Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-11-08

Hhlhru. Inc btanuhTu oi VuNiHNafloh1 VIII bt
elevated Teachers can afford TO educate them
sclges.
Another grsat wrong ia the unjust diserimiua-
ton against female teachers. They should be
paid according 10 their qualifications and aptneSs
forthat particular work. If they accomplish just
as mach, why should they receive less pay Only
becaisc II is a relic of ignorance. As the public
mind becomes moro and more enlightened, the
prejudice will fade away.
pghnps tho most disastrous feature in our pub
lie sihools, is the constant changing of teachers.
A good, competent, thorough teacher should be re-
tsincl at any cost No trifing circumstance, no
unwgthy preuticc, no neighborhood gossip,
shoun sever tho relation Of parent and teacher.
The teacher must learn the disposition OF those
under his charge. lie must understand their
progrss. He must know not only what they
hpye learned but how well they have learned It.
Whei he has accomplished this, half the battle
win have been fought. Why change for another
'fouust go over thc-sEme ground again 1t is
worse Nan folly.
One thug more l. necessary. Teachers should
have the warm, hearty and jealous operation Of
parents. Ihcy need this support. Theirs is a
labor full OF sacrifices iraught with trials and
perplexities. II is constant warfare between the
necessary rostrint Of discipline aud the turbulent
aud naturally restless nnd indolent youthful in
tellcct They undertake to do what the parents
cannot do. Parents should visit the schools. II
shows On interest in the success Of both. Ii be-
gets confidence and good feeling
Aftcr all, the great benefit derived from schoas-
tic education is in the discipline Of the mind.
This accomplished and man Is capable Of self i'm
provoment. without II the best efforts may fail.
To effect this desirable object, the FIRST thing to be
impressed on the mind is the great Importance Of
thinking. It is deep, profound thought that ma
lures, cultiyatcs md eevates the mind. William
Wirtin his advice TO a student, wrote him, ''think
think deeply; think intentlyi think all the time
lie wrote no more, and no more was necessary,
Amplifed to tho extent Of a volume aud The
lesson wond have been no moro impressive
The habit Of thinking leads the mind instruotiycly
10 look for subjects Of thought much as the ap.
petite looks for food, or the heart wan1ers IN
search of affection or sympathy. There are mind
that can be trained TO think more readily than
others but it il possible with all. There arc per.
sons who can aud do read for hours without com.
pretending a sentence they read and without leay.
ing a single trace upon the memory. This is en-.
tirely mechanical, not mental labor and be
trays the great want Of discipline. IL is unproht
able because il leaves no impression. A very
common error Is TO attribute this to a want oi
memory. This Is a great mistake Every human
being Is endowed with memory in proportion tC
the other intellectual faculties, aud the great mass
Of mankind have about an equal quantity OF
brains. Tho instances in which there is any
great inequality are the exceptions TO the general
rule The difference mainly exists in the cultiya.
ton and improvement Of natures gins. Memory
may lay comparatively dormant during a whole
life, yet Is capable Of being improved to the high
est extont. For the purpose of dsciplining the
min I, and improving the memory, early method.
cal and systematic training are the means to be
employed. A classical and collegiate course oil
study is the sure way to success. II is the best
investment o father can make for bis children
Most profitable because II pays more than ten PEI
cent. Interest without violating the usury Jaws.
But my object Is to show that money is not in
dlspensabe in the work Of discplining the mind
however convenient. That the mind is capable Of
self improvement. Indeed, 1t might be asserted
that poverty is the ally of genius. The history
OF the last two thousand years would present a
strong argument upon the incompatability Of grca,
wealth and great literary requirements. II might
be said that luxury, ease and comfort were not
calculated to call forth the energies Of the mind
The most brilliant intellects have sprang from tho
em barrassment and even distress, MANY % fB,tin
have LEFT imperishable monuments written in thu
history Of their day and generation. Not even
Hunger and want could bccloud the intellect. II
vas because the mind had been disciplined 10 early
lfe They had learned 10 think. with very
Emted education, the means for self improvement
arc at hand
tn, Government has established system Of
common schools, and is fostering It by It's guard.
