Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-06-04
Parents, Relation. to Schools. No. -.

fled teacher Is a noble manhood or woman.
hood. We desire to make men and women
OF our children. How can we hope to do
this except through the example. influence
and instruction Of true manliness or woman
illness at home and in the schoolroom9 In.
structors should possess such qualities and
principles as may be safely copied by their
pupils. They should have physical vigor,
gracefulness Of manners. highly cultivated
and we'll furnished mind, heart full Of no.
Bile sentiments and swelling with generous
emotions, and character founded upon
Christian principles and above suspicion.
These virtues we may hope to see ingrafted
upon our children. Sure we may be that all
the vices Of the teacher will be copied by
his pupils.
To illustrate, may recall the story Of the
China plate. A fanciful housewife CHANGED
TO find among the waste crockery Of her
hardware merchant style and figure Of
plate which greatly pleased her. This spec
linen was badly cracked aud marred but
it showed an exquisitely fine design; and she
at once decided to send the plate to China,
to have set manufactured eractly like the
pattern. This was her order; aud it was
executed accordingly. Imagine the NORTH.
cation Of the good lady on receiving her
goods 10 find the imitation 80 perfect that
all the defects Of the old plate had been
wrought in tho new !
So parents may expect the reproduction Of
the teacher 10 their children, with all the
spots and stains which are found upon bis
character. Let them look we'll, therefore
to the qualifications Of those to whom they
intrust 50 important charge.
Female teachers have taken tho field oil
education as by conquest More than two
thirds Of the public schools Of our land are
managed and taught by women. A change
was produced by the war Of the Rebellion
which called into military service q larg'
number of young men who had been employ
ed in teaching But the reason why women
are and will be retained in the schools il
found in the fact that they are peculiarly
fitted for the business of teaching. Woman
is the divinely appointed teacher Of hel
race. She has natural endowmeuts aud
special fitness for the work in the school al
we'll as in the family. She has proved her
self not only "apt to teach, but also capable
Of managing and governing successfully. Her
quick sensibilities, ardent sympathies, natu
raj love for the true, the beautiful, and the
good, her patience, perseverance, and en-
thusiasm, eminently qualify her for this i'm
portant field Of labor Children are draw
to her as by natural instinct they trus
in her with implicit confidence.
Hence the woman is especially adapted tc
the primary and intermediate schools. IL
selecting teacher, the woman Of equa
qualifications should always be preferred II
the man for either department. She has al.
so honored the profession in important posi-.
tons in the academy and seminary and, il
some instances, at the head Of these institu
tons.
As class woman has higher standard
ofmorals and manners. She does not smoke
nor drink, nor swear, nor waste heI
time loa6ng in places of public resort. Aud
she has more refined feelings and manners
and therefore she has more power TO gail
the affections and win the confidence Of th,
young who are ready to profit by the inau
ence Of her correct habits and good example
And woman is not only adapted to the car,
and instruction Of children in the family
aud school, but has the capacity for thai
broad aud thorough culture which is essen
tial to the position she occupies. Both il
the academic and normal course Of studies
she is quite the equal Of her brother. TIL,
difficulty has been, she has lacked the oppor.
tunity 10 improve and elevate herself And
to-day there is no one thing more importan
to the welfare Of the rising generation thar
the liberal education of woman. She mus
mould the family, and give character to he
children and youth as they will be found il
the school and as citizens in the state. Sh,
is relied upon, and must be chiefly, to man
age and instruct our public schools. Thi
fact is not to be regretted, but should b,
urged as new plea for her elevation through
culture. The schools will be better laugh
aud better managed under her control jus
as soon as she is allowed time and opportu
nifty to make the necessary preparation. AnC
one Of the most important duties which pa
rents owe to their children in their relation
to the school is to provide for the education
of these teachers. They should not only seel
those to instruct their schools who have tn,
best qualifications, but should provide train
ing schools of high order that all may b,
thoroughly fitted for their work. The ele
walton of the teacher is the elevation OF th,
school, and the surest way to pecure the high
est Improvement Of the children. Parent
in every state in the Union, in every county
and in every district, one and all, are there
fore especially interested in building up an,
sustaining the Normal School. PARENs.