St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-08-14
81 Ta.1a1anN 9atltter.
Saturday, August Ia, 1909.
THE NEW RULES IN THE CONVICTION
PUBLIC SCHOOL.


We publish on the first page partial list
OF the rules of the public school, for the
coming term. An examination of these rules
will show that Prof Lyon has taken especial
pains to provide for the correction of those
evils which experience has proven to be of
common occurrence among pupils. Also the
rules for the government Of teachers, if
strictly adhered to, will be beneficial to the
school discipline and lessen the temptation
to disobedience by pupils.
It's good provision that teachers should
lin their rooms twenty minutes preceding
the opening of school. After the. pupil en-
tiers the schoolroom all boisterous conduct
should cease and a sense of respect should
pervade its atmosphere In disagreeable
weather the pupil who reaches school early
IS apt to go directly to the schoolroom, and
frequently large numbers will congregate
there, including sometimes scholars from
other rooms. Left to their own will, I'M
pleasant things may happen, desks may be
broken or books be disturbed, while those
inclined to study or review their lessons will
have no opportunity to do so.
The requiring of special permission from
the Principal before corporal punishment
shall be inflicted is not only an assur-
ance that undeserVed punishment will not
be inflicted, but it relieves the teacher of a
responsibility that is shifted to the shoulders
of the Principal, who, as the head of the
whole school, has the opportunity to observe
and check the tendency of any teacher to
be unduly severe, or to be unconsciously in
fuenced by incompatibility or other cause.
1t also establishes asuniformity in offenses
deserving corporal punishment not subject
to the varying indeas of different teachers.
The management of pupils who can be con-
trolled only by corporal punishment is one
of the most difficult problems in school dis
cipline It frequently happens that such
pupils are especially bright in their studies,
and to expell them from school is an injus-
tice to their future. We believe that if pa
rents would take upon themselves the pun
ishment of such children it would be the
most satisfactory method but unfortunately
experience has shown that parents cannot
be relied upon in such cases, except in rare
instances Therefore it it becomes neces
sary either to expell or to punish them; anC
if punished after consideration by both
teacher and principal, the parents SHOULD
raise no objection, nor should they by con
dolence with the child lessen the effect Of
the punishment. Parents can be of great
aid in the development and education OIL
their children by sustaining the teacher anC
l..
burdensome the teacher has to perform.
We have not the space to go over the rule!
seriatim and discuss the merits Of each, blu
an examination of them by the reader will
disclose that Prof Lyon in adopting them
not only provides for discipline in the school
but protects the conscientious student in thu
benefits Of meritorious work and from com
petition with the shiftless student inclined
to plagiarism and purloined credits.
Parents should be willing to assist il
the education Of their children and co
operate with the teachers Never allow ;
child to stay away from school unless for +;
really good cause See that some time i
devoted to study at home. Examine reports
carefully and when deficiency is shown il
any particular study find out the cause, ane
don't rest until the child becomes as prof
Gent in that as in other studies.
Prof. Lyon is anxious to see our schoo
prosper and is working conscientiously fol
it's highest possible attainment, and every
assistance should be given him to that end
Having neither laboratory nor apparatus
for the study of chemistry, bookkeeping
will take it's place. AS a knowledge of this
is useful in almost every calling in life the
exchange will not be serious educationa
loss.
np0pociTI0N THAT MEANS WEALTH