Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-08-05
Teachers Column.
0rgan Of the Teachers Association.

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Personal In1uence Of the Teach.
eP.
How many of the teachers Of our
country, govern their schools, in the full
import of that term7 The question is
not asked, how many keep reputable
order, and secure decent share of res.
poet from their pupils? But, how many
can, with a simple, unimpassioned re-
quest, or single glance from magnetic
eye, cause all hearts and minds to move
as one : How many can, at pleasure,
change the current Of thought and feel
ing in the entire kingdom over which
they preside?
How many witness, quietly, even
their half-formed wishes anticipated {?
their slightest requests chcerfully graf
ifed7 How many are there, who sup
poso these things to be possible any
where? How many with sleopless Wig
ilance, study those hidden sources Of
influence and power, which give this
rare, imperial mastery to the teacher 7
It's one Of the present serious defects
of our school training, a. we'll as one Of
the strongest and NEST pa1pable imbe-
cility in the teachers profession, that
so feeble an influence is exerted upon
tie mind of the child, while under the
care and control of the teacher. In
stead Of meeting in the teacher, that
creative energy, that living soul, which
can mould, at will, the sentiments Of
his pupils, We oftener find him exerting
all his powers to save himself from the
overwhelming tide which has flowed
from other sources. He stands the
slave, the victim Of public sentiment,
rather than its master.
The capricce of fashion, the allure
ments of pleasure, the excitements Of
the world around him, hourly threaten
him with irretrievable ruin. More pit
liable still-not unfrcquently, some sin
gle pupil Of keener foresight, more Wig
orsus intellect, or more active sympa-
thies, exerts& wider and more lasting
influence upon the mind Of tho pupils,
than che sluggish mortal appointed to
develop their natures, and give proper
shape to their destinies.
AN conceded, do you say, gentle re.-
der, fellow teacher! All conceded, and
moro, that, in part, these statements are
true in my own cassl But ohat ca"
be done to change things for tie better ?
Pray listen = moment to suggestion or
two, Do you in the first place, earnest-
ly desire to be tr.e teacher? Do you
desire excellence, the h:yhe''; excel
lence in your calling, q. the artist de-
sires perfection in his art? More still Il
1sit your high ambition: you fixed de-
termination to leave such exquisite skill
on the imperish.ble material placed in
your hands, as shall be felt and pcrpet-
uated through succeeding ages! Do
the bright and glowing forms Of . high
er and purer ideal in your art allure you
on through al trials, and sustain you in
all your disappointments1 Ifso, take
courage, my friend and fellow l.borer
there is hope in you rcasc. If you have
not forfeited your fair name by your
own imprudence if your honor is un-
tarnished, your integrity unsullied, un-
doubted, bright career IS almost Ger
tainly before you
Begin, then, your noble efforts for
improvement, by the careful study Of
your own nature, and at once practice
the most rigid control Of your appetites
and passions. Learn to be calm and
composed under all imaginable circum.
stances.
Let your self control be able to defy
even the flames Of martyrdom. Let the
line Of conduct proper for you to pur-
sue, be the subject Of the most deep
and anxious previous reflection, and
when once prudcntly, conscienciously
chosen, follow it undoviatingly, as you
would guardian angel. Next, study
carefully and faithfully the charac-
ters Of all men, living and dead, who
are, or have been, conspicuous for the
influence they have exerted over other
minds. Read history and Typography
for the explicit purpose Of analizing all
the secret sources of power which 9th
er men have possessed. Boldly, perse-
veringly inquire Of the historian, what
unseen culture, what secret discipline,
gave to Washington, his untroubled Sc
reuity amidst the stormy conflicts Of tho
battlefield, and the still moro stormy
conflicts Of public opinion. Learn Of the
biographer, how Marion, in boistrous
times, among boistrious men could bind
all his followers to him by affection
rather than commands, and how the
magic influence Of his strong, free
| spirit, could make lawless men true as
steel, in the hour Of danger, to their
leader snd to their country. Follow
Penn, in his intercourse with the red
man Of the forest. Mark how his own
scrupulous regard for treaties could ex-
tinguish per6dy and treaohery in the
breasts Of those unused 10 the reaae-
ments Of civilized life, and unascus-
toned to the teaching and restraints Of
Chriakian;tv 0haa.vA hnv orA ho.,&