Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-05-25
VERMONT PHOENIX.
A Circular to Teachers In Windham
County.

tvuutys
To those who are about to engage in teach
ing the summer schools wish 10 make few
suggestions
/. Endeavor to make your school pleasant
and attra tive. Greet the children in the morn.
ing, with smiling face aud kind words, espc
cially II they come early. Speak TO them about
their plays, their work, and their studies; about
the singing birds, the flowers, the woods and
fields, that look so cheerful in summer Ii pos
sible, make the school 50 attractive that no
scholar will wish TO be absent, or iarig, a single
day. There are flowers enough, of all kinds up
tho hill Of science, TO make 1t the most agreeable
place in the world for children, If teachers will
only find these flowers and point them out TO
their pupils.
2. Have order in your school order in stud
les and reciiations in going to and from classes,
in entering and leaving the school room. Let
the scholars observe order in putting away their
hats, bonnets and shawls, ard in the care Of
their books and desks. Let there be order, too,
as opposed to whispering, loud study noise and
confusion. ! have visited schools in New York,
Of 400 pupils, where there Was less noise and
confusion than in some schools Of so or 40
l visited last winter. The bost schools, like
the best machinery, move on with least noise
The small scholars should have frequent recess
IS, and be often amused and exercised; but
they can learn order, and love order IL they
learn it.
3. Euieavor to interest your scholars in study.
Unless you can do this, however much you know,
- 49, rsss- ss.ssAe,ss a sfs.is -.h>-i al -
poor school. For n teacher TO try to learn
scholars who arc not interested, Is like black
smith trying to make nails out Of cold IRON
There Is too much hammering Of cold iron in our
schools,--a great deal Of hard work and but lit
tie brought to pass. To interes, your scholars,
let tbeuplearn well what they learn; and rer;er
often. Ask interesting questions Tor sop,xques-
tions) not found in the book, TO sharpen the in
telleci, wake up ideas, and make dull eyes look
bright Be interested, lively, and jealous your
selves, IL you would have your scholars 80. A
sleepy teacher will have a sleepy school. To
wake up your scholars, you must be awake your
selves II scholars are not interested however,
the fault may be in themselves, or in their pa
rents, who allow their children to stay at home,
and find fault with tho teacher. Idle, fretful
girls, too, often complain that the teacher does
not interest them, when the only trouble is, they
do not like to study, or behave well either.
4. Pay attention TO the morals and manners
Of your pupils. The law makes Il your duty to
give instruction in 'good behavior" ms that they
be taught to read, write and cipher When the
Bible s read-and hope it will be read in ev-
cry school in the County--let il be read with
that respect which becomes the word Of God
h;s,orv ho,,-.h,, 81 -; us' ss...'S =; -.
Bible, and skillful teacher will make use Of
these lessons in awakening the intellect, culti-
waiting the feelings, and forming the principles
Of her pupils. ---- II you are only disposed, you
will find opportunities enough without preach
ing % ssash yoQ5 pupils % speak the
pinct,laI, temperate, contented and cheerful 10
ne rexnectful 10 their superiors, kind and anna.
bic in their department 10 each other. You can
do much 70 discountenance the germs Of pride
vanity. pertness, sauciness. rudeness, vulsaTity
and sei6shness, and to encourage the opposite
virtues. You arc, in a measure, responsible for
the character Of your pupils; for, next to pa
rents, YOU have the greatest influence in forming
their character.
8. Be circumspect and exemplary in your owr
conduct Il is not enough that you merely avoid
doing any thing scandalous or reprnachfnl. fol
teachers Of the young should be examples o
what you wish your scholars to be. 1t is I
| shame for the lady-who should rs an instruc
tor Of youth, be an example Of propriety to thu
Young misses she instructs-to conduct in sucl
| a manner as to forfeit the confidence Of respect
able people, 90 that mothers must caution thei
daughters against the example Of the teacher
Not that you can al,coys escape censure or re
proach, be wise and prudent as you may 70
1 there may be some who will misunderstood
magnify and pervert what you do and say, max
ing you aofenders for a cord" and abusing 20
the more when they see there is no reason 70
their abuse. But however much you may
misunderstood, slandered or abused, ''let pi
tience have its perfect work." exercising thu
"charity which suffereth long and is kind
beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth a
|. things, endureth all things"
!, 9. Strive to awaken an interest in educatio