The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-12-06

tanning it, before he commences to erect
a temple for the Spirit. The life of ev-
cry individual is determined by his early
culture. A teacher IS successful, only
when he trains all the powers of the pu-
pill, aud makes HIM a useful member of
society, The true teacher must under,
stand the nature of the mind and the
means of developing and improving its
powers should know how the mind
changes as the child passes from youth
to manhuu5, and how study without In,
crease of years affects it. The teacher
should prepare the mind of the pupil to
receive wisdom, before placing book 10
his hand ; should teach the pupil to think
and not merely to repeat the words of the
lesson. The common way is to have the
pupils give words instead of thoughts
True teaching incites and stimulates Gu
riosity, but never clogs it. Do not spoil
scholars by fattery. Cultivate the chiId's
moral nature by holding up correct ex-
amples, by telling stories in which per-
sons act from correct principles, and al
ways expressing due appreciation of ev-
cry generous and noble act. The mind
is as much subject to laws as matter is,
and may be cultivated with as much GER
tainty of obtaining the desired end.
Reading by Prof Sanders. Adjourned.
MONDAY EVENING, Nov, 10.
Assembled at the usual hour, and af-
ter election of officers for the evening,
proceeded to discuss the question before
the Institute The question, What is
the best mode of interesting primary
classes was taken up by Prof. Cooper,
The principal means was to present things
easy of comprehension to follow the nat,
ural bent of disposition; show them pic.
lures, &c. Mr. Jonson, had little expe-
rience, but thought telling stories, good
way; little minds were inquisltive, and
the way to interest them is to feed their
inquisitiveness. The meeting was ad-
dressed IN turn by Messrs. Lyman, Mon
roe, Davidson and Lewis. The latter
gentleman did not believe in presents or
any outside inducements: thought it
very desirable to win the students affec
ton, and in contrast showed the effect
of fear on q scholars mind. He advised
teachers to be simple in speech, concise
in definition, and if they wish to interest
their pupils, first interest themselves. a
lively discussion followed until the ques-
ticn was dismissed, and Prot. Sanders led
the Choir in music. After q short re-
cess the audience assembled to hear Prof,
Lewis. He said: we had come to pay
the oblations of our brightest hopes on
the altar of devotion to the highest in
tercsts Of our kind. Under the glorious
supervision of the teacher, waywardness
and obstinacy had given way to willing
obedience, and come to walk in the path
of duty Compare the wild uncultivated
rugged past, with the present improved
and beautiful appearance of the surround
ing county. Religion had been the mo-
tive power, and educator. The Archimi-
dean lever that had elevated the people
to a love OF science, literature and the
arts. Reviewed the past of nations; the
honered sons of the old Thirteen, worthy
in their lives, to them were we indebted
for planting germs of progress which had
grown I'D institutions of power, and were
blessing the whole Land. The Hand of
Providence was plainly to be seen in the
planting Of this Quaker colony. The des-
tiny of nations in great measure depend
and on the intelligence and humanity of
their rulers cited from the career of Ma
poleon. The school teacher was war.
rior fighting for the fual triumph of
Truth and Justice. The instructors of
youth begin at the fountain head of hu-
man life and their profession in granduer
is second to none in the world. Like the
soft materials of the rock in its incipient
stages on which the tiny insect can trace
its name and character, yet when its
granite particles have become consolidat-
ed can dash aside the mountain torrent
or turn away the deadly thunder bolt and
only yields to the touch of the magic rod
of the chosen servant of the Almighty,
so the human heart III Its infancy Is suS
ceptible to all the influences of truth and
religion; yet when hardened by the tread
of Time and chilled by the frosts of age
is hard and unimpressib!e as the finty
rock !; consequently the importance of
the teachers vocation. His habits and
manners would be copied, and above ali
would the influence of his morals be felt
on the tender mind of childhood. The
teacher could not be too sound IN any de-
partment of virtue; for he was the ruhng
spirit, the controlling power Of bis pccu-
liar institution. \ large fund OF general
information was necessary in order that
all the demands of his pupils may be an
swered. He spoke eloquently and at
length of all the duties and relations of
the teacher; urged them onward to the
discharge of every responsibility. His