Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-06-07
Talks on School Affairs.

The little red school house" is the
only institution in the land that gath
ers under its roof the witty Irish boy,
the Stolid German youth. the inven-
tive Yankee lad, and many other
nationalities, bringing with them
various peculiarities of home and
street and sends them forth from its
humble but common halls, trained
American citizens, standing on the
same level and protecting the same
flag.
Since we have noticed the aim and
purpose of the school, we readily see
that it must be great social feature
in which courtesy among its memb ers
must be a prominent feature. The
characteristics of true politeness are
embodied in the golden rule of the
Savior-''WhatSoever We would that
men should do to you, do ye even so
to them >
The law of politeness is the duty of
being kind and agreeable to others.
BY means of this test, pupils may be
made to discriminate between rude
ness and true politeness, and so form
an ideal of conduct.
The young should be shown the
commercial value of good manners
and taught that nothing pays better
IN the conduct of business than uni
form courtesy to all with whom we
have dealings.
The manners OF the pupils are too
much neglected in many of our
schools. The youth ARE growing up
with all the exuberance of young re-
/ publicans and in their pride of free
dom from governmental restraint
they sometimes show want of re-
spect for their seniors, which is hu-
initiating to all lovers of propiiety
Hence we see that it is the teacher :
duty to instruct the pupils along this
line, and in order that he may do ii
well he should have the virtue of true
courtesy both in theory and practice.
The teacher should have animation
himself; for children are initiative be
ings, and it is astonishing to observe
how very soon they catch the manner
of the teacher. If he is heavy and
plodding in his movements they will
very soon be dull and drowsy in theirs
then again, if he speaks in clear and
pleasant tones ana moves about with
an elastic step, they soon follow his
example. When the teacher moves
about the room it should be done
gracefully and with constant regard
for the fact that every look and every
motion teaches.
The best rule for the teacher is tC
act naturally. The teacher having
gained self command and having il
him the spirit of kindness and desire
to be useful, should assume nothing
unnatural for effect. His manner
should be truly dignified but courte
Gus. It is the habit of some teacher.
to speak slightingly in regard to the
rules Of etiquette; but they are the
teachers who know very little of these
rules. More intimate knowledge
would convince them that these rules
are founded on common sense and
pure benevolence and that they are
the best that can be devised to secure
the highest degree OF ease, comfort
and refined pleasure in the social in.
tercourse of his school and its com.
munity.
Since children learn to love and
practice kindness, neatness, truthful-
ness and politeness by observing
those around them, il is, therefore
exceedingly important that the teach
er present living illustrations of these
qualities in his own conduct.-GAR
FIELD BowDEN, Platteville Normal.