Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-12-18

Eto08Iof0 ..... Ia
Racine. plsos Of holding eleotion..".. II
! Pleasant Valley. g. Y. Paddock's..... Ii
Grand Meadow ......... .................... IL
Dexter, P. o. Woodburys Il
To tho Teoeher0 ct Mower
County.
| FRAKk!oRD, MINI. Dec. 18th, "a
Every trade, every profession, every
branch Of business, has among its men,
bers those Who earnestly and steadily
labor 20 achieve success, and to adorn
tho profession or calling in which they
arc engaged, aud who act As stays or
pillars Of the calling. This is the real
cause Of success in any branch Of bust
oses; but IN the other hand, it is = Ia
mentable fact, that many persons mis-
take the calling for which they are nat
urally adapted. aud embark in 'ome-
thing else, for which they are wholly
unit. This il not only true Of those
who occupy tho pulpit, members Of the
bar, physicians, farmers and other
business men, but is also true when
applied to the profession of teaching.
In all the various stations in life.
those who are earnestly engaged in the
work, and who accomplish the purpose
for which they ret out, have TO- labor
much harder. aud have gr eater burdens
to bear, in consequence Of the discred-
i. thrown upon their calling by these
''dead-heads," or those who are lin the
wrong pow" Another bad result Of
this state Of affairs Is, that the persons
themselves who are unsuccessful 10
what they are engaged 10, are led to
look upon the business unfavorably,
and bring it into disrepute.
There are many, to day, in the ranks
Of teachers, who do not even respect
tho business in whio b they are engaged.
They do not Look upon teaching ast
profession, but as kind Of substitute !
for other employment, and stepping
stone to something higher, more honor
able or profitable; whereas, when .
person starts out into the business oil
teaching, he should bend all bis ener-
gies toward making himself success
fal teacher, not merely passable ped
agogue, but an honor to the prof ession !
for the business Of teaching is not only
a profession, but it is the uost impor-
tant aud honorable vocation any man
can embark in. Tho business Of train
ing the young immortal being, and
making Of him . useful member Of So
oiety. il Que Of grave responsibility, for
upon the young Of to-day, will soon de-
volve the responsible stations anil Pc.
sitions in life, now occupied by oder
ones. The teacher has the child sent
to him when its mind is 10 4 plastic or
impressible condition, easily Influenced,
easily moulded either for good or evil,
hence it is Of great importance that the
teacher be we'll qualified for the work.
He should not only know all that is nee,
essary with regard to the subjects he at
temps to teach, but should strive all
tho time to iind out the best and most
successful methods Of imparting that
knowledge to others, that no time be
spent in vain, for no teacher has any
right either legal or moral to sacrifice
any Of tho time belonging to tho pupils
under bis charge. Right here I will
say, that any teacher who takes charge
Of school, and does not leave it in
better condition than when he began
it, 10 detr,ment to the cause Of educa-
ton, and, consequently, damage to
the country ~ = teacher. He should
either leave the field or quality him
self for the profession. Such per'on
should not be tolerated or patronized
1t all.
Not only 10 the teacher entrusted
with the intellectual character Of the
future man or woman, but he is also
responsible to greater degree than
most are conscious Of, for the moral
nature of the incipient citizen. He is
continually welding influences which |
affect bis scholars more than might 1t
6rst be supposed; Influences which
cling to the child ~hroug" all after life,
and which We may naturally inter,
affect his well-being in eternity ;
hence the importance Of the tenchsr 9
being person whose habits and char
aeter may pro6t~tly be emulated.
lie should be = person 80 alive aud
awake to the responsibility Of his voca-
ton that he will leo! the proper degree
o. interest in the work. He should
also be person Of steady habits, q
lover Of the good, the beautiful; \
lover Of all noble and honorable vir>
tues; and then he should be person
Of such frmness Of character that he
can. and will, practically carry out these
principles. Notwithstanding there are
somo persons who are "pp"sed to the
employment of female teachers, am
constrained to believe that wero it not
for the softening, refining and enabling
in Aaence Of the lady teacher, exerted
over the youth Of our land in tho
school room, society would b in
much wor.e state than il 10. There
are doubtless, some who engage in
teaching who are really too young
to do Justice to themselves OF