The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-11-05
Conventional Column,
Professional Interest among
Teachers.

Professional Interest among
Teachers.
1t is commendable feature of society
that the members of each profession man
ifest sympathy for each other, and chez
lsh SO much love for their professional
work. Great good results from Medical,
Legal, Literary and Theological Associa-
tons, formed for the purpose of exchang-
ing valuable experiences---of coming uns
der the sway of social influences-of cul
tivating professional feeling. In all, the
tendency is to make the members better,
wiser, more effective in the discharge of
their duties. 1t is natural to expect, and
usual to find, that those who are members
of such associations; who participate in
their exercises, and subject themselves to
their influences, will far surpass those who
manifest so little interest in their work as
to let suoh opportunities pass unimproved
and unenjoyed
There is another profession, which in
many OF its aspects surpasses all these in
Importance profession which imposes
upon its members the duty of molding of
developing, of educating of creating
ideas and habits rather than of curing, Of
compromising, Of correcting vices and
shortcomlngs-and still involves all
those duties -the teacAer'S profession.
None of the professions mentioned re.
quires SO much careful training as his,
and yet none receives so little. AS an
lustration of the necessity that exists for
the cultivation of professional interest and
efficiency we may mention that we
find in Medicine, Law, Literature
and the Ministry, persons of various
ages, but all carefully prepared for
the discourage of their duties, and in
creasingin power, influence and usefulness
with age and experienoe--at least till age
and decrepitude begin to take possession
Of body and mind. And yet the duties
of the teachers profession, and all it's
fearful responsibilities, are met and dis
charged by class of teachers in our
county, very few of whom have had any
professional training, and not one OF
whom, we think, has reached the age of
forty years, and a great majority but
twenty-five.
Let us not be misunderstood. We are
not complaining of our teachers. On the
contrary, we are gratifed with the spirit
we have found among them. We are even
disposed to be proud of them when com
pared with the teachers of other counties
we have met. Not many of our teachers
need be told of the advantages of associa-
ton; or that, as the young surgeon, when
called to perform dangerous operation, is
benefited by knowing exactly how men
of experience have performed the same
operation before, and how it resulted, so
the young teacher is necessarily bene-
flied by every meeting of teachers that he
attends.
But with all the harmony and earnest
ness we find, there Is still need of much
careful preparation for daily duties, and
careful cultivation of professional feeling.
We are not all yet enough withdrawn from
thoughts of other duties-duties outside
of our profession. Let US not defraud our
pupils by giving TO agricultural or other
pursuits the attention that belongs to
them.
Let US become acquainted with the
works Of those teachers who have written,
and are still writing for our instruction
with Page, Ogden, Northend, Barnard,
Fowler, circuit, Bates and Hart, and with
all the educational journals within our
reach. Every teacher should know how
to avoid the drawing out process" and
the pouring in process" and should I'M
derstand the "better way" of ." waking
up mind" Let Teachers Associations be
formed in every town. Let every teacher
belong to some Association, holding week
ly or semi-weeklY meetings When the
roll of the County Teachers Association
is called next winter, let every teacher en-
gagged in the county respond "Present"-
thus giving evidence that he considers the
cultivation of professional interest and
efficiency not only an agreeable choice, but
a stern duty. S.
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