Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-08-19
tTeacners' Column.
Organ Of ile TvacuvlS' Association.


:H"H @*s xxx 4 M!?%$i1S$ %$yGI%$ir d:"~:: H*:::
Permanent Teachers.
Can any common school system, how
ever wisely and libcrally framed, and
however cordially sustained by the pco-
plc, make the common schools Of our
Stale essentially better than they now
are, without more Of pcrmanenco in the
employment Of teaching?
In looking over the schools Of our
country, it would sccm that it Was cx-
prcss?y designed that the duty of iu-
structiny the young should always be
in the hands ofarrrenticcs.
It is certainly true, that the great
m:!j,rity Of the tcachers Of the country
are very young persons. It is, of course
right and proper that SUCH should en-
gage in the business Of teaching as in
all other pursuits, but it is decidedly
unfortunate for tho interests Of any
class of schools, that SO few remain in
; this employment until tho period Of life
when tho judgment is presumed to be
most mature.
1t is conceded almost univcrs ally,
,, that the present condition of our COM
mon schools, even of the best, is feeble.
Reforms are needed in every depart
ment of labor material agencies are
yet to be supplied, and a new spirit is
to be infused into the entire system of
common school instruction. Can it be
expected that the necessary improve
ments will be devised and carried for
ward, the best method Of instruction
sought out and adopted by those who
design to remain but the very shortest
possible time in the employment? Let
it be always remembered by all friends
of schools, that Improvement in school
affairs, like improvements in mechanics,
or the common affairs of life, are the
results of careful observation and reAcc-
ton, connected with practical expert
ence in other words thought and labor
,nitcd, give us most of the valuable i'm
proyements which we witness around
US. Reference to the records Of the
Patent Office of the U. States, will show
that our improvements, from the least
to the greatest, are by practical labor
ing men. School improvements SO far
as they can be traced, may also univer-
sally be traced to talent and experience
united :: in other words, to the practi-
cal men, the teachers profession. Now,
if talent and experience are to be con-
stantly withdrawn, if teachers are to
leave the employment as soon as they
become sufficiently accustomed to it to
feel degree of confidence and self pos
session in it, it cannot be otherwise than
disastrous upon the inter ests they are
attempting to serve.
What other profession or pursuit
could move on to usefulness and per-
fcction or maintain even respectable
standing in the community, with such
a drain upon its energies and resources?
It is indeed absurd to suppose, that we
can have better schools than we now
have, without competent: reliable, per-
n,ancnt teachers to devise, and, still
more, to carry out the Improvements
which are 50 i,npcriously demanded in
every department Of the business Of Cd
ucstion. CAung>s, indeed, VIC may
have, and do have, an! some errors Or
ahscrt!tics which existed years ago may
now be corrected but others are, or
will probably be substituted Tor then',
and The chanccs-the ccrfointteS, rather
;-arc that VIC shall have as much or
more poor tcach;ng now, as ever; with
out prompt and steady correction OF
this usage in our educational system.
It is however gratifying to observe.
that there arc in our State very favorable
prospects Of change for the better, in
this respect and perhaps there are not
to be found more aus1,icious indications
for essentially better schools, than these
afford. Existing evils, we may reason
, ably expect will sooner or later be rem
cdicd high attainmcnts VIC may con-
filcntly hope, will be reached, when
teachers are persuaded, either by tho
, love of their profession, the existing
, state Of public sentiment, Or the com
pcnsa:iyn they receive, to devote thci,
time, talents and energies, exclusively
to the labor Of rightly training the
young.
Let every friend Of schools; let every
good citizen let every community
: therefore, as far as possible encourage
young mcn-younS Indies, to regard
the teachers profession as worthy cf tho
! best talents and the best virtues Of ou1
country, and one in which life Of self
denying, faithful labor will be certain
to meet with proper and adequate re
! wards. NJ. F. G.
COUNTY CONVENTION BY tht
call it will be seen that the Con
vention will be held at Mantorvllle or
the 9th. Of September. It should have
been placed at an earlier day, SO thai
: the people could take time to select del
egates, and thus have 3 direct voice il
: the matter; and now, though thc con
$ vcntion will come in busy time, I'll;
people in ali parts Of the county should
make an effort to see that their respec
tive towns are represented Iy delegates
ofthca o'cn choosing. Lct no caucu:
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