The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-10-03

The Teachers conolavs.

Messrs. Editors - You will perhaps allow
n soiourner here TO express in your paper the
Qualification with which he has witnessed the
proceedings OF the teachers convention hela
IN the last week at Westminster, together wi.h
his appreciation of the provision Of our fuo'
lic.sehool law which has instituted such meet
ines in ali the counties Of the State. ms
provision is not the least among divers happy
improvements which distinguish the system OF
State education as now established. The true
teacher, not less than the trus poet, is born
for his vocation and as long as states aud
people remain insensible to the dignity and
Importance Of that vocation, and leave the
teacher 10 nourish his gifts on little Oatmeal,
there will be especial reason for securing ma
tive fitness in our schoomasters when we can
gel Il, and assisting il with all the opportuni'
ties and means OF grace in our power. We
cannot afford to wait for learned professors to
teach for us at few hundred dollars year
nor, indeed, are learned professors generally
made out Of the best teaching material. Many
of them in this particular view Of generation
beat Melchisedek himself, in that they arc not
born at all, never have been born, and cannot
without the greatest absurdity expect ever to
be born-so far as fitness for teaching Is con.
cerned. The born teacher, when found and
proved, should be-not exactly handeuied,
autographed with hooks Of steel His learn
ing may be small at first, but tits sure to grow
with the proper helps and then we want HIM
for his teaching more than for his learning
A certain stock of learning is Of course indis'
pensable in every case, and, other things be-
| ing equal the more learning the better but
IL the deficiencies Of the born teacher be not
such as to infect his pupils, he may safely be
4 III. ugatslA ha a
thing, il, besides born teachers, we could en-.
Joy a constant supply Of born examiners and
| born school.commissioner as well and q
more blessed thing still, if partisan politics had
nothing to do with the schools. Such bless.
ings perhaps may be the portion Of our de-
scendants in the twentieth century. Mean
while let us be glad Of the good that is in oul
own portion. No intelligent person knowing
the past and the present Of our Public-scbo0
system can doubt that there is great improve
ment in it. A valuable part Of the new plar
has been exhibited in the late meetings OF the
Teachers Institute and its advantages were
doubtless appreciated by all of the born teach
ers at least who sat in those meetings. The
collision of minds in criticism and debate, th'
exchange Of thoughts and experiences, ant
the awakened sense Of professional standing
and responsibility, are highly valuable fruit
OF the plan, and belong to that supplementary
training Of which the born teacher often stand
in need. The interest aud ability manifested
on the ladies' side Of the house we're yer,
encouraging sign the other day ; and the cley
erness with which the critic discharged hi
delicate part in the exercises must have beer
both hopeful and helpful to the Institute. 4
more particular consideration of this part o
the proceedings, though embraced in the de
sign with which these remarks were begun
may better find space perhaps in next week
paper. N. II. W.