Buchanan County bulletin and guardian., 1869-02-05

vas happy to receive . communication,
last week, for our column, from one Of the
sub-diree.ors in oar county. We have been
writing eoacvrnin: the duties Of parents and
directors ia relation to our schools, and il is
righ. they should rem,o3 ss cf tie dufSs BE-
longing 10 teachers.
After all ve so ,ru,hfully say, the fact is
clear tia, the school is very much What We
make il. The help Of parents, and Of oil who
should be interested in school matters, is
most desirable and vet not absolutely es-
sen,ial 70 the successful commencement of
school labor BY An earnest teacher. l, 10
our business 70 beget interest where none ex-
lists. We should 30 interest the pupil in the
school room that be viii not forget to say .
good wori Of bis class and teacher shen be
reaches his home. We ought TO Be fully
conpssent TO do or work, and then engage
in il With our might II is impossible for Us
TO teach that which We have never been
taught. We can never reason ,ha, into the
braiss Of car pupils which has not previous
iy been reasoned into our own. believe
that which our profession needs most is .
better preparation fof school work. The
idea that any one can teach is not an accept
ed fact. TIE public have right to demand
that the teacher shall thoroughly understand
his busiress-shis demand is made of every
other department Of labor-ours ought not
TO be exempted. / remember Of once visits
ing school, a, the East, where the teacher
told me be was discouraged and knew not
what 10 do next. This seemed to me ssd
confession Of inability, and SO it was.
The General who is dishearsened and
knows not What TO do with bis command,
does not usually wait long time before be
has leave Of absence from headquarters.
Why should more compassion be shown us
when We are unable TO do our work? There
Is no reason
Nov, teachers, one Of our peculiar faults
ia this-,has ne rely too much upon the sym
pathy aud kind consideration Of our patrons,
and ne, enough upon vhas should be to ss
sufficient knowledge and power todoour work
in spite Of obstacles. Do not let me be nis>
understood. fully appreciate the sympa-
thy AID help Of parents and friends, and
know from former and present experience
how much more easily and readily school
work is done. With them than without them;
but We have no right TO ask their interest in
our behalf unless We are able to bege. such
interest in them from tie fact that we knou
how to do our work as teachers.
Acknowledged ability to do any given
work must always command respect, and il
my opinion j, Is only when ne evince thi
ability in the school room that We have an,
Just claim to the favorable consideration o
either pupil, parent or director. Our pro
fesaion is manly one there is nothing 10
that deserves the pity and consoliny word
o. those outside. have sometimes thong b
that We have often rendered our work unds
nihed, for the reason that We cxpec, 50 nuc
forbearAncs and indulgence from those "a
whom ws labor. Let US completely prepar
ourselves for Our work and do il honestI,
and We shall be- sure 10 receive meri.ed word
Of praise, which are worth infinitely mos
than all the kind compassion tha, can l
shown US simply because we are teacher
The Township Institutes are doing goo
work for the schools in the county by be.,.
fitsing the teachers for their school worl
and believe as the Sab Director wrote, III.
il is the duty Of the teachers throughout h
county to avail themselves of the privilege
afforded BY these monthly gatherings. q.
County Institute, which holds its session
here in Independence, is bot well at,cnde,
What is the reason? There must be lac
Of interest in the objects for which its meeI
ings are holden-tLis confession is not
our favor. Why, this Teacher. Column b.
been thus far kept alire by eight teachers o,
Of the hundred and twenty-five in the couu
~, and can assure the readers Of this d.
pariment Of the Bulletin that there are n
communications, no, not single one, on th
Editors table for future publication. d
not let the very Few do the entire work, ali
then. II there be any glory in the work com
pleted, have the teachers of the county clair
to have done very large share. Make it
point 10 be present I our next County In
stitute, TO be holden on Saturday, Feb. l3ii
and aiso to Immediately send your Editor .,
iicles for this column.
II we are alive. let US show our life b
earnest and constant action.
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