St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-10-25

THE TEACHER.
The amount of learning received
'"hllc at school, though exceedingly
useful, is the smaller part of the ben
ctit derived from schools. 1t is the
discipline of mind, the concentration
OF thought, the power of analysis and
reasonlng-thc learning the child Il
h'"h tOr itself, which is most useful to
1t in after life. Education, in its
widest sense, to be valuable, must be
practical, and much of this cannot be
acquired at school but the complete.
ness Of the mental superstructure
necessary for superior attainments,
depends largely upon the direction
given to the faculties while at school.
What do you intrust to the teacher
lhe souls and bodies Of your child
rem, for q part of the time, to be
moulded at the teachers will, and at
that plastic period when they are
wax TO receive and marble to retain "
impressions Do parents AMI school
officers realize all this as they ought
IN employing teachers The rcspon-
slblIIty Of the teacher is hardly sec
ond TO that Of the parent. What are
the qualifications commonly sought
the considerations that frequently de-
eide the choice Is it qualifications,
dollars and cents, or something else ?
Brains as. dOllars-dOllars rs. brains.
There you have the most common
formula. Other questions are some
times allowed to govern the choice.
Among these are literary attainments,
successful school government, moral
character, aptness to teach, politics,
religious views or the want of any,
nationality, social qualities, physical
strength, family ties, &c, &c.,--to the
end Of human schemes and selfish
ness.
There is no noblcr, higher or more
responsible calling than that of teach
ing, and if SO, what should be its re-
ward The highest talents usually
command the highest price in eve
ry occupation. Do you plead the
poverty Of new county? Can you
| afford poor schools You cannot clc-
vatc and advance the interests of any
community by poor schools, but you
can materially by good ones With
good wages, You can insist upon high
er qualifications than at present.
Teaching should be a distinct and
honorrd profession, but this is not
possible in all cases.
What Of your teacher? Why did
you employ him? Why is he a teach
er? Is it because he iorcs it, or loves
money, dislikcs manual labor, or was
out of other employment, and has no
idea of making it permanent busi-
ness? If you need the services of a
lawyer, physician. mechanic or labor
er, what is the question:? Qualitica-
tons, ability, experience is it not so?
How do You value the immortal
spirit Of your children? Your teach
er is TO teach, if he teaches at all, not
only Ivy prccept and from books, but
10y example, the most impressive and
lasting Of all teaching. You should
inquire not only about his ability to
| teach the common branches" but
/ should carefully scrutiuize the charac-
/ ter and habits of the individual. Is
he temperate in eating and drinking,
and in all his habits Docs he use
tobacco, or alcoholic liquors as bev-
crage? Is lie protanc, lounger
about public places, tardy, idle, "too
lazy to work." untidy, tattlcr, mis-
chief maker? Has he good health,
patience, energy, decision, persevcr-
ancc, and above all, is he kind, COM
municativc and truthful, without af-
fectation, possessed Of sclt-control,
one who teaches chiefly because he
loves it and loves children, and has
exalted views of teaching? Is the
candidate that style Of man or wo-
man that you are willing your child
rem should initiate, as they certainly
will to great extent!
To err in Judgment, at times, is tic
misfortune of all, but when you can
find a teacher who opprorimates pretty
nearly to the above standard, and who
has fair knowledge OF the subjects
usually taught, including as it always
should, some general knowledge ot
physiology, or the laws of life and
health, you had better secure the ser
vices of such teacher if possible
and almost regardless Of expense
and when you have secured him Of
hcr--as you can only in good schoo
room-retain the same teacher, a
least for several terms, and until yol
are sure you can obtain a superior
Then visit your schools regularly, anc
ryou will certainly elevate them viii
elevate the community, will enhance
! the value of your property far above
: what it has cost pecuniarlly ; youl
fame shall go abroad, the most desira
| bic class of inhabitants will seek YOU
c society, improve your vacant lands
L and render your county the pride ane
), emulation Of all around,