The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-11-02
An A ipD II # 3 -,
Delivered 1efore the Monroe County
Teachers Assoc.atiou, BY tho Rev, Z.
A. Grore, October L, 1859.
The True Spirit Of d Teacher.

be easily over.e estimated, and he who at
tempts to fill it should well consider the
immense responsibilities which rest upoh
him. He should clearly comprehend
the nature and magnitude of the duties
he assumes, that he may correctly judge
of his own fitness rightly to discharge
them.
This is the part Of true wisdom, and
no one should be so rash and inconsid
crate, as to undertake the performance
OF any important work, without we'll
grounded assurance of ability to prose
cute it to successful and satisfactory
issue Who would attempt the con-
structioE OF piece of machinery, with
out proper knowledge of the nature of
the work to be performed, and a famil-
iarity with the various processes neces-
sary to its completion. A tri1ing error
might render valueless the work Of
months. Who would be so inconsider-
ate rs to commence the erection Of a
dwelling house, without proper knowl-
edge of the principles and rules of arch
itecture and carpentry. Ignorance would
cause a waste OF property, and d failure
to secure the ends desired. What sane
man would assume the command of a
ship freighted with valuable merchan,
disc, and more valuable lives, without
possessing Q. proper acquaintance with
the principles of navigation and sea-
manship; slight error in calculation
might prove the loss of thousands of
dollars, and the destruction Of human
beings, whose loss cannot be measured
by dollars. What wise man would un-
dertake the training of young and spir-
tied horse, without some knowledge Of
the task to be performed, and of the ma
ture of the animal whose discipline he
undertakes. A wrong course might tend
to render worse than useless beast that,
rightly trained, would be of great SER
vice.
If, then, care, prudence, judgment, ,and
wisdom, are so essential to th9success-
full prosecution of work, whose nature
is SO ephemeral, low can we attach too
much weight to high qualifications and
skill in iim who is to train and educate
the imperishahle minds of the young ?
If the work of him who engages in the
polishing AND adornment of jewels and
prescious stones is considered important,
how much more so is the work of him
who is called to the polishing and emo
bling of those priceless and deathless
jewels, which are so confdingly resigned
10 the influence Of teachers Lord John
Russell, in a speech before the British
and Foreign School Society, thus spoke
Of the duties of the teacher: Every
step we take, every year that passes over
our heads, only tends to show that, to
teach well, to elevate the minds of chill
dren, to emplant in them religious and
moral principals, to send them from
school in a fit state 70 take their part in
the community, in whatever portion OF
the business of life that may be intruS
ted to them, is one of the most impor,
tant and difficult tasks which any man
can undertake" The teacher is labor,
er in work of the utmost consequence
and interest, So far as relates both to the
present and future well-beng of those
with whom, and for whom, he deyoteS
his time and talents and while q due ap
probation, correct knowledge, and faith
tul discharge Of appropriate duties, will
lead to a most desirable degree of true
eXaltation; 4 wrong estimate, a want ot
clear understanding, or an untaithful per
tormance of them, will tend to the injury
and depression of both teacher and pu
lpl. to an extent proportionate to the de
gree of the deficiency. When we con
slider that there are, within our country
hundreds Of thousands of youth, of ;
school going age, whose future success
happiness, ard usefulness, depend in ST
great degree upon the nature and eX
tent Of their school l-training, and schoo
influences; with what weightv power fol
good or i'll, does the consideration inves
the tens of thousands of teachers, t
whose care and training they are intrust
ed. The phrase 1.-The schoolmaster il
abroad" is on the tongue Of all; anC
yet how few know auGht Of its origin Of
appreciate its force. A late writer in tn,
National Era, thus speaks: mo orato
of our times is more successful thar
Lord Brougham in embalming phrase:
tull of meaning in the popular memory
The well-known taismanic sentiment
"the Schoel'paster is abroad,n is an in
stance. In a speech on the elevation o
Wellington, mere military chieftain. t.
the premiership, after the death Of Can
ming, Lord Brougham said, Field-mar
shal The duke Of Wellington may tax,
the army, he may take the navy, he may
take the ni:tre. make him present 0
them al. Let him come on with hi
whole force, sword in hand, against th,
Constitution, and the English people vii
no. only beat him back, but will langl
at his assaults In other times, the coun
try may have heard With dismay tha
1.-The soldier was abroad" It is not 81
now. Let the soldier be abroad, if HI
will ;he can do nothing in this age Their,
is another parsonage abroad-a persoI
less imposing; in the eyes of some, per
baps, Insignificant. The schoolmaSter i
abroad; and l trust to him, armed will
his primmer. against the soldier, in ful
military array" A writer in Blackwood
Magazine. in the outpouring Of his bit
terness against liberal institutions, dating
from Canada West, unwittingly give
the following testimony in favor of tn
influence of class whom he affects t.
dispise: "But there is no circumstance
perhaps, that we could mention, tha
could convey better idea of the rela
tive regard for England and the United
States of the class Of people VIC hav,
been describing, than the fact, well know
to every person who has lived anon.
them, that YANKEE SCHooLMAsrER
without either education or intelligenc,
with nothing On earth to recommend
him, save an inveterate propensity tt
vapouring and meddling in the affairs
religious and political of every sect aat
class wherever he goes-can and ever
has, exercised more influence among
them, in few months, than a who'll
neighborhood of English gentlemen
could in years. And We speak nethe
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