The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-03-08
EBerea Teachers
r%f 4 ADDRESS ALL LK.TRRs1
III Iffh FoR PUBLICATION 10 i
rNluO c. d. Lewis, BEREA, Ky i


Information and "Talebearing"
we're handed in along with others per
haps just as good after the subject
had been discussed in class. The
papers fairly represent the general
opinion Of the class:
News Carrying
believe the reason that most
people do not like 10 carry news, is
that they consider il nothing TO
them what others are doing. One
thinks he will do well If he keeps
himself straight and he also acts on
the old commandment, first cast the
beam out Of thine own eye, then thou
canst see clearly TO pluck the mote
cut Of thy brothers eye"
Then there are others who are
afraid TO tell a thing even though
they think il should be told. II a
pupil tells something in school, the
others are very likely TO catch him
out and give him a thrashing or else
they will laugh at him and call him
"tattle tale" II is a very dangerous
thing for a man 10 report moon
sinner or gambler. Another point is
that a newsbearer is a very distasteful
person 10 have around. II we do a
good deed, one does not always want
il published, and II we do wrong we
don't want that told even though we
are sorry. Again, don't believe
any one enjoys being with person
who always has something 10 tell on
his neighbor. But after all believe
II Is sometimes we'll TO tell things,
Very often we are shielding evil 10y
not reporting it. think that here
some people make use OF the Golden
Rule too freely. They will say well
"Do unto others as you would have
them do unto you" and ] am sure il
| was in their place | shouldn't like
10 be told ON.
shall We ALLOW TeIIlngs
Before condemning or recommend
ing il. We must consider every phase
on both sides Of the question.
IL seems that this il the only appea
for protection and justice and yet
only a small per cent Of the pupil,
who report another have any thought
of justice or protection but do il t.
satisfy their selfish spirit Of revenge
Neither do they do il with the hop,
that il will reform the wrong doer
believe IL one pupil reports another
10 satisfy his own selfish spirit, it i
worse than valueless, but IL he re
ports for the love Of justice and Will
the thought OF doing the wrongdoei
some good, il is a good thing.
On the other hand IL he fails t.
report the wrongdoer, il seems a.
though be is shielding him and o.
course he is. just what this small
seed, Of shielding the wrong doer
may bring forth in the pupils aftel
life, is far from being known, A
large number Of our criminals ar,
shielded by their neighbors, but JUS
where the neighbors got the lesson
am unable 10 say.
Often the "tattler" causes colo
feelings that in fact are never warm,
ed again by brotherly love; he is
disliked from the lowest to the very
zenith OF society. ] truly believe
that the first business Of the school
child is to get right himself before
he begins on others.
Ineplpatiye Information
Should a person not directly con
cerned or materially damaged report
the wrong OF othersY
Which OF these three, principle
sentiment, or fear, causes one 10 re-
frain most from imparting his knowl-
edge OF wrong doingS
l am inclined TO believe that
where wrong is being done that re
fleets or casts suspict5Hon a number
OF others each Of these persons should
prove himself innocent and also
mention that there is wrong being
done, also mentioning the nature of
il, but not mentioning the guilty
persons name. am absolutely and
forever OPPOSED to "tattling' in any
form. do not believe il TO be
right 10 tell Of crime being commit
ted, naming the doer, unless personal
injury has been received, or damage
TO ones self or others is likely to be
done.
just what causes person TO re-
frain from imparting any intelligence
as to the wrong doing OF others is
hard TO determine. In some cases it
may be principle. In others it may
be sentiment, and ia still others, fear,
not fear Of bodily injury. but more
often is it fear Of ridicule, fear of
being branded as "tattler".