Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-12-23
educational Column.
W. H. PRIoEAUx, EDITOR.
Professional Reading.

Professional Reading.
In teaching, as in other departments of
life. certain means are requisite to effect the
end desired The individual who assumes
the position of teacher. with little or no
special preparation, must fail in part, if not
altogether, to accomplish the work before
him. In all other occupations preparation
is indispensable. A person cannot find en-
ployment as an artisan, professional man,
clerk or laborer, until he has passed through
some course of training. No one will com
nit even an animal to the training of per-
son who knows nothing about that animal.
Why will parents and school officers commit
the care and education of their children to
those who are ignorant of the methods of
training and instructing them? In nearly
all other occupations the length of time nee
essary for preparation varies with the deli
cacy and value of the materials used. The
more costly the material. the longer the
preparation required. What material more
valuable than the human mind and the hu-
man heart? The whole universe is of less
value than a single soul. The teacher, there
fore, of all others, should have a special
preparation for the duties of his profession.
1t is not enough that he possess a knowl-
edge of the branches to be taught. or that
he be active and diligent in his labors. 1t
is true, these are very important and essen
tial qualifications, but the teacher must know
hour to teach. He must be able to present
truths to the young and tender mind, in
such a manner that it can grasp them and
understand their meaning. He must know
what subjects to present and when to present
them, so as to awaken an interest in the
minds of his pupils, to rivet their attention
them eager for the acquisition of knowledge.
in our estimation, is the essential qualifica
ton of the teac her. If this be true, then
the necessity on the part of the teacher of a
thorough preparation for the duties of his
profession. And who does not perceive that
this should include. as a leading feature, the
careful study of works on teaching? Young
teachers, after having secured certificates,
too often think they are all sufficient for the
responsible duties of their new vocation,
without further preparation. They do not
seem to realize the fact, in cases of poor
qualifications in the branches of instruction,
that they are allowed to teach through ne
cessity caused by a scarcity of properly
qualified teachers In many cases, instead
of improving their time in perfecting their
knowledge of the common school branches,
and reading works relating to their profes-
sion, they spend their time in idleness. What
is stated here of young teachers is also too
true of the older ones. We venture to say
not one in five, of the one hundred and fifty
three teachers in this county, take the
''School Journal" or have works relating
to teaching. The mind of child is 10y far
too important an object to be trifed with
to be experimental upon. 1t is your high
privilege to train the immortal mind, to
write down deep in the soil of primal con-
sciousness, principles and sentiments that
are to bless their possessor and benefit the
race: study, therefore, carefully and dill
gently the experience of those who have
been successful as instructors of the young.
Teachers of Clearfeld county, you have,
in the language of your Superintendent,
attracted the attention of all the surround
ing counties, by your zeal and enthusiasm"
in your improvementin the common branch
es; but all must admit, the teachers of this
county are behind their profession in regard
to reading educational books aud education
al journals This should not be so, and we
would say to teachers everywhere, prize
highly the inheritance you have received
from the pat. Procure ''Wickersham' s
School Economy" Pages Theory" or
Northend's Teacher and Parent" and the
School Journal, and study diligently the
example of others who have won distinction
in your profession. Acquaint yourselves
thoroughly with the methods CT instruction
which they have left for your guidance, and
thus not only will you become better pre-
pared to meet the responsibilities of your
position, but you will. at the same time, be
fixed with that zeal in the cause of learning
which has enabled them to labor in it so
faithfully and so well. **
ToST TINE I pt any man mass an eyen-