The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-10-29
Proceedings GrTeachers' Institute.

TIE Teachers Institute III LeWisville
held It's first Session Tuesday, Oct. Il,
iu tie afternoon.
Mr.. Allen made a few remarks. and
as Jllr Instructors were not toaTriye till
the next day. he took the names and adj
dresses IF tie teachers and dismissed
them for rest until tie hour of tie even
ing lecture.
TUESDAY. :. p. m.-A pleasant audi
tnce was assembled III the Methodist
Church to listen to Rev. MI Cong,ion.
Il CoudeIsPort. on the subject Of CONF
usou S-topIs. thar d, frif0creS aud tie re-
MATHS. Tie speaker felt that he was
talking cu a subject Of no little import
auce. Tie teachers work cannot he
uver-estim#ttd. The child mind is in
Lis Land. He may shait its whole fu-
tuTr. IN this life aid III tie otbeT-rHd-
less life Who can mtasUTe the effects
resulting from the work # a careless.
incompetent teacher: Yet. how great
tie reward if tie duties be well done,
Common school instructors are At the
foundation of tie whole edifce Of learn
ilag. Not theirs to unfold the wonders
Of the heavens. TO reveal the depths Of
tie earth and show its formation or TO
lead tie WAY through the pleasant fields
oi classic literature and point out their
beauties. Tie teacher Of the common
>chool moves in "A humber bat not less
important sphere. and a. the statesman
must stand or fali according TO his work,
80 must be be judged 10y bis efficiency.
Subjects Of study and thought should
he selected with care. 1t i sad to see
"A smatteriug Of other languages with an
ignorance Of tie mother tongue. Young
ladies get a little French and German
and talk enthusiastically If Schiller and
Goethe. while they are ignorant OF the
surface and structure of the earth as
We'll rs Of tie conmonest things they
ST. Habits OF thorough scholarship
mayhefoImedin I'm veryearlyyearsthroug
tie training Of the primary school.
Common schools are the seluinaries
OF the common people Tlen how tho
rough and complete they should Jp The
studies pulSued there .whica are read
ing. writing, spelling. geography and
arithmetic are enough 10 prepare one
for discbargiug creditatly tie duties OF
almos, Any Office III oar country.
Tire Htgt schools have wider scop@.
Tie teacher has a right TO q mand that
it sEau IL confined to "a higher course Of
instruction. Tie Common school is Lot
10 be- SO cumItred. Tie higher studies
there are ont of place-their intro
duction Is positive wrong. There Is
only time for the work Of the common
school. II teacher, through vanity,
Sgeks 10 display knowledge Of botany
and algebra 10y introducing them a.
studies. he is guilty of defIaudiug tie
maio lty Of their rights. Tie youngest
and dullest scholar should not be neg
lected; he may yet become tie powerful
statesman. Fifteen or twenty minutes
a day are not enough for the least ad-
yauced.
Qualifications Of the Teacher.-Good-
ness and integrity are not enough; apt
ness to teach and govern are requisite.
\ teacher should have dignity and that
.ameless power over other minds that
sill enable him to qiuet disturbances
md cause the angry waters TO settle in
20 calm. There must be control Of self
ana also an aPtness 10 commWicatr,
Though one were al encyclopedia OF
knowledge he would find no Use foT i
unless he were able TO communicate !.
to others. Not that his knoWlgdg
should avail for the child-he shouE
give him only just enough aid TO elI
/ s.u taruugr.