Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-03-12
For the Spirit of the Age.
The Faithful Preceptor.

The Faithful Preceptor.
After the herald of the Son of peace. there
is surely no more responsible or useful mem
Der of society than the faithful, Conscientious
Teacher. His task, though noble one, must
be prosecuted through the most harassing
discouragements and perpetual acquisitions
for the exercise of an answering energy
and patience. Is there a more lovely dis
play of magnanimous hum unity than that
persevering young lady-seated in the midst
Of a restless circle of tender, inquisitlve
youth, toiling with untiring patience to pro-
vide BETTING nutriment for satisfying the
craving of budding Immortality ? 1t presents
q scene not beneath the contemplation or
angels. No rejecting person will attempt
to dispute the boundless influence exercised
by the true teacher. But the paramount i'm
portance of this calling is unfortunately al
most, or quite equalled by the deplorable un-
concern commonly exhibited in regard to
providing persons suitably qualified to exer-
else it. Especially in our common schools,
: which should undoubtedly be the nurseries
of q more thorough mental discipline and a
higher standard of intellectual aspirations,
mere drones' are frequently employed, for
the pitiful reason that they can be gotten
cheapty, but whose contracted minds are in
capable of higher motives than ignoble ease
c and a contemplate stipend. Are those the
! men to model the moral and intellectual
character of our youth, who must presently
fill the highest positions of influence and re-
sponslbility, perpetuate our glorious institu-
tons uusullied to posterity, and to whom are
!, to be intrusted the precious boon of freedom,
: civil and religious liberty in this land-the
y hopes of the world? Is the parsimonious
- standard of traffic in vile merchandising
- get the cheapest without regard to quality,
n to be applied in procuring a sculptor to
=. :. shape the immortal mind? Here the ques-
~ ton arises as to the requisite qualifications
- for an instructor of youth. In the first place,
- no one will dispute that his literary attain
- mcnts must be superior, or else we should
~ have the blind leading the blind But in
of this particular, we take broader grounds yet,
- that he should not be merely a literary au-
-, tomaton, a book worm,' without clear and
= practical conceptions of independent ratio
70 cination and enlarged views of real life
e We consider intellectual enthusiasm, or as
one has happily expressed it: 'aptness to
tedch,' as an. indispensable requisite for GER
of tain success. This is the glowing mental
zeal that lightens up the countenance and
lie makes the eye sparkle with a CLEAN of ra.
hal diant intelligence, and that piercing compre-
w hensive interest, which penetrates the soul OF
boo the pupil and steals his heart away to
gether with his undivided attention. The
ion SiIINi ttiiI DC ~ II Hhpll duN
e~lectrify him with that ardent thirst for in
Tbn t~ellectual acquisitions, which never is under
oil stood by a dull, sluggish piece of machine
ry, such as too many of us have been com
PEELED to bear with for many long and weari
some days, to our infinite disgust-withou
receiving any imaginable benefit, unless i
be beneficial to cultivate a distaste for every
the thing connected with books or study. Som
bis other utterly indispensable acquisitions Nigh
49, L r
of patience, a rever-tiring energy, u~nfiinch
toll, ING hfmhess' ana ali comolhed win snch
,1r,, perseverance as never swerves at the mos
,acb appalling discouragements-'that hopeth q
,vas things but despairs of nothing. There ye
! 70 remains one more requisite qualification
10 which is not excelIed if even equalled in In
portance by any other. The really faithful
,abLe teacher must be a conscientious man uncon
.t;,o promising in his moral principles. Indeed
low this last should make up the sum of all tn
MmaSk for, who can so we'll appreciate and al
D4nd m Forming a pure and symmetrical characte
limo as the man who practically believes and flu
was nishes a living example of the sublime do
boro trines of the meek and lowly Nazarene 2
), tho When we consider the relative success ar
f, to happiness of the scoffer and the christia
sinh evidently it were better to secure religio
that training for our ofspring-if from mere pc
ninr cy. Many will object to the utility of SUI
wish ahiSn stahuaro OF eSceliehee-1ha IL IS Y,
ner- ~pian-merely visionary, since such mod
can characters cannot be produced, unless in {
ind ceptional instances rarely to be met with.
3c0n- We "ouii' tia' tniS Is not WITHOUT iouht
oxen t,on' puC IL must uo' ne e4pecteo 10 INT
can duce an important reform at a single efo
20 - The community have it all In their oy
! he hands, if they take hold of it with suffice
6 non spirit. They only have to put a premir
+ ali upon deserving merit, well-earned qualif
it;nr tiens. and to patronize no ether. Teachil
lodi properly considered, is a dignifed and lal
to . rious profession, and as such, requires a lo
the and attentive course of preparation. No
only let this profession take it's proper 20
3 low Lioa ~ regaro " remuheiat.Uh anu resPec
day, Dl.ley: an! We shall see ! nlieu WIN ls
,r lit propfiaCe ihcuh peh's-the cnDIce 1noeIEec
hoon the country. ATHANASIUS
E ~ Black Walnut.