The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1859-03-17
For The Transcript.
The Teacher And His Vocation.

This subject, is one which should de-
mand our earnest attention. Next to
the preaching Of the gospel, the vocation
Of teaching stands 6rst in rank, Of all
other professions. It is a high and no.
bic calling. God has made man but a
little lower than the angels, and he has
endowed him with a mind susceptible Of
comprehension and understanding but
that mind needs great deal Of cultiva
ton and training, in order to attain to
to that esainence, which God has de-
signed that it should. To effect this,
teachers are necessary. And h, Rho
succeeds in !.nprcssing the mind with
one good and true thought, has accom-.
plished a great object. But where this
vocation is pursued, day after day, and
week after week, it becomes laborious.
It is not ike many other occupations !;
bringing into exercise but one set Of
faculties; bat it requires the earnest ac-
ton of all the mental, moral and some
Of the physical powers. The minds of
all pupils, are not alike. Some are very
quick Of apprehension, and need but
very little aid or instruction, to enable
them to master their studies; while 9TH
ers are dull AID slow to receive the
knowledge, which the faithful teacher SO
often cndeavors to imrart. Such re-
iulre line upon line, and preceptupon pre-
ccpt, before the teacher can discover any
good resulting from his unwearied labors
There is also another class Of pupils, who
wear out the strength and try the pa
tienee Of the teacher, more than all oh
err causes combined; | mean those who
are inattentiye to instruction. While
the teacher is engaged in explaining
some difficult part Of their lesson, their
minds are wholly occupied in some friv
olous or unimportant matter; and as far
as they are concerned, time and words
are spent in vain.
The teacher is always obliged to oe at
his post, Notwithstanding the inclemen-
cy Of the weather or the state Of his
health. It is vocation Of unremitting
toll and nature cannot long bear up
under these heavy taxations Of both
mind and body.
This is the reason Why we find teach
ers wearing out sooner than almost any
other class Of people; some are thus
broken down, while yet in the prime Of
life.
A person should never engage in this
important work, until he thoroughly un
derstands every branch he is required to
teach and is able to give full explana-
ton Of every principle. He should also
exercise self government, for unless he
does this, he can-never be able to govern
a school. Hc should so conduct him
self at all times, as to command the re
spect Of all his scholars and the commu.
nifty in general.
he should be considered as bene-
factor aud as one calculated to i'm
prove and enlighten the rising genera
ton. DO We wish to see the cause OF
education rapidly advancing, and the
light Of knowledge extend all over the
earthly Then we should lend the teach
er all the assistance in our power, to
perform this noble work. There is no
enterprise in which money could be SO
safely invested as the cause Of education
We should not only realize the benefits
in this world, but also in the world to
come. G. N. CROSBY.
Toledo, Feb. 20, 1859.
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