The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-08-27
SPECTATOR WRITES
ON DISCIPLINE


tenn of teaching in the public schools
a system which contemplates pouring
the learning ipto the pupils, and be-
laboring them with club if they fail
to get the proper amount per head, is
entirely wrong, and that by reason of
this method, four-fifths of the money
spent for school purposes was worse
than wasted.
My purpose today is to point out
methods, which in my judgment would
be helpful and would not call for a
brute as teacher with seven-foot
club.
! attempted to show that rules pro-
mulgated by different teachers are not
God.given---that they were not like the
laws Of Medes and Persians--un-
changeable; but were in the most in
stances useless rules given by some
petty tyrant. Right here, it might be
proper for me to observe that parents
are largely responsible for this old
idea OF the sacredness of school rules.
| have known parents who were rea-
sonably intelligent on other matters
to stop the school teacher and tell
him: Nov want you to keep order"
Just as though it made any difference
whether each pupil sat in one strained
position for two hours at a stretch.
never moved his lips while studying,
and walked on his tip toes when he
went to class and demeaned himself
generally like wooden Indian. For
tunately the most of this class of
idiotic parents have left the stage Of
action, and their places have been
taken by more civilized class Of citi-
zens. Another crime they were many
of them guilty in the olden days OF
was this: They said to their children;
IF the teacher whips you at school,
you will get another whipping when
YOU get home" | am glad to testify
that the most of this class of pusilan-
imous tyrants have gone to their re-
ward, and1 have no hesitancy in max
ing the statement that in my humble
opinion, they have departed for a
warmer climate than this. IT there is
d hell of the orthodox type, it certain
ly win be the final resting place for
those who have beaten and bruised
the delicate flesh of little children. 1t
seems to me that such infinite fiends
would feel out of place in the Celestial
City. In the schools of some 16 years
ago, and in some places even in this
county today, very young children are
kept in seat in one strained position
for two hours at stretch-a position
that no grown man could occupy with
out causing great inconvenience.
If the school teacher who has youth
full charges under him would spend 4
little of his energy-some of the force
not used up in drawing his salary--in
reading up on the methods pursued by
Froebel who elaborated the doctrines
of the famous Swiss educator, Pesta
lozzi, he would achieve greater success
In the handling of his pupils and he
would be considered by them more in
the attitude of an elder brother, in
stead of the position he now occupies
that of potential enemy, malicious
enemy, and an enemy who is doing {
Sherlock Holmes stunt to find ou
some derelection of duty in order thai
he may punish the delinquent.
OH if we could only get away from
the belief that there is something su
pernatural and God-like in rules, or al
the teachers are pleased to call j
ORDER. What do you suppose woult
be the difference in 20 years if pupi
was to use the word damn in quar-
ter of mile of the school house? fee
that in certain instances, under grea
provocation he might be allowed t
use even stronger expietives.
Yet, this would be against thu
RULES; and for the sake of order
some condign punishment should b
meted out to the offender.
For the sake of order-order tina
we do not recognize now, men and wo
men were one hundred years ago burn
ed at the stake. For the sake of order
they had their eyes put out. For th'
sake of order they had their tongues
torn out with hot pincers. For tn
sake of order, they were torn to piecel
on the raek--a double windlass instru
ment of torture. For the sake of or
der, they were dipped in boiling OF
and made into human torches. 1t i
true that this sort of thing has beef
done away with; but We have reli
of it in the unjust and infamous meth
Ods use din public schools, to-wit
The government by the use of tn