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For the Schoolmaster.
Government.

The great fact that every successful operation is under some government, should be kept conTHIS subject is the dread of teachers, and the stantly in view. Neglecting to make this appaterror of scholars, but it is one which comes rent, is the cause of much of the difficulty which legitimately within the province of THE SCHOOL-teachers experience in this direction. If "THE MASTER, and he must therefore give some instruction upon it.

" MASTER goes into school, requiring this, and forbidding that, with no other reason apparent than his arbitrary will, very probably a considSuch opinions as those just referred to are wholly unfavorable, since government is an acerable portion of his scholars will be disposed tual necessity in the school-room, and its nature to take an attitude of open hostility. From ought to be better understood, so that it may be this point a strife goes on with those scholars. secured by mutual efforts of teachers and schol- They regard him as an enemy to their happiness, and disobey as far as they dare, and the teacher administers such punishment as he deems apFor this the scholars propriate in the case.

ars.

The idea of a teacher with a countenance

black with rage, and with rod uplifted, and scholars shivering with terror or shrieking from feel that they must retaliate by some new disobedience, and so the contest rages, sometimes punishment, is no more a necessary idea in connection with government, than the idea of thun- the teacher proving victorious, and sometimes der and lightning are necessarily associated with the scholars, but all the time some of the worst God's government. He smiles benignantly in passions inflamed.

a summer's sunshine, and the earth gives back Instead of the case just supposed, if the teachits joyous response. So the good teacher exer- er, at the outset, makes his scholars understand cises a parental restraint over his pupils, and that government is as much a necessity for them they in turn look to him for that direction and as teaching is, and that he makes no requirecontrol which they need. They are the flock of ment or prohibition which it would not be for sheep, and need his guiding and controlling in- their interest, and really for their pleasure on fluence as the shepherd. This is government, the whole, to observe, he may secure their coand it is only some who are utterly refractory operation. who need the dogs.

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The idea that there must be law, the real Where the teacher labors to secure govern- philosophy of it, is not always clearly perment in such a way that the scholars labor as ceived by the teacher, and in such cases it will diligently to defeat it, the circumstances are be less obvious to the scholars. Every operamost unfortunate, and little good government is tion of nature teaches the great truth that law secured. is essential, and gives an instance of unbroken Government is the administration of law: it law, that is, a perfect government. The moveis law in operation. Where it is really success-ment of the heavenly bodies is an example of ful, the scholars yield to it as they would to the Divine government, and of the operation of any other influence which they consider desira- perfect laws. The welfare and happiness of ble. Suppose a company of scholars wish to men depends upon it, and the most disastrous make an excursion or take a tour, they expect consequences would follow any violation of some competent person to take the direction, those laws, but there is no violation. The acand the whole party cheerfully follow. Should tion of gravity governs all motion, and is unisome one insist on doing something which was form, under similar circumstances. There are a disturbance to the rest, or which would hinder laws which govern the growth of plants, and or prevent the accomplishment of the object, which determine what will be favorable or dethe rest would demand that such conduct should structive to their life and their growth. These be wholly restrained for the common good. laws mark the perfect exercise of Divine govThis is government, and it is evidently reasona-ernment. ble, as it is necessary to success, as well as piea

sure.

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But let us recur to a fact already stated, that every successful operation is under some govIn a school, one of the first things necessary ernment." Of this there are a multitude of ilto have good government, is to make scholars lustrations. The vessel at sea is under the govsee and feel its necessity. If they can be government of the rudder. By obedience to this it erned without this, the government is far less is directed to the desired place; without such efficient. government, its course would be totally uncer

tain, and the reaching of any port impossible. influence, corruption, fraud, theft, malice and The train of cars, with its immense freight and revenge, lust and murder, and a countless host hundreds of passengers, follows the track, which of evils, prevail. Government, then, in its highis its government, and if thrown from it by any est sense, constitutes the essential difference beaccident, it results in a fearful catastrophe. The tween virtuous and vicious society. It is what horse, under the guidance of the rein, carries elevates and ennobles, and the neglect of it is the rider safely and according to his will, but what debases and degrades. when he breaks away from restraint, he dashes

on to ruin.

Children can understand this, and it is something which should be diligently taught to them, In all combinations of men for labor there till they are made to feel the obligation to obey; must be a superintendence, some directing pow- that restraints upon them are necessary to their er, by which efforts are guided towards the de- well being, and to the welfare of others. They sired end; without such director, the labor would should be made to feel that disobedience to be useless, but when under suitable government, wholesome laws (that is, such requirements as it is followed by success. Government is to are reasonably made of them,) is a violation of action, what organization is to matter, it secures moral obligation. The direction of the scripan object. It is the prominent feature which ture, "children obey your parents," &c., should distinguishes society from barbarism. It indi- be impressed on them as a duty, till they feel cates the degree of civilization of any commu- the obligation, (and feel that it applies to those nity.

