The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-07-29
For TEE Ta1BrFz.
TEACHERS AND TEACHING.

TEACHERS AND TEACHING.
1t seems to the writer, that our judg
ment upon this subject is more deficient
than upon any other. There is a great
diversity of opinion with regard to the
endowments necessary.
beg permission humbiy to state my
opinion as parent and citizen. During
the last twenty years of my life, have
thought great deal upon this subject;
have noticed a great deal, and have list
ened most earnestly to the various views
taken on the subject In order to deter
mine with greater accuracy the requisites
OF the teacher, let us speak of his duties:
| The first, the rery first duty of the teach
err is to gain the love and respect of his
scholars; without this faculty, be assured
that he does not possess the magic kew
which is to unlock the store house of
learning to his pupils When this re-
quisite can be dispensed with, you will
find cities built in the air, water no longer
moist, and poor human nature reversed.
The child S affection must be gained, and
kept. The teacher ought to be able to
say truthfully: II study every day, my
self, and know this, or that method OF
study to be the best" But how can he
say that unless he is himself student?
The third qualification of the teacher is
love Of his profession, and a fourth, to
| be good scholar himself. The fifth
qualification is indispensably necessary to
an ACCOMPLISHED teacher; viz: free use,
and easy command of language, for of
what use is the knowledge of the teacher
if he can not impart it? He should have
skill in the classification of his scholars,
should be able at all times to create good
humor and withal to maintain good order.
These are all qualities which teacher
ought tc possess in order to be an ercel-
lent teacher. Now among what classes
are we likely to find the most of these
qualities? 1t would be hard to ind the
man who can gain your clilds love, if he
he does not love the child; and not one
man IN thousand can loue Children
unless he himself is father. ''In all
my life (says an old teacher I never
knew young man who could gain, and
keep the respect of children think
he is right. The most propitious age is
from 80 to so. Many again allow the
idea of greatness, as they imagine, to
overthrow wholly the essential qualities
of the teacher. Who doubts but that if
the governor of New York, should to-day
rest on his chair of state, and to morrow
seek common school in the rural dis
trlcts, but what every one would willing
ly receive him with pride and pay him
the highest wages? And yet who he,
lleves he would be tall competent? Even
the renowned pugilist, Morrissey, would
stand an excellent chance of getting a
school. for is he not celebrated as a pu-
gilist, and great man.
Yesterday overheard a remark to the
effect that if we could but have the SER
vices Tin one Of our schools) of the pres.
ident Of certain ccllege-we would be
we'll suited. What an idea! As well
expect the president of railroad to
make an excellent engineer or fireman
or sea captain, to make good cook.
The duty of the president of the college,
and those Of the teacher Of common
school, are by no means similar. While
the latter teaches, the former superin-
tends the municipal regulations, sees to
the finance and sometimes hears classes
IN one or two branches.
We may judge something of the ability
Of our teacher by the voice of our children
they are shrewd guessers, they see a
teachers defects quickly and are not slow
to point them out. Still the ideas of the
children should be received with great
care and hesitancy and single opinions
avoided.
Very Respectfully,
! FINNEY.