Year: 1876

WASHINGTON, SUB-DIsTRICT No. s, !
January "a, 1876.
EDS JEFF. Having noticed, in sew
eral "f the late issues OF the JEFERso-
| MAN, COMMUNICATIONS rom teachers
from different parts of Hancock county
in ref renee to teaching. and educational
interests in general, We thought we
would ike 10 express few thoughts
upon the subject OF teaching We shall


coafine our remarks chiefly to school


government. We believe that the non


success OF a great many teachers is not


on account OF their not being qualified


intellectually, but to want of tact in


prope rly governing their schools. And


IN view of this fact We naturally come to


the conclusion that it is just as essential


Tor a teacher to be able to properly


govern his school as to be qualified to


teach the different branches that the


law requires him to be qualified to teach.


And theoretical knowledge alone (of
school government is not sufficient to
enable teacher to teach successfully.


lie must possess the tact to apply it,


And we also believe that it is neceSeq-y
for a teacher to be able to govern himself


before lie can govern a school. If a
teacher has the respect and love for his
pupils, and knows where and how to
commend them for good conduct, he will
have but little difficulty in governing his
school Bat, in order to get the love and
respect of his pupils, it is necessary for
the teacher to make them feel that he is
worthy of the same. 1t is necessary for
him to be firm and prompt i'm the en-
forcement of rules adopted for the good
order of the school, but he must also be
just, consistent, patient and kind. A
teacher should never lose his temper in
the school room, and in administering
punishment to pupils he should always
endeavOr to make them feel the wrong
they have done. A pupil can only be
made better by punishment when he |
feels that it is just. And in this con-
nection we wish to state that we do not |
think it is good policy for teacher to
be continually threatening and scolding |
pupils for trivial offences. 1t is fact |
that "a scolding teacher generally has
disorderly school. We do not believe in |
corporal punishment, except in extreme |
cases. There are cases in which teach
er would be justifiable in using corporal |
punishment, but it ought always to be |
done in right manner. Bad manage
ment is fruitful source of disorder in |
school. If a school be properly organ
lied, its classes well arranged, and the
pupils be supplied with plenty of work
to do, there will be less disorder than is |
found in great many of our schools.


We believe that system and order are
requisites of well conducted
and well regulated school, and we have
no doubt that the most of teachers will |
find whispering the most difficult thing |
to regulate among pupils. We do not
belong to that class of teachers that be-
lieve that all whispering can be prevent
ell. There are times when it is necessary
for pupils to speak to one another, and |
III cur opinion it will secure less inter
ruption 10 the school, and less trouble to
the teacher to regulate it, than by trying
to totally prohibit it, except at certain
stated times.


We will state in conclusion that our
school is progressing finely. We have
an excellent Board of Directors. They |
believe in keeping pace with the pro-
eress of the times. There is none of the |
old fogy about them. Yours truly,


JOHN BENDER.