Government is essential to the existence of society, and to individual existence. If there were no government, that is, no established order of things, we should be in that state of wild uncertainty and general confusion, where any one would be liable at any moment to be destroyed. In a well constructed building, there is comparative safety to its inmates, but if the materials are but carelessly put together, they may fall with a ruinous crash.

who are in the place of the parent,) and understand that it is as strong as to be truthful or otherwise virtuous. This should be considered as one of the essential parts of juvenile training till it is fixed in their minds that

"Order is heaven's first law."

It is hardly necessary to observe that such a disposition is not sufficiently cultivated in the young. How much larger is the number of bold, turbulent, self-sufficient, disobedient young persons than it should be.

When fire is under strict government, it harms There is a necessary connection between a no one, but let it become ungovernable, and child who is taught to respect authority and subnothing is safe in its course. So where the ele-mit to it cheerfully, and a wholesome, law abidments of society are all held by the force of ing citizen; so, also, is there an obvious conneclaw, they are not operating injuriously on each tion between a child who is habitually disobeother. If we were uncertain in reference to dient, who despises authority, and resists all every individual we met, whether he would act restraint on his conduct, from whatever source for or against us, whether his actions will be it comes, and a man who is a lawless member of friendly or hostile, we should not only be in society. continual fear, but in continual danger. The spirit of lawlessness is destruction.

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W. G. A.

English and American Science.

There is a great law which binds society to- The March number of Blackwood's Magazine has gether, and protects the rights and interests of a genial and appreciative criticism of Lieutenant all, far more than civil enactments, it is the feel- Maury's "Physical Geography of the Sea." It ing of moral obligation which impels men to compares Maury's work with a recent English act right, and is a fulfillment of the Divine re- publication of a similar character, and awards quirement. the palm to the American production in the following graceful style:

"All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. is the law," &c.

This

"One comes from the Admiralty of the United States, the other from that of Great Britain. One Where this law operates, and as far as it ope- is called Maury's 'Sailing Directions,' and out of rates, society prospers. Every particle of influ- it has sprung a work ('The Physical Geography ence which results from it is beneficial. If all of the Sea'-Maury) which has already gone men were under its influence wholly, society through nine editions; the other is a Manual would be perfect. Where there is none of this for Naval Officers.' Both are lures to sailor stu

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dents. Let any one compare them, and say the powers of observation of the officers of the which is the most useful and interesting, which royal and mercantile navies of England and Amthe most likely to lead a sailor to note and observe all the phenomena with which he is ever surrounded, or to induce landsmen and navigators to investigate the mechanism of our globe.

"In the British work, correct as it unquestionably is, fair Science unfolds her store in the most unpalatable form; she is highly orthodox, but appears almost to defy you to master her difficulties. Each learned contributor sits, Minervalike, on the summit of a lofty height, points to all the difficulties of the ascent, assures you that on the summit of that Mount Delectable there are

erica, is incalculable. His corps of voluntary assistants may be numbered by thousands; every ship that floats in which the English language is spoken carries some one who is recording information, according to a uniform system suggested by the gallant American at the Brussels Conference, and the consequent, a rapid yearly increase of information, has taken a practical shape in the construction of a series of wind and current charts. By these charts the mariner, wherever he may be, sees at a glance what are the prevailing winds and currents over the space he proposes to tra

ingly; indeed, they are now found to be as useful out on the wide ocean as the charts of soundings, dangers and coasts are necessary when the land is approached. How cheerfully all these data are when writing to the man who laboriously colfurnished, is well attested by one honest sailor, lates this information and gives them its useful practical result. "It is with pleasure," he says to Maury, "that I contribute my mite towards furnishing you with material to work out still further towards perfection your great and glorious task, not only of pointing out the most speedy routes for ships to follow over the ocean, but also of teaching us sailors to look about us. I am free to confess that for many years I commanded a ship, and although never insensible to the beauties of nature upon sea and land, I yet feel that until I took up your work I had been traversing the ocean blindfolded. I did not think-I did not know the amazing and beautiful combination of all the works of Him whom you so rightly term The Great First Thought.' Apart from any pecuniary profit to myself, from your labors you have done me good as a man. You have taught me to look above, around, and beneath me. I am deeply grateful for this personal benefit."

