The age-herald., 1900-02-19

responsibilities. This is the critical period
 If this can be passed, and the whole plan becomes fixture in the school, and pupil
 government accepted custom, enforced by the habit of self-government, the prob-
 lem is solved. We trust the day is not far distant when pupil government is no longer novelty dn our schools, but an &C., cepted principle practiced is some form in every progressive institution of learning. Many educators feel that in the elemen- tary schools, where there is the most need of training for citizenship because it is
 from these schools that the masses of our
 Ialf-etducated voters and citizens must
 come, the school city plan cannot be made
 practical. The average teacher or princi
 pal has not judgment and tact enough to
 make a success of it, if indeed any one
 should be expected to succeed with 1t when
 applied to children Yet the necessity Of
 training these younger children in the du-
 tics of community life and in a clear idea
 of their relations to those with whom they
 are associated in school, is apparent to all.
 How can this be accomplished, is the ques-
 tion.
 Any plan, to be a success in the elemen-
 tary school must seek for a minimum
 amount of the mechansms of government
 and a maximum amount of attention to personal self-control and influence over others. The teachers duty should con- stantly be to induce a child to "get hold of himself" so to speak, and to continue that "hold'' upon himself without the con- stant surveillance of the teacher. He should be carefully taught to see the good and bad effect of his individual conduct on the school as a whole He can be taught to make his influence felt for night conduct in and about the school He can be trusted in slight degree to judge of, and condemn or approve of the conduct of his fellow pupils. He cam be allowed to suggest rules and regulations for the well fare of the school. He can be allowed to select by bailot pupil officer If he
 faithfully does all of these things he is
 being trained in good citizenship, and can
 be recognized as a good "cftizen' or the
 school community as is hoped he will af- forwards be in the adult community.
 The fewer officers, and rules, in such plan the better. Do right"<is a sufficient ly comprehensive rule for all A single of ficer, who represents the teacher on the one hand, and who Is the special spokes- man and protector of the rights of his classmates on the other, Is all that Is nec- essary.
 This plan of individual control, coupled with the least possible official or gandzation. is possibly best represented by what Is known as the Citizen and Tribune" in practice successfully in the John Crear school Chicago, for the past three years. Its adoption in many schools in all parts of the country within the past year shows that 1t Is sufficiently flexible to be applied in any elemantary school in city, village, or country.
 | This plan was fully set forth in these l columns last yeart and need not Se re- l peated here. The principal will oe glad to | mail to any one interested copy of the l plan if requested
 | In a subsequent paper the writes hopes | to discuss the bad effect of our present pre-
 vailing plan of school government, and to | show the necessity of a radical change, if | our great cities are ever to be redeemed | from bad government, and correct ideas of | duties of citizens taught
 'See Popular Educator for April and l June, 1899.