Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-07-24
written for the Herald.l
Discipline Parents ana their
Schools.
No. XIV.

Having settled the system of school
organization to be adopted, and having
provided suitable school house, favor
ably located and we'll furnished. the
next important duty to be performed by
parents is to select and employ a COM
| petent teacher.
Under the district system this duty
| devolves upon the school trustees select
| ed for that purpose under the town
| system, which | have earnestly recon-
mended, it belongs to a committee of
the town board of education. In either
case, it is a matter of vital importance
who are to be entrusted with the man
agement and instruction of our schools.
The education of a young prince or
princess is regarded in royal governments
as an important matter, affecting, as it
must, the welfare of nations. The
selection of tutor for such an heir to
the throne always eXcites a deep inter-
est and solcitude throughout the kingdom
or empire. But zoe are nation Of
s2Uereigns, and our children princes Of q
future generation. Great care should
therefore be exercised in the selection of
teachers for every grade Of schools.
And what are some of the necessary
qualifications Of the good teacher? This
is a practical question, and one which it
seems proper to answer in this connec-
! ton.
In the past, too little attention has been
given to this subject. The writer well
remembers the time when no eXamina-
tions were required for teachers of
our common schools; and, in many eases,
the only questions raised by the school
officer as to the fitness of the applicant
| for the important office, was, first, is he
physically strong and courageous? sec
! ond, will he work cheap and third, will
he consent to board among the schOl-
airs
These questions settled allirmatively.
the candidate was sure to be employed
False opinions, then, very generally pre-
I vailed.
1t was understood that good school
government could be maintained
only by physical force, and that
anybody who could read, write
and cipher and ''wield the birch, -
could keep school. Such persons might
not be qualified for the farm, the work
shop, or the kitchen, but, of course,
they could Keep school. Still another Sc
rious error acaS and IL entertained, viz
that a backward school does not need d
we'll qualified teacher while the fact is,
such a school demands all the more at
tention, because it is backward. From
such erroneous views, has arisen mitch
of the Indifference manifested by parents
as to the qualifications of their teachers.
| Still. it is a vital question, and | wish to
direct to it especially the attention of
my readers. Let me say, then, to school
! committees entrusted with the important
duty of selecting teachers for their pub
lie schools, inquire first of all for phySi-
cal gtg0r (not t1ogging powers, but
health in your candidate No employ
ment taxes more severely the vital ener-
gies or demands more vigorous health,
than the successful management and in
struction of school, The teachers is a
confined life.
He has but few leisure days or hours,
and but short vacations that he can call
his own During six hours, every day,
for, at least five days in a week, he is
| shut up between four walls, and often in
badly ventilated and uncomfortable
room, and has but little opportunity for
the necessary exercise and recreation.
His is also a Egb0rG0tS life. If faithful
to his charge, his labors are incessant.
| He must govern and teach, and teach and
| govern, and sometimes, under the most
! discOuraging circumstances. Out of
school, his hours are devoted to a prep
aration for his work reading, studying,
| thinking, planning for the improvement
and welfare of his pupils.
Again, the teachers life is full of
care and anxiety. He is laden with re-
| sponsibility which he cannot shift, if he
would. Not only do his confinement
and unremitting toll tax his strength and
wear upon his constitution, but his per-
picking cares and anxious watching
shock his nervous system. Toilsome
days and anxious nights are care,
that strain upon his very life. TO ell
| dure all this, and sustain himself under
| so severe a pressure, the teacher must
enjoy good health
The.second requisite qualification for
good teacher is common sense. This may
seem to some to be supertluous, but not
NFtCCHt'tcft
than common sense among men, and yet
the latter is Indispensable to success in
the vocation of teaching. The teacher
occupies very important position. He
is thrown upon his. own resources; must
act every day, without aid or counsel,
upon questions which have an important
bearing upon his success or failure; and
what shall guide him to the choice of
the best means to meet the emergency.
and accomplish his object lie cannot
consult his professional books, or his
more experienced and wise fellow teach
ers, but he must act without delay. And
what but his common sense can guide
him to a judicious course of action In
the management and government of his
school, and in all his intercourse with
the families of his patrons, he win meet
thousand opportunities to exercise this
noble gift, this instinct of nature. Let
parents see to it, therefore, that their
teachers possess good common sense.
PARENs.