pastures pleasant; but never holds out a cheer-verse, and shapes the course of his ship according hope to the student that his labors can be of the slightest value to her great cause, until he actually sits crowned in the Walhalla of the Royal Society; and, above all, she appears to deprecate any ambitious efforts to scale the cliffs of learning by short or pleasant paths. How different it is in the American work before us! Here is a subject, in the abstract hopelessly dry, treated in a manner that, from the opening of the book to its close, never tires; and we shut it with a determination to know more of the many interesting features of the ocean. The American hydrographer, in nervously-eloquent language, has summed up the evidence of man upon the laws governing the great watery element called ocean, and of the atmosphere which envelops it, and well describes the close affinity between the two. He dwells upon the temperature of each, and its life and death-creating consequences-of the winds which blow over the surface of the waters, and of the climates through which they together roll. Not only does he treat of the animate and inanimate products of the sea, and of the currents which circulate through its waters, and impart life and action to the uttermost depths; but to Lieutenant Maury we are indebted for much information-indeed, for all that mankind possesses-of the crust of the And this, let the reader remember, was writearth beneath the blue waters of the Atlantic and ten by a horny-fisted sailor, master of the good Pacific oceans. Hopelessly scientific would all ship Gertrude, bound to the Chincha Islands for these subjects be in the hands of most men; yet guano; and if the genius of the American hydroupon each and all of them Captain Maury enlists grapher can thus touch and illumine one who our attention, or charms us with explanations honestly acknowledges that his capacity to comand theories replete with originality and genius. prehend all these beautiful theories is but small' It is, indeed, a nautical manual, a handbook of if, as Admiral Fitzroy justly believes, these rethe sea, investing with fresh interest every wave searches are exercising the most beneficial effect that beats upon our shores; and it cannot fail to in improving and elevating the minds of our seaawaken in both sailors and landsmen a craving men in general-who can doubt the charms that to know more intimately the secrets of that won- such a subject, so treated, must possess for the derful element. educated, intelligent officers of the war navies of

The good that Maury has done, in awakening England and America?"

For the Schoolmaster.
The Shrewd Trustee.

be a great loss, and an injury not easily repaired. Such being the case, Mr. D. was chosen as cashier because he was up to the standard of the choosers in all respects.

"WELL, Mr. Smith, has any one been chosen as cashier of our bank yet, in place of Mr. S. ?” "I believe they have engaged Mr. D., a man Mr. Smith, a heavy stockholder in the bank, of the most unflinching integrity of character. and mainly instrumental in securing D. as cashJust the choice, exactly! I have been acquaint-ier, was also trustee of the school. You have ed with him for years; no one need doubt his already been introduced in part to the future honor, or fear to repose confidence in him." teacher, and cannot have failed to see Mr. Smith's wisdom in relation to this matter as well as in "Do you know what they pay him?"

"Not exactly, but I am told it is a pretty regard to that of the bank. See how careful he heavy salary; but then, you know he is well is to secure the interests of the people. They acquainted with banking, and it is a responsible are not to be subjected to heavy taxes in the situation, and he ought to be paid well. When spring by his injudiciously hiring a man who thousands are at stake, it pays us well to have must be paid for experience, ability and success good security for them."

"Yes, yes, true enough! true enough! Smith, when will our school begin?"

as a teacher. True, there was a marked differMr. ence between Norton and his predecessor, but there was three dollars difference in the price, too, and, after all, one would do just as well as the other for their school. There were only thirty-five or thirty-eight boys and girls, rang

"Next Monday, I guess, if that young fellow gets his certificate."

"What young fellow is that?"

"A chap from Glendale Seminary by the name ing from four to twenty years of age, and what

appearance,

of Norton. I didn't really like his
but then, our school is small, and I hired him
pretty cheap, and if he gets his papers 'twill be
all right."

"You couldn't hire Brayton again, I suppose?"

difference did it make whether the teacher was a man of good sound principles and of a high moral standard or not, so long as he had grammar, arithmetic and geography enough to pass muster before the committee. If there was any money or other property at stake it would be one thing; but no, nothing but the immortal minds of two-score children to be moulded by the teachings and personal influence of somebody, what matter whom, as teacher. Who can "I am sorry you did not, as he gave such but admire the reasoning of Mr. S. on this matperfect satisfaction to all." ter. Well, there is more than one Mr. Smith

"Well, yes, I could by paying him three or four dollars a month more than Norton, but I

thought that wouldn't pay for thirty or forty

young ones."

"I know, but our tax was pretty heavy last in New England; more than one trustee who spring and would have been heavier this if I had hired him."

"Well, good morning, Mr. Smith, I must push along or my breakfast will get cool."

is smart enough to see the absurdity of paying more for a teacher than for a hearer of lessons.

UNUS.

