Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-05-12


deepest solicitude, and ought to receive
our unremitting and careful attention"
THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A TEACHER.
"A teacher should be person of ma
tured understanding, Of good moral char
acter, conciliating in his disposition, and
chaste IN his department, should be able
to winthe affections and command the re-
spect of his scholars. Heshould be man
Of general learning, and possess a tact at
communicating instruction. 1t is a great,
but not uncommon mistake, 10 suppose for
example, that person who can merely
read is as competent to teach the art to
another as well educated person could
do; or that one who has merely learned
the fundamental rules of arithmetic can
teach those rules as we'll or proftabIy as
one who is familiar with their application
to the higher branches of arithmetic and
mathematics. A teacher should be able
to make the process of elementary nstruc-
ton, auxiliary to the cultivation of the
reasoning faculties, to the art and habit of
thinking, and as he will in manners and
morals constitute a model which his pu-
pills WILL initiate, it is of vast importance
to the happiness of families and individu-
als and the public we'll being, that, in the
impressive language of Mr. Dix, Ibis
example should at least carry with it no
lessons of evil" Does not this view of
the subject, which we have taken, demon
! strate that the cause of education is not
! held in sufficient estimation by the COM
munity? That there is an almost crimi-
nal disregard Of the privileges which the
benefcence Of legislation has conferred
upon us! Would any sensible farmer
employ girl Of sixteen, without expert
ence or physical capacity, to conduct the
operations Of his farm, and submit the
management and direction of it to herr
Certainly not. And why not? The an
Swcr is obvious. He would know that a
failure of his crops, and arrangement Of
his business would be the consequence
This evil would be temporary, and sus-
ceptible ola speedy remedy. And yet we
find too many, whom it would be unjust
to charge with a want of sense, who, for
the sake of saving a few dollars, are
willing to entrust the business of educat-
ing and forming the manners and moral
character oftheir children, TO unfit and in
competent persons; ninfnitel Y more i'm
portant concern, because its consequences
are more enduring, and the evil less sus-
ceptible of remedy The utmost that is
calculated upon from such a teacher, is to
instruct children in the mere elementary
branches. The useful application Of these
branchcs-the training of the moral char
acter-the refinement ofthe manners-and
the cultivation of the reasoning faculties,
forms no part OF the plan and get, these
are all within the legitimate province, and
may form part fthe ordinary course OF
instruction in a we'll regulated common
school,
M Victor Cousin, in his report upon
the Prusslan system, remarks, that the
: best plans of instruction cannot be eXecut-
ed, except by the fundamentally of good
teachers : and the state has done nothing
r for popular education, if it does not watch
that those who devote themselves to teach
ing be we'll prepared then suitably plac
: ed encouraged and guided in the duty o.
g continued self-improvement: and lastly
Y promoted and rewarded in proportion tc
V their dvancement, or punished according
: to their faults"
\ NEGLIGENCE OF PARENTS AND SCHOOL
: OFFICERS.
r Another serious evil is the neglect 0
J. the inspectors, and indeed of parents II
; visiting schools. If the operations of thi
l. society extended no further than the fire
|. quCnt visitation of the schools, lis benetl
u clal influence IN the encouragement which
e it would give to teachers, and the cmula
e ton 1t would excite amongst the scholars
y would well repay the benevolent effort
y of its members.
pit The neglect of public officers, and tn
apathy and indifference of parents in thi
he respect, has a most blighting mfuenc
IS upon the zeal and self-respect of teachers
l. and upon the ambition and spirit of t4tei
a pupils. The most etftctual way to max
d. a vagabond or rogue ofa man, is to trea
a him as one, and the converse of the propc
IS sition Is true in every supposable case
at The operations of this society will /
ms confined to the town of Ihica Ii its inf,
es ence shall be found beneficial, it is hope
p that it will extend to other towns of II
m county, and be met by corresponding, {
x better devised and directed efforts, in ever
part fthe state"
r. "It is to be hoped that some district
lie. this town will be found enterprising, pu
to lie spirited, and | may add, wise enoug
cir to disregard trifing pecuniary consider
tons, and establish liberal and well re-
ulated school. They will not only re-
led the immediate advantage themselves, b
a. it will serve as model for imitation,
far Good as we'll as bad example, is cont
,er gious."
es- We are greatly indebted to the Ho