New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-01
SCHOOL MANNERS AND MANNERIsMs.
Children Are Quick to Note Tricks OF Be
havior in Their Teachers.

A little girl on almost her first day at school,
was finding so much difficulty with the lesson as
signed her that child somewhat more prohcleht
was given the privilege of helping her After theS
had been working together for some time the priu-
cipal said che young pupil: Are YOU getting
along nicely "Oh. yes. was the reply DdiSS
is Just as cross teacher.
In this mind with seven years experience of life
and less than u week OF school, being teacher and
being cross were virtually synonymous terms
Was she right. Would our sharp tones. our eX-
actions and reproofs sound cross to ourselves IL We
heard them given by lawyer to MS eheh's OF os a
pastor to his parishioners? Our pupils, stahoihs III
much the same reIation deserve no less courteous
treatment Severe sometimes Obliged 10 De-
and firm always ought to be. but II we have the
control requisite for successful teaching our
habtual manner is pleasant
But some OF us whom the NEST critical pupils
would not think Of calling cross have mannefsHs
that work US no little harm. Perhaps it is because
orr work calls for much repetition that we fdl
into nannerisns mote easily than people in other
caIings They painfully common among US.
and far more detrimental. / believe. than We re-
alize.
few Illustrations will serve to bring many 70
every readers mind:
college professor of wide reputation ana supe-
rior talent loses in power because he has the I'M
fortunate habit of rubbing the end OF his nose with
the back of his hand. In the most forcerui period
of his lecture at the most critical point in his
there always comes to the class the suggestion OF
uncouthness not say vuIsarty Another pro-
fessOr whose eyeSight is defective loses much OF
the respect that is her due by giving squlnt that
is little of idiotc she takes her place IN the
recitation room A third professor has so hating
and tirnid A gait as he enters the 10 inspire
nothing SO strongly lack OF confidence GER
tain teachers satirica repetition of a pupils an
swer il not exactly correct. intended probably TO
show to the where the error lies. has grown
into offensive manEerism-oEe th'tt 'pupiiS hot
only dislike. but dread.
II is perhaps straining a point to call mOodiness
a mannerism. and yet II is suggested in this con-
nection The teacher who is patient ard pleasant
and reasonable to-day and just the reverse TO-
morrow is the most uncomfortable Scholars who
are so fortunate as to have parents and friends of
euuabIe dispositions often at a loss to under
stanu teachers OF the moody order They soon
learn to avoid them as much as possible. The I'M
certainty of how request or 4 question Will be
met leads them to shrink from venturinS either
Such a fault-for serious fault it surely is-a
teacher is bound to correct. He has right to
appear disa-;reeabe because he feels 50.
\ wise woman whom know is convinced that
grown people satisfied with what they are
Whether they iavowedly accept the idea that or
ganization is fate not they live and if
they accept it. When mentor like herself tells
them Of their faults of character or bearing they
seldom change. If she is correct. it is useless for
me to write what writing but l hope she is
/
of reform.
If. however what say is OF no avail for teachers
themselves. it may suggest fresh vigilance with
pupils in whose manners and bearine. they aye in
tensely interested. Every day tricks of
manner in them which ought 10 try TO correct.
We lines deepening in foreheads that ought 20
be smooth twenty years hence. We note Il certain
pertness chat doubtless the source of much
amusement in the family. and. therefore un-
checked in the little child growing into most
6
that = boy is taking on swagger that he is very
likely MISLEADING fer manliDess These and manv
other tendencies may easily become mannerisms
or worse and the causes OF end OF trouble. Ia
! pupils IN later
\ teacher from New England told me abour
his irst experience in country school the North
west. OF not over fine manners himself he was
shocked at the lack Of good breeding among ms
pupils Il made up my and th- drst Day he