The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-03-19
Correspondence.
For TIE AagiS d Intelligence
Competent Teachers Needed.


Mr. EDITOR: Allow me, through the columns
OF your paper, TO present TO your numerous
readers few items for their meditation in their
leisure hours. First, Should not the county
School Commissioners be authorized to lew
their Orn tar for the support of the public
schools? Second, Should not the tea payers re-
quire Of the C. s. G.. tC employ cO,pDefeBf teach
wages OF the teacher be apportioncd to his
competency? Fourth, Should not the tar Dapers re-
quire Of the g. :. &. rigid and thorough eXami-
nation of the applicants for situations as teach.
ers, and those who fall below 90 per cent. in cx-
| animation TO be refused schools?
Upon the second point, Mr.. Editor, with your
permission, viii iot down q few thoughts. The
geatest interest OF society is without doubt,
the education of its youth. Lord Brougham,
one or England's greatest orators and states
men, held that Inc school master was greater
ana more important parsonage in society than
the greatest field marshal OF his age, the Duke
| OF wellington. Hear him: There is a per-
sonage ABROAD person less imposing, in the
| eyes OF some perhaps signilicant--thc school
master trust to him, armed with his primer,
against the soldier i'll full military array" Saws
an eminent American: 'ln the great conflicts
| OF opinion constantly agitating the Church aud
| the State, the victory does not DEPEND upon
the numbers engaged on either side, but upon
| the powers OF few well.educuted thinkers. "
1t is mind that rules the world. II Yields The
l
| error makes 1t succumb. The pen, In all ares,
has had more power than the sword, and the
words from the mouth of Cicero were mightier
than the legions Of Cesar. The impressions
| formed by The teacher, and thoughts which fall
| from the teachers lips, will ybrate forever
The teacher is brought in contact with the
mind of the pupil at time wi ell it is most sus.
| ceptiblc of impression. The impressions formed
| in this time of life are the most lasting They
are as the ripple caused by dropping the pebble
in i'll 4.
reaches the tarthest shores. SO with these youth.
| full impressions. They 90 on widening through
| space ia eternity. What power is here for
| good or evil; these impressions made upon tho
minds ethereal essence, are rs mperishable as
the soul. Hence, how important 10 have compe-
| tent teachers.
Were the Board to adopt such rule, how
many of the present teachers in Hartford coun
| ty would hold their positions? | cannot tell
but judge not more than fifty per cent; and
doubtless fifty per cent Of that number would
| be Topped of as bummers, who are only Ell.
gaging in the potession for the purpose Of re-
plenishing their exhausted finances, thus to fur.
| Their prosecute their own studies. Such teachers
| have no soul tor their work. and are not "com
| petent." Sill another class are engaged in
| teaching, who for short season resort 10 ten CHI
| ing, until something better "turns up;' whose
| heads are empty, and whose meagrc ideas arc
| US shrivclled peas in the dried pod. These are
| also incompetent teachers.
The true remedy for this evil is with The
School Commissioners. Let them raise the stan
dard of educational qualifications to proper
stand point, and the ability TO control and man
age a school, and impart instruction az of cqua
and necessary as high degree of mental disci
pline. When the School Board adopts such {
course, aud pays wages that will warrant mel
to prepare themselves TO attain this standard
then we can and will have competent corp.
of teachers. The influence of the teacher fo
the good or evil of the children coniidcd to hi
care is almost inconceivablc. 1t is n solemn
| thought aud true one that the impressions
made, and the teachers influence is felt through
all time to come. Therefore, how importan
that competent teachers should be employed
He should be fountain of good qualities IL,
should be an artcsian well of knowledge, gush
ing up, not having to be drawn out by the wind
lass. He should have tact and invention; hi
mind should be filled beyond the capacity of
depository of patent rights; his feelings shoul,
be fresh, and his sympathies in harmony will
his surroundings. He should not be petriicC
Medusa his heart should beat in unison will
those around him. and he must have also cour
age and resolution that know of no defeat III
must be n wellington. More anon.
PHI 3. X.