Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-06-21
GOOD MANNERS COURTESY.

GARFIELD BOWDEN JUNIOR CLASS.
pIattevIlle Normal SCHOOL,
The "lttlc red school house " is
the only institution in the land that
gathers under it's roof the witty Irish
boy, the stolid German youth, the in
ycntive Yankee lad, and many other
nationaltes, bringing with them va
rious 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 Nag.
Since we have noticed the aim and
purpose Of the school, we readily see
that it must be a great social feature
in which courtesy among its members
must be Il prominent feature. The
characteristics of true pOlitcness are
embodied in the golden rule Of the
Saviour" Whatsoever yc would that
men should do to you, do yc even 50
to them"
The law Of politcncss 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 pOlitcncss, 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 cXubcranCc OF young re-
publicans and in their pride Of free
dom from governmental restraint they
some times show u want of respect for
their seniors, which IL humilating to
all lovers Of propricty, Hence we
see that Is the teachers duty to in
struct the pupils along this line and
order that he may do IL we'll, he
should have the virtue OF true cOurtc-
sy both in theory and practice. The
teacher should have animation him
self; for children are initiative beings;
aud it IL astonishing to observe how
very soon they catch the manner Of
the teacher. If he Is heavy and plod-
ding in his movements, they will be
very dun and drOwsy in theirs then
again If he speaks in clear and pleas
ant tones and moves about with an
elastic step, they soon follow his OK
ample. When the teacher moves
about the room, it should be done
gracefully and with constant regard
for the fact that every look and every
movement teaches.
The best rule for the teacher Is to
act naturally. The teacher having
gained self command, and having in
him the spirit Of kindness and de-
sire to be useful, should assume moth
ing unnatural for effect. His manner
should be truly digniIicd, but court
cous. IT is the habit of some teachers
to speak sIightingly in regard to the
rules of etiquette; but they are teachers
who know very little Of these ruloj.
More intimate knowledge would con
vince them that these rules are found
ed on common sense and pure bCnCV-
Oloncc aud that they are the best that
can be devised to secure the highest
degree of case, comfort and refined
pleasure in the social Intercourse of
his school and ita community,
Since children learn to love and
practice kindness, ncatncss, truthful
ness and politcncss by observing
those around them, it is therefore cX-
cccdingly important that the teacher
present living illustrations of these
qualities in his own conduct.