If any fail to see the wisdom of this, or have the opinion that youthful minds are worthy of The foregoing dialogue occurred in a thriving as much care as gold and silver, why, I should New England village on a beautiful morning in be pleased to hear or read their views upon the October. It needs but little comment. A short subject. time before, the cashier of the bank had been called away by death, and there had been much THERE was a singular problem among the pains taken in the selection of another. Why stoics, which ran to this purpose: "When a should there not be? The capital of the bank man says, 'I lie,' does he lie or does he not? was $100,000, quite a long string of figures. If he lies, he speaks the truth; if he speaks the and increasing according to the Arabic system, truth, he lies." Many were the books written made many an old farmer think "our bank is upon this wonderful problem. Chrysippus fasome." The cashier then must be a man of the vored the world with no less than six; and right stamp, one that all could trust, and his Philetus studied himself to death in his vain bonds must be given by sure men, and for such endeavors to solve it."

a man they were willing to pay well. Why, if
they should trust their property to some scamp,
and he should abscond with the funds, it would indeed poor.

He who is ignorant of reading and writing is

From the Home and School Journal.

Is it Wise,

TO STORE THE MEMORY WITH PROPOSITIONS WHICH THE
UNDERSTANDING IS TOO IMMATURE TO GRASP?"

realize fully the dreams of the extravagant Utopians.

The question arises at once, Shall the pupil omit such portions of his subject as he does not THIS, like most mooted questions, resolves comprehend, or shall he be required to commit them to memory? Granted that the thing to be itself finally into a question of limitations; for, acquired is really valuable and capable of being whether it be wise or unwise, it is certainly undeniable that to a certain extent public instruc- presented in a suitable form, and I would require the pupil to commit to memory subject tion has been and must continue to be, for aught only to the limitations which nature herself imwe know, conducted by methods largely mechanical. Of course there is great demand, here The entire business of learning to poses. as elsewhere, for the exercise of a careful disread and spell the English language is accomplished not only at the sole cost of the memory, and clearness in the expression of a subject and cretion on the part of the teacher. Conciseness but the memory stripped of her allies, laboring method in its presentation, are qualities which under the immense disadvantage of encountercan never be compromised in the least. No ing at every step the grossest violations of every principle of analogy. The logical faculty is knowledge however valuable will ever find curso entirely ignored - I may say so wantonly rency wrapped up in the involutions of poor rhetoric, or weighed down with the coarser lumoffended by the present system of English ber of bad grammar. Orthopy, that the advocates of phonetic reform are hereby furnished with one of their most Again, the student must not be deceived by powerful arguments. That children, after hav-being left to infer that he is mastering the subing gone through with such a series of intellec-ject. Perhaps the largest, if not the most diftual summersets as learning to read and spell ficult part of a teacher's duty is already accomnecessarily implies, should need no corrective-plished when the pupil has learned to discriminothing to restore the equilibrium to say the nate between exact knowledge and vague conleast, argues much for the inherent rectitude of ceptions. Pupils are not always honest with the mental constitution. But this is an evil so themselves in this matter. So many motives grossly manifest, that it runs little risk of self- (among which the fear of appearing less ready propagation by ever serving as a model for fu- than their mates, is perhaps the most serious,) ture intellectual training, unless it be in schools allure them into unfairness, that their testimoestablished for the express purpose of creating ny in their own behalf is very sensibly impaired. idiots. Children of larger growth frequently betray a For a pupil to be required to learn that which similar weakness. I have sometimes thought is strictly illogical is one thing, while to commit that in a crowd of strangers, discussing some to memory that which is beyond the range of particular subject, the really intelligent man his logic, is quite another. To work without might be known by the frankness with which the help of the reasoning faculty, and to work he says, I do not know." A wise man can under protest of the same, are not identical. afford to be ignorant sometimes. Though he Where the subject is fully understood, the logic lose in particular instances, he has a heavy caof a child is as irresistible as that of an adult. pital left. Mental bankruptcy is the ghost which Experience imparts no strength to our con- haunts the man of limited acquirements. victions respecting the truths of mathematics. But, to return, the pupil should understand That very feature of mathematics which secures that he is now learning forms the natural and them so prominent a position in a course of stu- appropriate expression of principles which he dy properly arranged for the young, also makes will soon come to understand and be able to them an exception among the sciences. In near- apply; that these forms, lodged away in his ly if not quite all the other branches of learn- memory, are channels leading up to the great ing, there are departments which the student of ocean of truth awaiting the action of the tides average age and ability does not comprehend. for their precious freight to be borne down as When this shall be otherwise, either children fertilizers of the understanding and heart. As will no longer be children, but men and women a lodgemnt for such facts and principles as a in strength and maturity of intellect; or the man has daily and hourly use for, text-books natural and linguistic sciences shall have ad- and encyclopedias are a bungling substitute for vanced so far beyond their present status as to the memory.

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