Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-12-18
Our school and its Teachers.

lege which we have attempted to erect 10
improve and to establish for them. We
have next attempted to provide fuel,
books and apparatus. and last, though
not least, competent and efficient teachers.
And to these teachers as our servants, we
propose TO address a few remarks.
Though you may claim age and expert
ence, or youth and inexperience, while
you are in our employment, it is our spe'
cial privilege to bring up for your con
sideration few practical suggestions.
And first, your success and usefulness
will depend quite as much upon what
you avoid, as upon the things you do.
The first and most important thing to
avoid is jealousy or prejudice on the part
of the pupil. This once fixed in his
mind and the task of retaining him is
hopeless. This is free country, and
these are free schools, but often, alas I!
too often we see distinction made by
teachers between the richer and poorer
classes; and an exclusive privilege is of
ten claimed by person because he pays
heavy taxesl All! friend, you have mis-
taken your province. You are taxed
because you enjoy these privileges, but
you have no claims on that account, and
neither teacher or director can regard
your claims because you are rich. You
may yet learn that the children of a
community are public property, and as
such the property of community should
educate them. Hence every scholar in
our school is entitled to the same care,
the same privileges, the same protection
and the same encouragement. Poverty
is no standard of morality, and riches
are no standard of intellect. Rene mber
that greenbacks may carry as big a
green-horn through college as ever car
ried hod or followed piow, while the
want Of them may keep even Shaks-
peare at home. The man who objects
TO bis money being used to educate the
children of the community in Which he
lives, should sell out at once and seek
more barbarous state of society, where
ignorance reigns, and moral and mental
darkness prevail. This important fact
settled, we propose to partieularize.
The next thing to be looked after is
the school room. Keep it involate. Let
no truant hand mar or efface the school
house or APPENDICES. Have an eye con
stantly on the watch, and avoid even the
beginning of injury. With much labor,
care and expense we have put your house
in order, and we should be grieved TO see
the glass fractured, the chairs and desks
marred or effaced, or even the floor be
spattered with ink, or covered with spit
tie. Alb! indeed, here is useless, yea,
even a nauseous, destructive, pernicious
habit which should be entirely suppress
ed. The laws of health, and the laws of
decency demand it.
And here it may not be amiss to re-
mark that you should not lose your pa
tience while perusing this article, or when
other Of your employers presume TO ad-
wise. Keep cool, and weigh we'll our
suggestions, and when we call TO visit
you and your school. do not be caught
making excuses. The teacher who is
really good at this, is seldom good at
anything else. Keep your house in or
der, aud keep things generally in order,
and you will have no occasion to make
excuse.
Children naturally and readily conform
to the company they keep, as we'll as 9th
er surroundings. If your school room
more nearly resembles blacksmith shop
than parlor, they will treat it as they
would the shop. And so vice Uersa.
Avoid personalities. If you have &C.
casion to correct, to reprove and to in
fict punishment, be cautious. Make
no lnvidious distinctions, and do not dis
grace the scholar. Promptly suppress
an evil, but be not hasty in reproof; and
then, too reserve some powder for future
use. Never expend all your favor, affec-
ton OF reproof upon single instance of
good or evil doing. Avoid anger always,
and "learn to devour the chagrins of
your lot"
Friendly teachers, every where, to your
care and instruction, have fond mothers
and dot:ng fathers submitted their chill
dren of hope and promise, and we need
not tell you that yours is heavenly mis-,
sion. If your heart is in your work. and
position before them and with them is
what it should be, your every act will in
fluence their character and conduct
through future life. No man--no wom-