Woui
be ashamed of, and that they woul
hate to have known, and that was com
, mitted because they We're tempted be
yond their strength by irresistibl
/ tenlptation--a sin whose memory woul
be their constant companion. compel
: ing them to say forevermore "Wha
am / that should sit in Judgment o
? my fellows?"
! After that had happened they woul
) always feel trifle uncomfortable. an