The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-12-27


The REvEREND w. H. CAMPBELL, d. D.,
President of Rutgers College, addressed The
graduating class of The New Jersey State
Normal School, upon The Essentials for a
Successful Teacher, in appropriate ''terms," "
from whose address we clip the following
remarks upon one of these essentials:
THIRST ToR KNOWLEDGE.
Appreciating the end Of his own being,
the teacher himself wishes 10 knOv, that he
may do. II is not merely knowledge for
itself, for the mere sake OF knowing, which
is desired. This would be mere curiosity,
which is by no means an elevated feeling
If one knew all the languages into which
Babel has cleft the earth, and were that the
end Of his acquisition, day laborer, with a
very moderate share oil knowledge of his
mother tongue, but who took the well-being
OF others into his thoughts and feelings, his
plans and ends, would be not only better
man in The moral aspects of the question,
but also better educated man, in the true
sense of The word education. Nor is the
knowledge sought because, by the acquisi
tion, its possessor can become rich and
powerful. This is mere seIfshness, which
is base and sordid feeling; and wherever
il gets the mastery il renders man so con-
sciously base that, self-condemned, he ex-
cludes himself, as unworthy, from the soci-
ETY. and converse o! men of eminent virtue
and philanthropy. But The thirst for knowl-
edge, which the good can approve, is his
who, while he does not ignore self, or seek
TO be better than our Lord required, srce
he commands US 10 love our neighbor as
omselE nevertheless wishes TO know much
in order that he may do more, which will
be beneficial unlo others.
In word, then, Ihe successful teacher
must irst have become successful scholar.
He must, in some way or other, have learn
ed the lesson, and learned il thoroug hly,
that a man is not his own, having no rela-
lions or aflinilies to others. He is placed
here to be rain and sunshine, fresh air and
fragrance, food and flowers, any thing and
every thing that is good and beautiful, con-
solatory and strengthening, reforming and
purifying, unto every one that needs his
help and unto whom he is able to render
it. Let this big thought come down into the
soul (and what coniractibility of heart must
have been overcome before this thought
could find room in these shriveled, shruken
souls of ours)-let this big thought, | say,
come down into the soul, and it converts
the man al once into a mos; diligent learner.
What must do, and how can my duty be
best done are now the life-questions which
are ever being asked, and unto which ready
answers are also ever vouchsafed for here
he who asks receives, and he who seeks
finds. And new, on the strength of the an
swers, you find him diligently prosecuting
his work of preparation for future usefulness.
Grammer, Geography, Mathematics, Na,u-
raj Sciences, Menta. or Moral Philosophy,
Latin or Greek, French or German, whatev-
er it be whereby his usefulness can be pro.
moied, is unweariedIy pursued. Early and
late you find him employed, and no figure
of speech brings up SO foreibly before US
The desire which ever prompts his actions
that just used bJ US when We spoke OF
thirst for knowledge.
Now put the young man who has gone
through such experiences into school
room, and would you not expect him to sue
coed! Can you be near fire and no: get
warm? Shall the sun shine, and darkness
not flee away? Shall young woman pass
before you day by Gay in the schoo lroom,
who has cousecrated herself for the good OF
the children 10 lite of WEAKNESS, bearing
their perveTseness and waywardness, and
maniiesting an unceasiug regard for the
welfare of her pupils, without becoming
more fragrant 10 their moral senses than
perfumes and spices are TO our natural or
gans Before such a teacher an unwilling
ness 10 study this subject or that would pass
away as soon as the precepl of the teacher,
fortified by her own beautiful example, had
taken hold of the tender heart of the pupil,
and convinced him wholly that any study
was to be loved aud pursued according as
il was fitted 10 make him better and more
useful
II is back of the school-room where the
success may be gained, tha, the foundation
OF that success was laid. In the private
chamber, where seen only by God, he de-
voted himself 10 life of usefulness; in the
distant rural school-house, where under
many and almost insurmountable cifficul-
lies, he prosecuted his studies; in the rooms
of this noble institution, where his industry
and regard for everything tha, is seenly and
good, has made bis name aImos; proverb,
in these spots his success was gained
Here he has sown, and what remained for
him was TO 60 forth and reap his harvest.
HoLIANp-The education OF the people is