The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-07-07
For tho Spirit OF Democracy. .
Teachers Association.

For tho Spirit OF Democracy.
Teachers Association.
FELLOW. TEACHERS: year Of
trial and labor to the teacher has been
added to the smooth. unimpeded course
of passing time; carrying with It many
frustrated hopes and bright designs, for
which it is useless to sigh. The present
now, however. admonishes rs that we
should be exerting ourselves to promote
the interests Of educatiou-the cause In
which we are jointly laboring. II should
command our most serious attention.
With\the great movements and onpre-
cedented troubles in the political arena.
we, as teachers. have but little to do 1t
matters very little to the teacher whether
John Bull steps aboard of Uncle Sans
water craft in the Gull, and surveys them
with jealous eye, or the United States
throws her protecting arms around the
land of the whether the
oppressed natives Of distant India sue.
ceed in their war of extermination and
independence, or whether Lecompton is
adopted or rejected by the down. .trodden,
oppressed and struggling people Of bleed
Ing Kansas
But there are some things to which ron
cannot be insersibls, without . manifest
injury to yourselves aud to to those placed
under your charge. Your position a.
yteacher. will be either honorable and Dig
nihed, or low and mean. in proportion as
you improve yourselves and apply your
talent in teaching. It cannot be expect
ed. even by the most sanguine. that teach
ing will ever assume the same rank and
character among the learned professions
until the learning, talent and skill is COM
mensurate Herewith. Such being the
case Improvement should be the watch
word. excellence the criterion. aud unfal-
tering application the means of acquiring
the desired object. Thus noble euula.
tion should spring mp in the breast Of
every teacher to excel In bis vocation, than
which there is nothing more honorable or
high-miuded. There is class of teach
ers in Monroe County. who ore governed
by the foregoing principles. Of these the
county can well be proud. Your mission
however, is not Jet dlled; your labors have
merely commenced; you will yet have to
encounter difficulties insurmoantable TO
men less determined on success. There
are multiplicity of old fogyisms to bs
warred upon, and not few innovations TO
be examined with caution, before adopting
them into your codes Of practice. For q
moro cffectual investigation Of these sub.
jects it is necessary that you oil associate
yourselves together for mutual discussion
Of the several topics that bear relation
to your profession; such course being
essentially necessary to your approxims.
ton to correct practice.
The channel through which you are
invited to unite your efforts in organizing.
perfecting the common school system oi
our county. is the Monroe County Teach
er's Association. II is unnecessary To
expatiate on The advantages Of this organ
IiSatiop TO those who have attended its
former meetings; to those who have never
yet attended it. allow me to assure you
that you have failed to discharge . com
mon obligation due from every teacher ia
the comfy to his fellow-teachers.
| Besides recommending you t4 general
action in the eanse of education in youl
several localities, the Interior design oi
this communication is to call ynur particu-
lar attention to the absolute necessity Of
ATTENDING and sustaining this Association.
Its fall meeting will commence on the last
Monday Of August, Of which das notice
will be given In tims. In consideration
of the advantages which you all, as teach
srs have derived from the happy Influences
of this body, 1t is your imperative duty to