Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-11-24
For the Journal.
Responsibility of Teachers.

No more responsible employment can
command the energies and talents, or en-
gross the affections of an intelligent being
than the elevated vocation of the educator.
1t may be simple in its details but it is sub
lime in its results.
The single fact that mind developes grad
ually, and that the school teacher is clothed
with the responsibility and honor of laying
the foundation Of the mental fabric, which,
10 go up with the successful steps Of intel
ectual expansion, is quite sufficient to indi-
cate the relative Importance Of his labors,
and point to him as occupying position in
the wide field of responsibility not inferior,
surely. to that Of the occupant Of any other
department 10 human society.
The common school teachers business
is to lay the foundation Of all education.-
If primary instruction be faulty and highly
pernicious, it will be very likely 10 infuse
its poison into all sfter mental acquisitions.
1t is plain, then, that the character of the
instructor for ability, honesty, dignity of de-
pertinent. and purity Of sentiment must
bear powerfully upon the forming charac-
ter Of those submitted to his moulding in
huence. In fact, the child, in the hands of
the efficient teacher, resembles very much
the clay in the hands of the potter. He is.
therefore, in very important sense, respon-
sible for the conduct of the person when
age shall have rendered practical the ment-
al training received in carly life. The in
struc,ions impaired in our public schools. can
alone reach the whole people; and, there
fore, whatever knowledge of physical. in
tellectual and moral nature is requisite to
fully capacitate men to appreciate, and in
duce them honestly to discharge their du-
ties to themselves. their race. and their God
should be rendered available in such
schools This cannot be done while teach
ers remain wholly or partially deficient in
these particulars The teacher of COM
mon school should be person Of decided
superiority. not only in solid good sense and
intellectual requirements but in moral pu-
rity, practical philanthropy, religious fdeli-
ty and zeal, all of which are required in
the discharge Of the weighty trusts nvolv-
ed; and the more common the school, the
greater necessity Of consummate ability and
moral power
Teachers would do well ever to remem-
Der. that they are not rearing perishing
things Of earth, but that they are dealing
with immortal minds Of infinite capabilities.
and that they are daily stamping those
minds with an impress which neither time
nor eternity can wholly oblitefate. Who
appreciating this. can trife with such re-
sponsible situation. or profane the sacred
temple Of education by stealing unprepared
into it's great distributing labratory. Truly
has the educator noble work, especially
be OF the common school, Stationed at the
angle Of two roads, he directs the infant
traveller up the rugged sleeps of virtue, in
teIligence, and honorable deeds-whost
SUBMITS are Tapped in eternal verdure; OIL
: conducts him down errors ruinous descent
into the dark caverns Of crime, the gloomy
walls Of which are ceaselessly beaten b.
; the stygian surges Of a nameless wo.
Fremont Nov, 1854. H.