Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-09-07
KouAL RIGHTS TO ALL

HOUAL Rlt hIo III ALL
If there is one place where justice
should hold sway, it is the schoolroom.
No one expects the teacher to love the
dirty fingered boy with his sullen face
as much as the bright, tidy youth,but
she should be just and fair to both.
A shrewd father of large family OF
singularly dull children conDived to
have himself elected to the school
board, and forthwith his boys and
girls had plain sailing. Year by year
he did good work on the board, and
one by one the youngsters were gradu-
4ted. To friend he cOnfided the fact
that the children had had the lives
n .gged out of them before he was
elected. because they we're dull, but
after that they did fairly we'll in school.
The children were not bad, but simply
lacked the mental grasp that makes
bright pupils always ready and eager
t ,r new work. The failures and con-
ditions of the old days speedily gave
place to peace and fair average when
the father became one of the board,
and he was careful to keep bis place
till the last one made bis bow on COM
mencement night and received his di
ploma. AS long as teachers are intlu-
enced by such considerations justice is
blinded in their domains.
Even the naughtiest child has his
ideas of justice, and they are not far
from correct in many cases. 10 punish
one child for some offense and allow
another who is guilty of the same
thing to escape soon weakens the
teachers influence with the whole
school. 1t is always best to make few
rules and say little about the punish
ment, then you can suit the senteL ce
to the culprit without trouble. An
other wise plan is to keep the offender
and punish him alone. so that whole
roomful of judges will not be able to
pass sentence on your methods.
1t Is not fair, either, to scold the en-
tire class for a few offenders. Many
young teachers have the mistaken no
ton that to talk in vague, imperson-
al way about the sins of the children
will bring about revolution, but
they are greatly mistaken. While they
are lecturing, the bad boys are engag-
| ed in new mischief, while the consci-
entious pupils are racking their brains
to know if they are the cuIprits limited
at by the misguided teacher. Ii you
must scold, get the sinners together
after school, and pitch in, but spare
the rest. While scolding is always
perniclOus it is dOubly 30 when inflicted
upon quiet, studiOus boys and girls.
and when persisted in will distract
even the hardened sinners from their
| work l have known few sharp SEN
tences to bring a school to time on a
day when everything went wrong and
Furnished the needed thunder strom to
clear the atmosphere, but the wise
teacher who brought everything to a
lstandstill for a brief storm knew that
clear skies and eternal smiles must
lsometimes give way to harsh measures
After the storm the sun always shOne
brightly again, for there was no de-
pressing drizzle drozzle about her tenn
per. Many boy grows up to man
hood with warped ideas because som'
teacher was unjust in his boyhoOd. Ill
gets the idea firmly fastened in hi
mind that boys whose parents are rlcl
or influential can do anything, whll'
his Offences are dragged to light with
Iout mercy. Unfortunately, too Otter
lhe has ground for his belief, and moth
ling can ever change his mind. AS
lprofits the teacher nothing to favor th
rich boys, the wonder is that she doe
not try to smooth the pathw of tn
child with the patched clothes instea
of trying to make it harder.
"Why do you take such pains wit
that dull, uninterestlng boy ?" was ask
led a teacher, and her answer cam
promptly, because the only goo
time he has in life he must have rigf
in this room. know he can never t
even an average pupil, but be can el
. JOY the gay songs and good Fellowship
and he shall never be sc0lded while
nave him." Is it any wonder this wi
woman was universally beloved by b
II pupils and that justice reigned in h
little kingdom when she reasoned Ii
that
The citizens of your little repub
Is will he quick to appreciate the adva
= tages of fair trials and just sentenc
80 see to it that you are an impart
Judge. 1t Is exceedingly hard to
perfectly fair sometimes, but it is Inu
harder to command the respect a
love of your boys and girls if you sh
your duty like a coward. Before
attempt to teach justice and farm
see that you are just and fair yours
and few words will be necessary
lbring about good government HaE
is the teacher whose decisions are l
uuestiOned, for law and order prey
IN her little world Mrs. w. q. Rob
Starving to Death.
Re cause her stomach was 80 we
6rr,nninrp fhok