Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-01-30
VERMONT EDUCATION.


ublshed under the sanction of the State Teachers ommt
tee
,HARACTER, NOT INSTRUCTION, THE END OF
EDUCATION.
Character, not mere book knowledge, is the
nd OF education. ltmay be gained with little
id from books, by observation, by vigorous
truggles amid trials and difficulties, as has been
lone By many of the sons of Vermont in days
:one by. So knowledge of books may be
,ained with but little character--hcnce our book
sh men with but little or no practical ability
But character can be best formed by the aid of
,ood books and geod teachers and the contents
If good books are of most value to men OF char
acter. knowledge is power, but power only to
such men.
To rely on hook knowledge alone, with view
TO the formation Of character, is about as reason
able as "to read treatise on botany to a flower
bed, under the notion of making the plants grow
and blossom" Character is best influenced by
character. 1t is not so much the words of the
teachers, as his example and life, that tell upon
the character of his scholars.
The teacher, who has higher aims than simply
TO impart certain amount Of instruction, who
really desires to influence for good the hearts
and minds of the children and youth committed
to his care, has taken upon himself no trihing
charge. lie may have assumed it with as little
care or fureihoughts as was shown by the COM
mittee that hired him but when the harness is
fairly on, then comes the sense of responsabiliy
To such a teacher anxiously inquirng how he
shall exert the right influence, we offer three
precepts.:
1. Respect yourSelf Respect the intellectual
and moral faculties God has given you Cher
ish in your own heart an earnest love for all that
is noble, generous, goo1 and worthy man.
Cherish regard for and study the lives of all
who have hihita1 thnsa uuaIitins | OF this ra.
spect and regard be shown in your whole de-
meanor, in school and out OF school.
2. Respect your business Never speak slight
ingly of the teachers office. If it snmetimes
seems drudgery 20 you, keep the feeling to
YOURSELF or rather suppress il by fixing your mind
on its true character, or educating the future men
and women Of our land.
8. Respect your scholars. Some ofthem may
be ide, needless, vicious, but underneath this
exterior is the germ Of character the possibility
of greatness and goodness Respect that, in
your government, in your instructions, in all your
intercourse with scholars or parents, show that
you respect it, and your scholars will soon re-
spect it in themselves. The idle boy will re-
spect it and cease to be idle The vicious boy
will respect it and cease to be vicious. The good
scholar will respect it and be 1uickened 10 more
earnest effort. Ere long the whole school will
love what you love, and respect what you respect.
1t is not your province to teach religion. But
in this way, you may teach sound morals better
than from any text books, and it true Christian
man, yon may lead your scholars TO value and
10 seek for themselves what is the real ground OF
your character. In any case you can inspire in
them love for all that is good and true, high
aims and generous purposes, and, as far as NOR
tai man can, the ability to achieve them; and
so will the knowledge you impart, and the vir-
tuous sentiments your inspire, blend n-char-
acfer. n. G.. c.