Year: 1870

We arc much inclined to think,
from pretty extended observation,
that "politencss' is now far less stu
died and practiced by our youth than
it was IN tho good old days of long
ago when school boys politely dotf-
ed their hats TO the passer-by, and
the modest rosy checked school girls
dropped respectful courtesy.


In our youth We were taught by
both parents and teachers to show
due respect and do due Difference to
the aged and upon all occasions to be
kind and courteous to them.


From what we have noticed daa.
ring the last few years, while tyavcl-
ing, visiting schools, and attending


Institutes in most of the Northern
States and some of the Southern, we
have been quite unwillingly forced to
the conclusion that the school boys
and school girls of to-day are seldom
thus polite and respectful in their
manners and department to others.
They manifest far too little reverence
for either age or authority; and tar
too slight regard for the laws of
both God and man.


In1thcse days the transition. from
boyhood and girlhood to Young
America manhood and womanhood
is alarmingly rapid-so much so, that
by far the larger majority Of them
utgrow what little youthful respect
for age aud for pa,ernal authority,
they may have had during this transi-
ton, in their inordinate anxiety to
become, or rather to be called, man
and woman.


Parents and teachers are alike to
blame for this STATE of things, and we
sadly fear are alike culpable for not
teaching them daily by both practice
and precept, to give due heed to the
rights and privileges OF others.


The teacher has high and holy
duties to discharge in this respect,
and he can do much toward remedy.
ing this crying evil. Every one will
admit that true politeness and genu-
inc courtesy will exert powerful
and controlling influence for good
over the lives and character OF those
these admirable and de-
slrable accomplishments.


No one will for moment deny
that they are the best passports to
good society-a sure guarantee OF
friendship aud the best safeguards
of virtue.


How important, then, that the ed.
ucators OF our youth do all in their
power to remedy this growing de-
feet in the education of the Ameri-
can youth, and labor earnestly and
perseveringly to secure hearty pa
ternal cooperation.


Neither parents nor teachers should
for a moment forget that first and
foremost among arduous duties
upon them as such, is the
duty Of teaching them politeness in
it's widest and most extensive sig.
by requiring them to OBJ
serve its rules scrupulously, in their
daily intercourse with each other,
whether at home, in the school-room,
or in society. They should not only
require it, but should encourage it
by their own daily example; and
Only thus can it be effectually in
culcated. An ounce of example, IN
teaching this important art, as in
teaching anything else, is worth e
pound Of precept; and if we shall
succeed by this brief article in calling
the attention OF instructors to this
almost universal defect in the educa-
ton OF our youth, and incite them to
more active and more earnest efforts
to remedy it, We shall nave fully ac-
complished our purpose.-tFrom DR..
NJ. Y. b. Sha;tuck, in Journal Of Ed.
cation.