Practical school discipline

by Ray Coppock Beery

Slang Expressions

It is needless to say that a teacher should not swear or use blasphemy. But how disgusting it is to enter a school-room where the mistakes of the pupils are corrected by “gracious,” “my land,” “gee,” and scores of other useless words that are classed as slang. It is not unreasonable to say that such words are nearly as bad in the school-room as the vilest blasphemy is outside of the school-room. Pure English, with not an unnecessary word, is beautiful. It excludes slang and blasphemy. Again, the teacher should use only pure English in the school-room, and more than that, outside of the school-room, in his every-day conversation.

Deception

It is a well established fact that everyone should be truthful, but to the teacher this is all-important. This does not imply merely that the teacher must tell no falsehood but he must, also, act no falsehood. There are teachers who never tell a lie, but their actions often convey untruth; such a teacher cannot expect his pupils to be truthful in word or deed. Closely allied to this is the common fault of deception. No teacher can afford to deceive his pupils. If he has promised his pupils something, he should see that they get it. If some unavoidable occurrence prevents this, it becomes necessary that the teacher should explain the situation. Truthfulness and frankness on the part of the teacher will beget the same on the part of the pupil.

Associations

May a young man or woman who is teaching, associate frequently with the opposite sex? No one will attempt to deny that he or she may to a limited extent. Evil results will follow when the association becomes too frequent or too conspicuous, even though it is what the average young American calls “just for a good time.” If these young teachers are teaching in a high school, they will sow the seeds of free-for-all courtship in their classes. Wise high school teachers, and very often the upper grammar grade teachers, know that this will surely harm the better interests of work and progress, that it will also breed the abominable habit among the pupils of keeping late hours and being on the streets too much. Association with the opposite sexes among high school pupils is often romantic and beautiful and cannot be condemned. It is not our purpose to object unqualifiedly to this practice but safety and common sense must be practiced, and at no time can a teacher afford to act with more discretion than in his associations. The married teacher is relieved of this caution, but even his associations and relations with his lady teachers, mothers and often older pupils must be carefully guarded and made only business-like.

This introduces the question of the kind of associates of the same sex a teacher should allow in his company. The maxim, “The kind of companions one has will reveal one’s character” answers the question. A teacher must ignore no one, but only those people whose characters are above reproach should become his companions. It is true, a teacher will, very often have questionable pupils in his classes. Here the attitude should be plainly missionary. Every effort should be made to improve the pupils’ conduct and thereby reform their lives. Sometimes, it is wise to have very objectional pupils removed permanently from the school. Their influence on the other pupils may overbalance the good done in saving them.

Example

The effect of example upon the pupils is remarkable, for no one can doubt but that example strongly influences standards of morality. In like manner the effect of the teacher’s life in establishing higher or lower standards of morality is influenced by the associates which he selects from the masses. A teacher should select such associations and companions that his pupils will be influenced for the highest possible good. A teacher should make it a positive rule never to associate with any one whose companionship would cause an unwholesome influence upon any of his pupils. The opportunities of the teacher are large in the selection of his society. He is in line to choose the best; it is open to him. He should choose to be a part of the highest and best society and then should make it his province, his duty and privilege to help mould and shape the social standards, and do all he can to uplift and better the lives of those with whom he comes in contact.

Speaking of the child, Arthur Holmes says: “Imitation is his most universal instinct. What he sees others do he will do naturally and unthinkingly. It is as futile to teach honesty and to act dishonestly before a child as it is to heap water in a sieve. The nervous mechanism of the child is as hopeless and as helpless as a wireless receiver to the influence of Hertzian waves.”[^[4]]