The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-12-19
The Teachers Ambition.


that, as 4 class, we are men OF small
calibre, of no practical force. and that
few of us ever amount to much and, IT
any do arrive at distinction. it is as
sumed that they are no longer teachers.
Unfortunately there is too much ground
for this light opinion, so generally en-
tcrtained of the character and enterprise
of the teacher. A determination of cN-
~cellence in any reputable calling is GER
tainly praiseworthy, especially in one
! which, before all others, has blessed
mankind. A true ambition in the teach
| crs' calling is Il heavenborn inspiration.
4 good teacher should be a man of no
mean attainmcnts, and one without a
! true ambition is a contradiction of facts.
! an impossibilitv. Teachers with no am
, bition abound everywhere, and teachers
| with a private ambition are not rare in
| these days, and their baleiul INFLUENCE
is one of the strongest barriers to your
progress. This perverted ambition per
vadcs State Educational Associations.
County Associations. down to single
communities. and il is Il fact that the
most active men are those who possess
| this improper ambition. which i is Obj
| vious to every one ~ il is odinu> and di~-
gushing TO all teachers not i'll their rings.
But Il man, oma or child. VIII" has
no desire to shine. l. ii poor thing i'll
! deed. The world has more respect Tor
! high success in wrong than tor modcr-
ate doings in right. Thousands al men
slaughtered give immunity from the
| penalty of murder: if not. hundreds %.
thousands will. The man who steals u
| railroad and all the belongings {" il.
rides to o~pulencc on his prize; but II
other who steals Il horse finds himself
transported to the pcmitentiary ny the
mere smallncss oi the crime. But my
quarrel is with teachers as tn THEN pro-
teSsion, for being 50 shiitleSs and having
80 little professional zeal. and 81 little
personal pride. One tact will br ,u;ii
| cient. There are few gatherings %!
teachers. whether in the form al Con
ycntions, State Institutes or County Ia
%stitu,es, that do not invite some bri"flc~>
LAWYER. p%aticntlcsS doctor. or some min
lister who has failed Ia make himself
popular in the pulpit. IL al,lrc-, them
| anu I'LL submit W II iliiN II - i' ''Ta
| they can do-suhmit To- the idea pf r.
, cciving instruction, in matters that man.
of them have made Il life study. tru,ii
one who, very likely. has made II" head
way in his own vocation. This custom
has always made our profession appear
as one of constitutional, weakness an.
general debility. With this general
state of affairs among teachers, 80 little
motion of any kind, save that of jct'-
ou>y and sclf-sccking. and 50 much
ambition, enterprise. puShin" and crowd
ing in all other professions. it ceases Il
be a wonder that the world looks upon
to much. II ambition, enterprise IN
success are to he measured by the >rair
of political elevation. or by the mount
of ready cash or lands procured by spec
| ulating or swindling, the teacher j., Of
all men, the most unfortunate. But il
they are Ia be estimated by their result,
in training the rising generation To h'
good citizens. rood Christians. and MAKE
of them ornaments of society. then |
| know of no profession that offers such
| opportunities rs that of teaching. In
d~ispcnsablc to success Ia the teacher. ~
well rs to Il man in any other calling.
are earnest efforts and sclf-sacrilirim.
devotion to his profession: ingenuity ia
planning, promptitudc and skill in car
rying out every plan; constant aspira-
ton for a still better school while re
manning in it. and Il persistent cflnr, Il,
make it so every successive day aud
every successive term: and thus obtain
ing for himself continually Il better prep,
aration for Il higher position with Il
larger salary and Il more commanding
position. The management OF II com
mon school entirely by ones W rncr-
~ and skill, conducting Educational
Conventions and Institutes independent
of the aid Of lawyers. preachers. doctors
or WON out politicians, Yet employ ing
the same legitimate means. which gives
success in any other business open Ia
fair competition, gives success to "A field
of enterprise which perhaps few will de-
sire to enter, but to those few it offers
the highest style Of attraction and gives
the riches! kind of reward.