Year: 1873

Plain Words About Schools and Scholars.


Pupils in the Knoxville schools do not
generally, make satisfactory progress in
lheir studies; Go not generally make any,
thing like as great progress as pupils ofthe
same age and ability do in the States of
Ohio and Massachusetts; for instance.
Why so? Because in those States, gener-
orally when child is attending school,
his lessons and school duties are considered
both by his parents and himself as his
work, his business, to be attended to with,
forethought. with care and with industry;
These are first, and his play afterwards.
Business first and pleasure afterwards"
is the true plan of child life as well as of
adult life. The true way for present en-
joyment as well as for future stamina of
character. That child enjoys play most
who has first done some useful work. That
pupil who, while at school, subordinates
miscellaneous reading, pleasure, party
going and the like to perfect lessons, will
take far more pleasure in the former, even
than the pupil that reverses this order.
For child atschool to feel that it's lessons
are its work, something that is important
and can not be neglected, so important
in the estimation of it's parents that they
will let work at home 60 undone, or hire
some one to do it rather than keep the
child from school day now and then, Or
request that it be dismissed after all its
lessons are recited for child thus to feel
is moro than half the battle. Under such
q state of things study becomes delight to
the majority of pupils and their progress
rapid: especially, when from time to time
converse with their children about their
studies. 1t is quite common in the States
referred to, for parents to provide sepa-
rate room for their children for evening
study with hours as fixed and regular as
those of the school room, and prohibiting
all story books and miscellaneous read
ing during the five school days of the week
that all their brain power may be given to
their school work, require their children
to retire to rest much earlier than it GUS
tomary among us. Thus with good
nights sleep and the lessons we'll on the
way for the day, the pupil takes his seat
in the school-room with an animation and
courage that makes difficulties vanish be-
fore him. Now, is this the happy condi-
ton of educational interest and effort
amongu US?


In the estimation of parents and chill
dren, is education, scheol-going, if you
please. elevated to the rank of business;
one of the greatest Importance; that one
winch gives lie ana character 10 every
other department. of business that one
which chiefly determines whether a COM
munity will be progressive, wealthy, pow
erful and happy, or stationary, poor, weak
and miserable? #|


I know of no other department of in
dustry in Massachusetts in which there is
a greater economy of time, labor and
money than in the education of her youth.
I know of no other department of industry
in Knoxville in which, it seems to me,
there is greater waste of time, labor and
money than in the education of our youth.
God grant that, in some way or by some
means, education may soon become, if not
q Knoxville hobby, at least one of her
most prominent public interests.


A TEACHER.