The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-01-27
School
Discipline


''lf God should wink at the least violation of
NATURAL law. the whole universe would become
chaos. '-Arabian Proverb.
Discipline is the most important mat
ter in the training OF any child or pupil
Parents with one child are often perplex-
ed as to wha. ia best to he done. The
natural impulses of child lead him to
do many little things inconsistent with
the parents cultured sense of property
and wisdom. Table manners, house
manners and company manners, as seen
in children of cultured home are not
things innate but are acquired through
training.
Selfishness, cruelty, imprudence and
deceit are so mingled with altruism, kind
ness, propriety and frankness in the
natural child that the strengthening and
cultivation OF the one and the conteract-
ing OF the other are the most serious
questions and duties OF the parent The
management of the child with these ends
in view is discipline. The absence of
discipline is too often seen in the wild.
ness of homeless boys and the hayward
ness of motherless girls.
But when there is more than one child
In the home, there must still be disci
pine, and sometimes more OF it, but the
kind is somewhat changed, for the rights
OF one child end where the rights Of the
other child begin. Bat in the discipin.
ing Of one child or more than one child,
there will be cons ant issue between
the wisdom, Judgment and will of the
parent, and the inexperience, ignorance
will and of the child. There will be all
possible variations from thoughtess neg
lect to williul defiance, in the disposition
Of the child to disobey.
When the child begins school, his per.
sonal rights and privileges are still furth-
err curtsied. lie is now part OF larger
whole. The school is miniature, vet
perfect type OF a community. The pupil
is member OF this larger unit. His in
dividuaI rights must be modified TO re.
main consistent with the interests of the
larger whole. But pupils are often uu-
able or unwilling to see this, and right
here ia where troubles, il any, begin. II
is absolutely necessary that certain gen
eral rules shall be enacted. The success
il not the existence OF the school depends
upon it. What can he allowed in
school of twelve cannot be allowed in a
school Of fifty, and in school of fifty
that cannot he allowed in a school of four
hundred. The sacrificing of the rights of
the smaller number to the interests and
existence OF the larger unit is the act of a
citizen. To do exercises, etc, of any kind
in concert with others is TO learn the first
elements of citizenship. Those willing
to sacrifice selfish wishes and impulses
to the good of the community are citizens
and patriots. Those unwilling to do so
will not make the world much happier
II schools do not train for useful citizen
ship, what is their use for existence?
Now if, in the natural course of events,
discipline in the home proceeds by con
slant issues between the parent and child,
should We not expect the same to
he true in school? la the home nothing
50 quickly DESTROYS success in discipline
as the lack Of co operation between par
ents. Then what will be the results il
parents do not cooperate with the teach
err, but, instead, take the part of the
pupils? The teachers aim should ever
he, to train the pupils in self control, to
do which she must secure ordei drd dp
pljcaii0a. The results will be culture aud
po,cer, the chief elements OF character.
"Order is Heavens first law" 1t is the
sine gud non in school management. Let