Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-10-17
From the District School Journal
To Teachers.

10 IeaCnerS.
As the time has now arrived when many Of
you are commencing winter schools, will you
permit few plain and practical suggestions
from one who has been more than twenty years
in the service. During all that time | am not
conscious of ever having left my school room
fully satisfied with what had been able to ac-
compsh, and | have seldom entered it in the
morning without kind of confident hope that
| might make some improvement on the pre-
vious days efforts. | shall not, therefore, be
charged with vanity in this communication, but
shall be grateful for the result of the obserya-
tions of others in return.
Every teacher who feels the responsibility
of his station will be anxious to leave no means
untried for promoting the best interests Of his
pupils. Nor will he forget the extent Of his
duties-reaching not only to the intellectual,
but the physical and the moral nature | will
venture to say that there is no profession that
needs more eminentiy every good qualification
than this. Ou their hearts there should be
written the law Of love, and :" on their lips the
law Cf kindness" Even in the needfu severity
sometimes unavoidable, there is no necessity
for any other feeling but kindness, and there
certainly can be no truer friendship than that
which leads rs in q rich manner to point out
the faults of others, and to aid in teaching them
correction. In relation to the physical welfare
OF our pupils, we should enGeavOr to have the
school room always comfortable and well ven-
tllated, and as far as our Influence extends, to
have the seats so constructed that the symmetry
Of the human frame be not marred or the
health injured. OF their moral Improvement
tOO we are never to be uumindfu High in
tellectual attainments wOnld avail but little, if
the habits were bad and the heart vicious--
Nothing sectarian should be introduced into
the school room, bat from the broad fields of
christian principle, we may gather every.
where gar!andS Of Immortality. Though |
have always used the Bible in school, know
of no instance where objection has been made
to it. Nor would | consent to teach where it
was prohibited. As a nation we acknowledge
the Divine government and the sanctions of the
Divine law ; and when we remember that the
plants we cultivate are immortal, why should
we not bring to our aid the pure preceps of the
Law of Love
l have thought we might benefit each other
by brief descriptions of our own schools |
have seldom visited school without receiving
some hints worth carrying away and such hints
may be recprocated through this excellent
medium provided for u.s.
Our school is divided into two departments,
according to grade of studies. This arrange:
ment though not generally practicable id
country DISTRICTS will always be found benefI
clal IN large villages and cities, as it Ienables
the teacher 10 classify to so much better adj
vantage. And it should be borne in mind that
it is not so much the number of scholars as the
number OF classes that dimiDishes a teachers
ability TO devote much time TO each The de-
partment under my charge contains about 100
scholars, under the care of two teachers The
smallest can read readily and learn lessons
The roll is called precisely at 8 and at half
past |, and all who are then present have q
mark for punctuality set to their Names which
together with every correct recitation, and
various other eXerc seS, furnish materials for a
molthly report, sent home to parents. This
method affords q good substitute for taking
places in class, and operates much more fairly
on scholars. AS vocal music has been taught
in the school during the year, we frequently
commence by singing. Sometimes too, amidst
the school exercises, starting a song gives
pleasing variety, Soothes the wayward, and
rouSeS the dull
The morning hours are devoted to rectations
and reading, and the hours of the afternoon
CiSes are varied sometimes by writing on states
of which every scholar has one, aud sometimes
from books Much advantage has been deriv-
ed from the library, which consists of well
selected series of more than 500 volumes
These are given out on the first and third We'd
nesday o. each montb,to all who do not forfeit
the privilege by misconduct, and aids essential
ly 10 promoting self control. The habit Of
self-control is SO highly important, and has a
tendency so to secure every other attainment,
that too great effort cannot be made to secure
it. Kindred 10 this and absolutely necessary
to good scholarship, is the habit of attention.
To do one thing at time, and to concentrate
the powers of the mind on that, is an attain
ment greatly important.
But after all our exertionS we shall find much
to exercise our patience, and if we continue
long in the business We shall be in great danger
of acquiring dictatorial spirit, which will often
manifest itself in our intercourse with men.
XII
Troy, December.