Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-06-30
THE TRUE TEACHER.
An Address read before the Clearfeld County Nor,
NAL School. at Curwensvile, on Wednesday eve
ming, June 16, 1853, by Rev L. J. SriSE.


An Address read before the Clearfeld County Nor
NAL School, at Curwensville, on Wednesday eve-
ming, June 16, 1858, by Rev. l. J. SrISE.
PUBLISHED AT THE REQUEST OF THE NORMAL SCHOOL.
Young L4dies and Gentlemen of the Clearfeld
County Normal School Il come before you
this evening as the first on the list of those
who are to deliver course of lectures in this
hall during the remaining weeks OF your pres
ent session. Why L have consented thus TO
appear in your presence-why / am here,
need not consume time in saying, as, no doubt,
every one has already formed an opinion. One
may attribute it to a desire to be seen and
heard, and another may view it as a commend
able spirit of pleasure in adding to the intel
lcctGal festivities of the session. a third and
a fourth may have still different views. This
one may say that it is from n habit of speak
ing, while that one may sspresume that it is
just to let the people know that ssthe school,
master is abroad.'' / shall quarrel with none,
but accept the opinions of all as allowable in a
free country. Who would be ashamed to be
seen and heard in good cause Who would
not take pleasure in adding to the enjoyment
OF otherSf Who that is not dumb would not
speak for truth and virtue And who would
not let the people know-for in some places
they do not appear to have learned yet-that
ssthe school-master is abroad ?''
But again. | come before you, ladies and
gentlemen, as one of your own number, as a
teacher. Your interests are my interests /;
your hopes are my hopes; yonr good is my
good. And now the gentlemen may suppose
that from long habit of debating to children,
the speaker presumes on his right to be heard !;
while the ladies will, no doubt, think-but L
may not read their thoughts, and must content
myself with hoping the best. sp
Let it be sufficient, then, TO say that l have
accepted the very fiattering invitation of your
worthy Preceptor to address you at this time,
OF pleasure that | am permitted to add my
mite to your intellectual enjoyments in your
present capacity, and to meet, for my own en-
joyment, the greetings of so many noble hearts
and lowell eyes; OF regret that have had
but two days time to prepare my address,
and that, in consequence of this, and more
real deficiencies, which may be perceived
as l proceed, cannot promise you
"The feast of reason and the flow of SOUP
that should always accompany an intellectual
sstreat''. 1 know that time and fore thought
are necessary to the production of an address
suitable for the ears of an association of Teach
ers. But know, also, that you, as teachers,
have learned not to expectevGy thing from one
weak mortal-the production of every intellec-
tual flower and fruit from one decaying brain.
And in the poets language, slightly altered,
If l chance to fall below
A splendid oratoric show.
Don't view with critics eye,
Nor pass me altogether by.
For may say thing or two
That may be new to some of you.
But | find that am making little speech
of my introduction, or, as my old schoolmas-
ter used to call it, making the porch too big
for the house''-a thing by no means premed-
itated and you are anxious for the announce
ment of my subject. Then, let it be, The True
Teacher, and our object, to consider his Char
Qcteristics and his Influence. And here let me
GOV fhaf b1U oh cr,bf 81 I,,
cause supposed that could do it justice, but
because of its fruitfulness- shortness OF
the time allowed for the preparation of my
address admonishing me that fruitful subject
was necessary.
The work of the teacher is something more
| than an ordinary work and to be successful
| he needs to be something more than an ordi-
| nary man-she something more than an ordina-
| ry woman. Not only in the school-room are
| the teachers patience and good nature severe
| ly taxed ofteEtimes ahead he is faulted for
his very virtues, and pupils come into the
school-ToonI with their heads swimming with
false notions of his character and his worth
| falsely instiled by falsely Judging parents aud
| others, who were never inside of his school
room in their lives. Yet the True Teache,
| stands man amid all these vexations-stri.
| wing to do his duty. leaving the talk to others
! Like Napoleon, but in a better cause, he not
only undertakes; he accomplishes. His mot
to is not the cowarGly one, ssl CAN'T nor YET
| the timid one, ssI'll try" but in all the dig
| nifty of a man he stands and proclaims, So
| tUtit - and Darkness recedes before him, ] G.
norance hides her face in shame, and Sin
skulks bowling back to the pit whence first she
sprung, while the glorious light of Science
and Truth breaks in upon benighted minds as
| his comes in contact with them, and they ac-
knowledge Virtues reign. But let us speci-
| fy. And here word of explanation by way ol
| apology to the fairer side of the house, may
| be advisable, if not necessary. whenever
] use in this address. the name ssman,' use II
! as generic name, embracing both sexes, and
so with the pro-name s.he,'' referring tc
ssteacher." Did custom allow it, should be
pleased to show my respect for the sunshiny
side of humanity land especially for our whole
souled lady teachers, by always putting an s's'
before that little masculine pro-name. Bu
| custom is arbitrary. ~ +..... t--r st-qs
| L. The first characteristic of the True Teach
! er which we notice, is good common sense. O