The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-03-04
For the Jcffersonian Democrat.
School Teaching.

For the Jcffersonian Democrat
School Teaching.
FRIEND CONVERSE BY the request Of
numerous friends. have becn induced to
reply to an article which appeared in your
columns, bearing date January 30th, on the
subject of teaching. The author doubtless
considers his remarks founded on self
evident facts, though perceive no reason
why no should charge parents and scholars
with tho crmo of poor schools altogether
Should not the teachers share tho oppro.
brium which hovcrs around those bcnightcd
institutions Certainly, they should
knd reader, go with mo to yondcr school !:
ask tho scholars there. if they have u good
school, and hear tho reply from dozen
voice., mo, sir, not very" Lot US tarry
until school is called. The teacher tax cs
his chair aud sits down, as usual calls the
first class in reading; they soon arrange
themselves on the long recitation bench
one leaves his seat and gives the teacher
his book; they do not stand up to road
what, you ask docs this moan ? answer.
the teacher does not require it. Alb ! kind
reader, mcthnks l hear you say, l have the
secret cause of poor schools it is tho
teachers fault in this case, that is certain.
Stop, friend this will never do you must
not say aught against teacher now "a. days.
Teachers arc considored our superiors. -
what entities them to this superiority
Education Yes, if they possess that cdu-
cation; but have known teachers deficient
in government and not very vol educated,
yet they taught school, and their schools
were just such schools as l hayo hastily
described.
Now, do not wish it to DO understood
that am finding fault with school teachers,
for VIC have many good teachers in this age !;
but, on tho contrary, we havo n few ex.
trcmely poor ones. will admit that pa.
rents and scholars ofton err in school diff.
ficutics, and probably are moro or less to
blame in every instance where such difficult
ties occur; yet tho teacher should not be
bold altogether blameloss, for thoro mover
was, neither will there ever be, dispute
without positive aud negative, unless the
immutablo laws of nature change, and this
is impossible. A good teacher will DO known
by his works. He will ondoavor to promote
tho interest of tho community, as well as his
own individual interest he will use Justice
and reason in all cases. using no pariiahty !;
and, to conclude with, will never permit
anger TO obscure reason. With such man
for instructor, you will have good school +;
but, with the opposite, you may expect
(what We too often get) poor school. !
have known teachers the extreme revorse of
the above qualities, though they arc seldom
found; for but few mon can be SO COM
pletely blinded to the interest of our com.
mon schools, as to oven think of employing
man who would not. act according to the
laws of equity and justice.
Now, in my opinion, teacher can gain
tho implicit confidence and esteem of ovory
pupil, by the observance of tho following
rules, aHd thereby escape tho difficulties
which many young men experience, when
they first assume the honorable appellation
of school teacher:
LIST. Gain tho estcom of your pupils by
justly dealing with all.
I'd. Inform them of tho rules YOU wish
adopted in school, and SEQ that those rules
are enforced by kind words, and not by
threats.
3D.. Endeavor to cultivate their minds,
but also bo mindful of thoir dispositions.
and cultivate those dispositions by chcorful
countenanco and worthy example. By so
doing, you will gain their friendship. and
they will soon consider your commands
pleasure as well as duty.
Great care should be taken, moi only
to provide children with suitable books,
but in the choice OF instructors, to SEQ that
they are men of good understanding, educa
ton and morals; that they teach by cx.
ample as woll as by prccept; that they
govern themselves. and teach their pupils
the art of selfgoSornmont. 1t is, then, the
duty of teachers, to cultivate their capa
citiss, enlarge their understandings, and
ronGer them serviceaLle to themselves and
to community for, if tho bud be blasted
the trco will yield no fruit, SO, if tho youth
be ruined through fault in their education
tho country Sustaius loss which can never
DO repaired L. II. s.