Litchfield enquirer., 1851-10-30
For the EaqniSsr, qualifications of Teachers.

Il WMMlEEGoSlOMS VI AO4GA1SSs
 IL is sometimes said, that no one ought to attempt to teach what he does mol fully understand. If this was adopted Il. la rule. it is feared that we should have but few teachers. It is not necessary tC adopt such rule. and yet it is necessa. ". that much better qualifications should be required than many of our teachers now possess.
 That such rule is not absolutely ne cessary is evident from the fact. that sne who has not perfect knowledge of a subject, may still be apt % teach,a ve- " much improve his acquaintance wish it, even to competent knowledge of it. by the very art of teaching, and the stu- dy and attention given to tue subject be- fore, and at the tune of the recitation. A eacher that is in love with hls calling. gan easily make up any ordinary deficien- y in his qualifications by timely aPplica- ion to his appropriate duties.
 The lowest qualifications that can req 'Onably be expected of one who offers 'imself as teacher, are, such an acs luaihtance with the subjects 10 be taught IS shall ep.ble hlm % answer correctly my question relating to the simple facts of the science, or subject, 10 be taught. 10 explain ny meaning: t s.
 lst. phe candidate for teaching should nave a correc. knowledge of the pronun. clalion of words, learned either by repe- tition. or ny tue study of the elementary sounds of the letters of our language
 2l. He should be able to spell correct ly all the words of the language in ordi nary use. .a.me. a"c
 3d. He should be able to read with facility and correctness, and should also understand the Principles of Reading" "
 4th. He should understand so much of Geography, as -to be able to give cor> rect idea of the subject, generally. define map. point out and explain the figures. lines. divisions, boundaries, etc., and de- scribe the tropics. climates, zones, and their position. etc. Y. ..' tt Y "#
 5th. He should understand so much of Arithmetic as to be able to define intel ligently its different divisions, or depart ments. explain and illustrate their mean ing, perform readily she examples or ex. ercises, given for the Illustration of it's rules and principles, and show sbeIr ap> plication to practice. 4
 9th. He should know SO much of Eng lish Grammar as to be able to explain it's divisions, deine the parts of speech, ans alyze and explain the component parts of any plain sentence. point out the use and office of the words that compose 1t. their agreement and government, with the reasons, and correct the ordinary ex amples of |" False oyntax'' or '' bat! Grammar" tha: occur in daily conve,> sa.ion. t/Ht -8< a4@=
 7.h. In addition to these, he shoul.. write fair legible hand, a,d t,e able t'. instruct others in the uss of the pen.
 have thus given a ye.y blrt .nd i'm perfect sta,ement of W hal l consider the lowest qualifications that can le..sonabi. be rcqulrsd of any candidate for schu~ teaching. The same amount, degree, ol extent of qualifications might not be re- quireG of eve,y one. but q tolerable de gree of familiarity so far as the circum stances of the case may requlre, Is abso lutely necessary. The Snowledge that a teacher has should be post ve. lie shoald be able to speak with confidence.
 Among the many teachers that have presented themselves for examination du ring the past few years. how few, how verj few have even approxmsted to the requirements mentioned above! So long as :his tate Oi things continues. we may look Tn vain for any improvement in the condition of our scn,ols. r "Ff And yet it is no, necessary to spend years in p'sparing ourselves for teaching The first thing to be learned is to learn hoaO to learn. This Is not a difficult task and yet, it seems to be very imperfrc,ly 1t al ali. understood A few simple til
 ectlons, a few weeks, or at most, d few months. of pepper 'annss. united witi careful atteniIon and study, would lac. many et them now g. iamentably d, ii cien'. m a situation tH winch they wn0ll ieel themselves at h0ae in al ihe branch e> iequ'rcd lo be taught. This shoull oe the teache''N aim. and eve'y, year the requirements shonid approach nearer |. l ,he ,rqnred standard.
 fl Litchfield. Oct 1851 A&'&fE