The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30
TO TEACHERS.


vice. During all that time ,.m not con-
scious of ever having left NY school
room fully satisfied with what had been
able to accomplish, and have seldom
entered it in the morning without kind
of confident hope that might make
semo improvement on the previous days
effurts | shall not, therefore be charged
with vanity in this communication, but
shall be grateful for the result OF the OBJ
servaiIons of others in return.
Every teacher who feels the response
bility of his station will be anxious to
leave no means uutried 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. l
will venture 20 say that there is no pro-
fesslon that needs more eminently every
good qualification than this. On their
hearts there should be written the law of
love, and ION their lips the law Of kind
ness" Even in the needful severity
sometimes unavoidable, there is no ne
eessity for any other feeling but kind
ness, and there certainly can be no truer
friendship than that which leads us in
right manner to point out the faults OF
others, and to aid in teaching them cor
rection. In relation to the physical vel
fare Of our pupils, we should .endeavor to
have the school room always comfortable
4 tol a for IN
fuence extends, to have the seats SO con-
structed that the symmetry Of the human
frame be not marred or the health Jured
Of their moral improvement too, we are
lever to be unmludful High intellec-
tual attainments would avail but little, if
the habits were bad aud the heart vicious.
Nothing secetariap should be introduced
into the school room, but from the broad
fields of christian principle, we may gath
er everywhere garlands of Immortality -
Though | have always used the Bible i'll
echool, | know of no instance where OBJ
lection has been made TO it. Nor would
| consent to teach where it was prohibit.
ed. As q nation We acknowledge the
Divine government and the sanctions OF
the Divine law; aud when we remember
that the plants we cultivate are lmmOr
tai, why should We not bring to orr a:
the pune precepts Of the Law Of Love?
| have thought We might benefit each
so,her by brief descriptions Of onr own
schools. | have seldom visited Il school
without receiving some hints worth car
rying away, aud such hints may be recip-
rocated through this excellent neC iun
provided for US.
Our school is divided into two depart,
ments, according to grade of studies
This arrangement, though not generally
practicable in country districts, will al
ways be found beneficial in large villages
and cities, as it enables The teacher to
classify to SO much better advantage.
And il should be burue in nina that il
is not SO much the number uf scholars a.
the number of classes that 1t dimln:.hes
a teachers ability to devote much tine to
each. The department under my charge
contains about one hundred scholars, uu
der the care of two teachers. The smal
lest can read readily and learn lessons -
The roll il called precisely at nIne and
at half past one, aud all who are then
rres ont have u mark FIR punc;uality set
to their names, wh,ch together with every
correct recitation, and Various other exer
ciSes, furnish materials for monthly re
rort, sent home To parentS. 1hl> meth"d
afford+ good substitute for taking pla-
ces in class and Lperatcs much mUre
fairly on scholars As vocal music has
beer taught IN the school during he year,
we frequently commence by singing -
Sometimes TOO, amidst the school exer-
cises, starting song gives pleasing va,
rety, soothes the wayward, aud rouse>
the dull.
The morning hours are devoted to reci
tations and reading, and the hours Of the
afternoon mainly writing and arithmetic.
Spelling exercises are varied, sometimes
Ly writing on states of which every Schol
az has one, and sometimes from books -
Much advantage has been derived from
the library, which consists of well Sc.
lected series of more than five hundred
volumes. These are given out on the
first aud third Wednesday OF each month,
to all who do not forfeit The privilege by
misconduct, and aids essentially in pro.
noting self control. The habit Of self.
control is so highly important, and has a
tendency 50 to secure every other attaln-
ment, that too great etfort cannot be made
10 secure it, Kindred to this and abso.
lulely necessary to good scholarship, is
the habit of attention. To do one thing
at time, and 10 concentrate the powers
of the mind on that, is an attainment
greatly important.
But after all Of our exertions We shall
find much to exercise o1r patience, and
if We cnntinue long in the business. we
II !