The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1873-01-30
The Seven Lamps ofTeaching.

the birth of flowers and richest fruits,
to take the place of gloom and bar
renness.
1. There is the Lamp of Know
ledge. The teacher should have a
thorough knowledge of that in which
he undertakes to give instruction.
He should be a positive character,
competent to do his own thinking in
dependently, and not tame enclitic
In the syntax of society. He should
scorn to be in bondage to textbook.
Least of all Will he try to live with
out books. They must furnish the
food on which his intellect grows and
renews its vigor. Books he will use
as ministers to his hunger for know
ledge. He will gratefully use them
as products of human skill; as aurif-
erous quartz, to be crushed and fore
ed to surrender whatever Of pure ore
they contain.
2. There is the Lamp of Law and
Order. There must be fidelity in the
observance of all necessary regula-
tions. Nor is it to be forgotten that
in a school, as in State, "that gov
ernment is the best which governs
the least" A teacher whose heart is
in his work, will make his own life an
inspiring example to loyalty to law.
He will know how to secure good Or
der and studiousness, not so much by
loud demonstrations of authority as
by an unseen, gentle magnetism
that captivates all hearts and wins
them to studious and orderly habits.
3. There is the Lamp of Patience.
The duties of the teacher ought never
to be discharged in a hurried, care
less, or petrllant manner. He should
feel that he presides over vital pro-
cesses, that call for the utmost watch
fulness and patience. He should sit
like refner of silver, gazing intent
ly at the precious ore in the erucible,
and be always vigilant to keep away
each evil influence, and to eliminate
each grosser element. To make
known truth by simple, straightfor-
ward statement may be the easiest
way for the teacher, but not always
the best way for the pupil. Ideas
that come without research, and cost
but little of time and labor in the
getting, are apt to take rs little time
in the leaving. Ideas that cost Sc
verify of thinking become imbedded in
the mind, grow to be a part of its
substance, and are as prompt to obey
the owners Will as are the muscles of
the hand. In place of being hurried
ly and transiently recorded, as with
a walking stick on the tide-washed
shore, they are craven as with a
chisel on everlasting granite. This
patient mode of instruction is in keep
ing with the meaning ofthe word ed
ucation, which is a drawing out and
a development of what is within, rath-
er than a mechanical pouring in of
ideas from without.
4. There is the Lamp of History.
This throws its light backward, and
reveals sources of strength and COM
fort and guiding inspiration in the
lives of great, good teachers gone be-
fore.
5. There is the Lamp of Prophecy.
This throws its light forward, and
helps the teacher to forecast a good
career for his pupils. 1t helps him
to shape the future success and char
acter of the man. When John Ire
bOnius, one of Martin Lutners teach
ers, was rebuked for treating his pu-
pills with such marked courtesy, his
reply told of an honest pride in his
work, and faith in its good results:
when 1 lift my cap to my boys, 1
give my salutation to those who will
one day be men of power" Itshould
be part of the teachers creed that
every boy is good for something; that
his duty is to find out in what pur-
suit he is best fitted to succeed; to
help each pupil to make the most of
himself and his native gifts; to wake
up and encourage what is good in his
nature; to furnish nutriment and
stimulus for his finer powers, and to
lead him forward by kindly incite-
ments to the dignities of a genuine
manhood.
6. There is the Lamp of Enthusi-
asm. One has no business to be a
teacher unless his heart is in his
work, so that he will do it lovingly,
and with the best faculties fully en-
listed. If teacher goes to his work
rs criminal would go to the pillory;
if his daily routine of duty is weary
and never ennobled by
flashes of hearty enthusiasm; if there
is always a feeling of distance and
dislike between himself and his pu-
pills; if in moments of confidence,
when they would come near to him,
md speak to him of their griefs and
pleasures and plans, an invisible wall
Of ice suddenly repels them; if he is
so irritated and exasperated by out
bursts of innocent frohc, that he has
a bulldogs chronic hunger for fight,