Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-11-18
A Letter from the School Room,

FRIEND DEMONSTRATING that 9th
ers might be remiss in contributing
articles for the Teachers Column
and knowing the labor attendant
with soliciting articles for our col
umn, | hasten to perform my duty
in the sphere of a contributor.
| hope that there may be free
interchange Of thought, and spirit
ed and pointed discussion among lis
teachers on the different methods OF
teaching and general Improvement
Of our schools, this winter, through
The medium Of the Teachers Col
umn.
We should labor for the principle
that it is the duty OF the State to
educate her children; for there are
many who yet fail to recognize this
underlying principle of free govern
ment. And also there are many who
claim that the teachers labor is
light Only six hours day, they
say; and anybody can teach dis
trict school Now we know tina,
our labor does not end with six
hours, nor with the year; not even
as long as we remain III the profess
ion. Therefore it is our duty to
convince others that tact, talent, in
dustrv and education are needed in
the school room, and the greatest OF
these four is industry. The field is
broad, and we often feel that We
need the strength of Hercules and
the voice of a Stcntor. Mr.. Editor
lido not want You to think that | adj
vocate great physical and vocal
display; no sir, there should be a
silent influence for order and ar
rangement; .he pupil should be
taught to keep his books uniform and
unsoilcd, and to have them in thcil
proper place. But, Mr.. Editor,
fear that ramblc; but if l do,
may hit several small ideas, while
if try to stick to my point l ma!
find no point to my article. | dis
like monotony; by trying to make
apology there is another idea-mo-
notony. We should avoid monoto-
ny in the school room, either in our
own feeling or in the spirit Of the
pupils. One other thing W should
avoid, that is when we make state
ment concerning principle in re-
gard to problem, we should be 50
simple in explanation that the pupil
would readily comprehend it. The
reason we refer to this is because
we have heard teachers talk in such
a mystifed way, that we had our
doubts about a Ncwton's ability to
comprehend them. We noticed at
the State Association (cxcuse me
for referring to a criticism on the
State Association) that one learned
man would rise and say something,
and another learned man would rise
seeking an explanation, saying that
he did not understand; SO consid-
cradle portion of time was trittered
away in trying to understand each
other, and yet all spoke the English
language without any provincial
ISmS.
Our needs is another subject wor-
thy of our consideration. What do
we need? School houses, beautiful
with regard to architecture on the
outside, and convenient with regard
to arrangement on the inside; "a
thing of beauty is a joy forever" SO
good school houses bespeak for a
community morality and refinement.
We need the best men in every com
munity for school stliccrs; third
grade school directors are rs much
Of a drawback upon our schools as
third grade teachers.
Let us labor with patience, know
ing that plodding, industrious me-
diocrc is far ahead of a lazy genius.
De Maistre says that "to know how
to wait is the great secret of sue
cess" Anything but Il selfish school
teacher; we do not live for the self
ish qualifications of the day, but for
all time to come.
Mr.. Editor, there is much | would
like to say, but do not wish to oc-
cupy too large portion of the
Teachers Column, and hoping to
see our column soon appear laden
with heightened truths and many
practical hints on teaching, l close.
n E,>CvNornS