Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-02
School Discipline.

What has come to be known as the East
ern High School trouble has been adjusted
by the board of education In way to prom
Use more wholesome conditions next au-
tumn. The board has placed Itself sduareiy
on record in condemnation of the inSubor-
dination at the Eastern. which developed to
a point of absolute Generalization follow
ing the competitive military drill Nothing
more cou'd be desired by the true friends
of the public school system than the vigor-
GUS manner in which this subject Is hand
led by the special committee which fnves-
tigated the subject The report filed with
the board strikes the keynote of good disci-
pline and effectively presents to the pub
lie a serious question which lies at the base
of the efficiency of the local schools
Two points are to be borne In mind in
such a case. the duty of the public to the
school authorities and the duty of the
higher school officials to their subordinates.
1t is the first requirement of good citizen
ship that the parents should hold up the
hands of the teachers in all matters of
school discipline. assuming that the teach
ers best know the needs of the schools and
the circumstances of each individual case.
The school board is subject to more or
less pressure on the part of the parents.
freed from what they at times regard as
unwarranted disciplinary restraint The
competitive spirit now so prevalent in the
schools manifesting itself In drills and de-
bates, races and games, undoubtedly inter-
feres to certain extent with the discipline.
Parental pride has its effect upon the sit
uation. The folks at home often forget, in
their enthusiasm for the boy or girl, that
these competitions are but accessories to
the vitality important work of education,
and that they must be first sacrificed if
necessity arises to curtail the pupils activi-
ties
The school board must always stand
stanchly by the teachers save in those rare
cases where the latter are clearly proved
TO be unwarranted in action. vindictive.
partisan. tyrannical The vigorous con-
demnation of INSTRUMENTATION in the pres
ent case has greatly strengthened the
cause of good discipline. There was never
before. ii is thought. such fragrant case
of INSTRUMENTATION in the local schools as
that witnessed at the Eastern and described
in the report. 1t was less than sheer
mutiny without the least warrant ex-
cuse. and it demonstrated in a painfully
conspicuous manner one of the bad effects
of the system of competitions between the
schools.
? The public schools cannot thrive and de-
velop without government and discipline,
and such government IS impossible if the
pupils are to run the schools. Reasonable
rules well enforced, are at the bottom of
all good management. and the foundation
below them must be solid. in the form of a
strict adherence by the highest school au-
thority to the principle that the teacher Is
in general the best judge of the schools
needs.
With this case we'll understood by the
public the next school year should open with
more wholesome conception of the rela-
ton of pupil to school. There is no occasion
now for misunderstanding the fact that the
pupil is not a part of the system of gov
eminent. that he has absolutely no share
in the management. that his drills, games
and contests are all secondary to the class
room work and that the community respects
him only in the degree that he obeys orders
and attends arst of all to his studies. leav-
ing his competitions and his exercises for
his spare hours, energies and thoughts.