bath.

(8.) We have one other method to describe, by which a favorable moral
influence may be exerted in school. The method can, however, go into
full effect, only where there are several pupils who have made
considerable advances in mental cultivation.

It is to provide a way, by which teachers and pupils may write,
anonymously, for the school. This may be done by having a place of
deposit for such articles as may be written, where any person may leave
what he wishes to have read, nominating, by a memorandum, upon the
article itself, the reader. If a proper feeling on the subject of good
discipline, and the formation of good character, prevails in school,
many articles, which will have a great deal of effect upon the pupils,
will find their way through such an avenue, once opened. The teacher can
himself often bring forward, in this way, his suggestions, with more
effect than he otherwise could do. Such a plan is, in fact like the plan
of a newspaper for an ordinary community, where sentiments and opinions
stand on their own basis, and influence the community just in proportion
to their intrinsic merits, unassisted by the authority of the writer's
name, and unimpeded by any prejudice which may exist against him. In my
own school, this practice has had a very powerful effect. I have,
myself, often thus anonymously addressed my pupils, and I have derived
great assistance from communications which many of the pupils have
written. Sometimes we have had full discussions of proposed measures,
and at others, criticisms of the management of the school, or of
prevailing faults. Sometimes good humored satires, and sometimes simple
descriptions. 'Tis true the practice is not steadily kept up. Often,
for months together, there is not an article offered. Still the place of
deposit remains, and, after a time, some striking communication is made,
which awakens general attention, and calls out other pens, until the
fifteen minutes, corresponding to the afternoon General Exercise, in the
plan provided in a preceding chapter, (which is all which is allowed to
be devoted to such purposes,) is not sufficient to read what is daily
offered. Of course, in such a plan as this, the teacher must have the
usual editorial powers, to comment upon what is written, or to alter or
suppress it at pleasure.[A]

[Footnote A: The following articles, which were really offered for such
a purpose, will serve as specimens. One or two were written by teache