huship. True, II is comparatively in its infancy
Time will be necessary to perfect 1t. Still, It IL
suficcntly advanced TO teach the rudmcnts, and
to lay the foundation for further improvements
Its advent was met by serious and determined op.
position Patient aud pcrscyering labor has dis.
sipaied most Of It. When It shall have succeeded
in educating generation, no one will bo found
mean enough to oppose It. IL is enough now tc
feel that the day Is not far distant when our com.
non school system will be the boosted institution
Of our country. Its fruits will bring Il success
A. the blessings of education dispensed, frcndi
! viii flock to its standard and shame will mantle
the check Of opposition. It is the poor mans
hope IL is the college whore bis children can
| graduatc and should claim the freshest affection,
of his heart. In the common school room al
stand upon common level no iayors are intend
cd to be shown and II is to be hoped that none are
shown. Money cannot buy intellect or capacity
There true merit alone can elevate, and so it should
| be- little more time u little more thought and
! Hberality, and common schools will be kept oper
during the whole year. Schools will be graded
and the higher branches taught. Then the publ,
mind will be prepared for legislation compelling
every parent TO send each child to school at lcas
six or seven years. Then, and Then alone, viii
| the system be approaching perfection. Then viii
! the dark clouds Of opposition be dispollcd, Thcr
cluoatiou will have had its triumph over Ignorance
and superstition. Then will we be able to bons
that no citizen of good old Pennsylvania, at HON,
or abroad, will be unable TO read or be obliged /,
sign his name with an x. Then will be seen th'
wisdom Of the frnmors Of our State constitution
who pledged the Commonwealth in its infancy "tt
| uroyide by law for tho establishment Of SCHOOL,
throughout the State, 10 such manner that th'
poor may be taught gratis" ] rejoice that in th'
! iulflment of that obligation rich and poor arr
embraced alike that no distinction Is madei tha
the poor have equal privileges and equal rights
And such is the beauty Of our system. All pay
alike and therefore there can be no distinction
The poor man pays his taSos-tho rich man doe
no more.
The great means for intellectual culture thu
means within tho reach Of every one, howeye
humble is in general reading. This alone vii
| discipline the mind and strengthen the memory
Reading and thinking prodtably constitute th'
great instumcnialites.
Dut the ancstion may well be asked what shal
I readl This is a question difficult to answer
II Is mush easier 70 say what should not be read
The Press IL now daily sending forth publication
so domoralihng in their tendencicg that the yer,
touch is contamination. No mind can indulge il
reading the cheap literature Of the day and pre-
serve is integrity. This Mt least should bo avoid
ed. II Is worse than worthless. II leaves tracei
on the mind that the eorodng hand of time mal
fail 10 ohltorate The more It Is read the NOR
the taste is dcpravcd. The appetite for Il Is in
creased in many instances, until love for readini
these trashy illusions amounts to intoNcation
Whenever the taste for that kind Of mental ox
citement reaches a point beyond the victims con
troll whenever love for that kind of stimulcn
makes the indulgence a necessity, how does Il dii
fer from the drunkards crayngsi The one on
slaves is victims ~ much as the other. inc ON
I is a more lingering disease (ii moral depraWtl
may be called diseased than the other, but II y
equally certain to lead to fearful end. As
taste for this kind Of reading u increased a tast'
for the more usolul aud solid reading diminished
even the D.ble becomes dry and unnieresting nn'
IA 10 danger Of falling into disuso even on Sunday
Read, / beg Of you. spopd every idle momen
In reading, but not this poisbnous trash Rea'
what is worth trcasurng what may benefit you u
Tho future and what Is worth impariing TO others
Teachers have much to do with moulding tn
plastic minds Of youth. Theirs Is m importan
! mission. They know not where or when ihei
precepts and examples may make a lasting I'm
/ preston. Unconscious uf the fact the schoo
room may shape the future destiny Of many
child. Not few may go there TO receive iirst i'm
pressions for good
"Cultnrc's hand
Has scattered verluro DER the land
And smiles and fragrance rule serene,
Where barren wild usurpcd the scene
And
"with what kingly power your leve
! Might rulo the fountains Of the newborn mind
] w.. .h.,.. "a al earlv dawn and sow