The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-08-15

SELF CULTURE.

Among all men, there is no other class so
likely as teachers TO fall into the error of
self so abstraction, They have tendency toI
imagine themselves great men, entertaining
the foolish notion that they are perfect in
government, and have all that is necessary
of wisdom. Hence they do not in general,
become what they should be, philosophers
We do not say this of all teachers, for there
are some who are always seekers OF wisdom;
but we refer to the Rip Van Winkles-the
Younger ones especially, who have not slept
the 1ull number of years, simply because
they have not yet had time. Are there any
in our own county? How many have been
teaching term after term, and year after
year, having nothing higher than third
grade certificate? You can hear them talk
and see them tremble at every examination,
for fear that the questions may be so nearly
up to The spirit of the times, that they will
not be sufficiently qualified to answer the re-
CURED number. Wait little longer, and
you viii see the fountain of tears making a
grand display. Now a third grade certificate
Is necessary when we begin to teach, be-
cause we can get no other; if we do not re-
ceive a second grade certificate at the next
examine ton, we may possibly, but not
probably, be excusabIe; and he who does
not get something higher than third grade
at the bird examination, is unworthy of the
name of teacher; by that time he has enter
ed the first stage of fogyism, and a fogy is |
worse than man without experience. Nei- |
ther should q teacher be satisfied with sec
ond grade, but should as soon as possible, |
becom possessed of a first grade certificate,
and having done that, there is the state GER
tifcate in view.
Teaching is, or should be, hard work but
there are twenty-tour hours in day. 1t may
be necessary for the teacher to be in the,
school room from eight o'clock till FIVE, |
making nine hours; and another hour will
perhaps be proftably spent in doing school
work, leaving balance of fourteeb hours, |
seven of which may be taken in sleep, if in |
summer, and eight if in winter, and after de.
Quoting an hour for breakfast, and another |
for supper, we have left four or five hours at
the least; and a great many Of us, who
spend in school less than the above men
toned time, have great deal more time
than FIVE hours leisure. If we were to spend
but one or two hours day in severe study, |
we would make great advancement, and
still have ample time to read the newspapers
and take recreation. Every teacher should
have programme carefully made out and
strictly followed. This will give discipline
and consequently strength
A great many Of our teachers spend too
much time in dancing. "Why," they say,
dancing is right" Of course it is, if held
within bounds, bat let your own conscierces
decide whether it is right to spend the whole
night in dancing, bidding defiance to the
laws of Nature, and to go into the school,
room the next day, stupid, cross, and neg.
Iectful. To say nothing of your example,
what you have done with the hours, some of
which should have been spent in self Gull
ture, and most ofthe others in sleep. Why,
you have been tripping it son the light fan
tastic toe" and as a consequence you teach
with a light, fantastic head. We speak of
dancing, because we know it, for the reasons
given, to be one of the chief evils upheld by
too many teachers Of this county. We might
speak of other things, but We have neither
time nor space. What we wish to say, is
that we must study. We must make advan-
ces every day, or become enerYated. Study.
ing one or two weeks just previous to an ex.
animation, amounts to but little, spending
half or the whole Of the night over the books,
before the fated day, is hundred times
worse than doing nothing Better go to
sleep and rest the brain. These few hours,
or few days, or even weeks of examining, is
nothing but the reaction of lazness, and
generally ends in disappointment and tears.
What we need, is the long unwearied pull,
and then if failure comes, let it be something
TO spur US onward. How many of our
teachers are to receive second grade GER
&ifcates this fall, and how many are going
still higher? 1t is rather late to begin to
study for the fall examination, but now is
che time to prepare ourselves fer the earnest
and noble work Of the teacher.
ONO.