If the scholar is not ready, he shall return to his desk with-

out saying a word ; and when he returns, he shall give him

the most severe punishment allowed without special permis-

sion, that is, five blows.

' ' When a teacher shall have thus been obliged to compel a

scholar to receive correction, he shall attempt in some way

a little time afterwards to make him see and acknowledge

his fault, and shall make him come to himself, and give him

a strong and sincere resolution never to allow himself agnin

to fall into such a revolt."

CATHOLICISM AND PRIMARY INSTRUCTION. 275

The moment is perhaps not well chosen to preach a

sermon and to violate the rule which forbids the Brethren

the use of the reprimand.

"After the scholar has been corrected, he will modestly

kneel in the middle of the room before the teacher, with

arms crossed, to thank him for having corrected him, and

will then turn towards the crucifix to thank God for it, and

to promise Him at the same time not again to commit the

fault for which he had just been corrected. This he will do

without speaking aloud ; after which the teacher will give

him the sign to go to his place."

Is it possible to have a higher misconception of human

nature, to trifle more ingeniously with the pride of the child,

and with his most legitimate feelings, and to mingle, in the

most repulsive manner, indiscreet and infamous practices

with the exhibition of religious sentiments ?

" It is absurd," says Kant, " to require the children whom

we punish to thank us, to kiss our hands, etc. This is to

try to make servile creatures of them."

To justify La Salle, some quotations from his works have

been invoked.

"For the love of God, do not use blows of the hand.

Be verv careful never to arive children a blow."

But it is necessary to know the exact thought of the

author of the Conduct, and this explains the following

passage : —

" No corrections should be employed save those which are

in use in the; schools ; and so scholars should never be struck

with the band or the foot."

In other words, the teacher should never strike except

with the authorized instruments, and according to the official

regulations.

276 THE HISTORY Or PEDAGOGY.

298. Mutual Espionage. — We may say without exag-

geration that the Conduct recommends mutual espionage : —

" The inspector of schools shall he careful to appoint

one of the most prudent scholars to observe those who make

a noise while they assemble, and this scholar shall then

report to the teacher what has occurred, without allowing the

others to know of it."

299. Rewards. — While La Salle devotes more than forty

pages to corrections, the chapter on rewards comprises two

small pages.

Rewards shall be given " from time to time." They shall

be of three kinds : rewards for piety, for ability, and for

diligence. They shall consist of books, pictures, plaster

casts, crucifix and virgin, chaplets, engraved texts, etc.

300. Conclusion. — We have said enough to give an

exact idea of the Institute of the Christian Brethren in its

primitive form. Its faults were certainly grave, and we can-

not approve the general spirit of those establishments for

education where pupils are forbidden " to joke while they

are at meals" ; to give anything whatsoever to one another ;

where children are to enter the school-room so deliberately

and quietly that the noise of their footsteps is not heard ;

where teachers are forbidden "to be familiar" with the

pupils, " to allow themselves to descend to anything com-

mon, as it would be to laugh ..." But whatever the dis-

tance which separates those gloomy schools from our modern