Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-05-22
Employment Of Teachers.

The duty to hire a teacher to il
struct the school devolvcs on the sui
director. Though it is said that ther
is considerable machinery in our pres
cnt, excellent school system, it j
something different from mere ma
chine. In mechanics, an article hay
ing been manufactured by passing
through the machinery, it is taken fo
granted that it will answer its designed
purpose. 1t is not so with the teacher
She may pass satisfactory examina
tion and receive a certificate, and still
may be incompetent to teach and gov
ern her school properly. and when this
is found to be the case, the Supcrin
tendent may at his discretion revoke
the certificate granted. The Superin
tcndent would not be justified in with.
holding a certificate ii the teacher sue
cceds in the examination, though there
might be a question whether she would
be able to manage the school properly
1t is obvious that not every proper
ly qualified teacher can succeed in
any, or every school. Some schools
are larger and in other respects more
difficult to control than others. Here
is necessity for the exercise of sound,
impartial judgment by the sub-direct,
or. He should be actuatcd by an hon.
orable desire to benefit those for whom
he acts, and these are the children of
the district. The teacher, who in his
Judgment will be most useful in the
school, should be employed. He
should know no other consideration.
He acts, or should act, not for himself,
not for any particular friend. but for
the children. He should consider their
rights and privileges. With por-
tion Of them it is their all. 1t is vast
ly more important that the interests Of
these children should be respected,
than the personal interest of other in
dividuals. 1t is with this view that
the means are provided for sustaining
the schools /; and it is desirable to
have the right teacher in the right
place, that is in the school where she
can succeed in having good school,
one properly governed and we'll taught.
The public, the whole public, whcth-
er so regarded or not, has an i'm
mediate interest in this matter. The
strength of q State depends, in a
great measure, upon the character of
it's citizens. Our security for the
future" is in the virtue and intclli-
gence of those who are to be the fu-
turc citizens Of this, and other States
of our Union.
A misapprehension exists in regard
to teachers suitable to have charge Of
small scholars. 1t is quite as neces-
sary to make a judicions selection of
a teacher for small scholars as for
school of large pupils, especially for a
school Of large number.
The children during the first terms
Of attending school form their school
habits in regard to reading, conversa-
ton, use Of language, manner and
behavior at school, and many other
things. The teacher for these little
ones should he qualified by nature,
aptness. inclination and manner for
her task. She should have love for
children, patience, method and tact so
as to be able to command and secure
attention without apparent effort, Of
one or more of her pupils at the same
time, and to awaken and form within
their minds love Of order, ncatncss
and a desire for Improvement. The
beginning Of school life should be
proper and correct. both in relation to
behavior and learning. \ little good
instruction is more valuable, than any
amount of different character. With
the utmost care some errors will be
acquired and some habits formed,
which it will take much time and eli.
fort to unlearn. Hence the impor-
tancc of having good examples, cor.
rect methods of instruction and pro.
priety and accuracy in all things for
those SO easily influenced.
"'Iis education forms the common mind
Just as the twig is bent the tree s inclined.