The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-06-24
educational.
The Coming Teacher .

much abused ana moderated and so mucl
left to the charge of incompetent person
as that of the teacher. Our literatureIis full
of humorous descriptions of the schoolm astel
and derogatory allusiors to his employment
| Goldsmith in, his famous poem, has given nj
picture of the village sshoclmaster al
which every schoolboy chuekles with de
light. Shenstone has given us no less anus
ing pictures os the village schoolmistress
"who boasts unruly bsats with birch to
tame.u Every reader is familiar with the
| frjghtfnl caricature which Dickens has
drawn in the character of Squeers, as well as
the ludlcrous sketch which Irving has given
us o.. Ichabod Crane and the Hosier School
master of Edward Eggleston. And there is
more than hint of sarcasm in the picture
which Longfellow has drawn of the man
whom "nature made a poet, but destiny
made schnolmaster.''
These are. of course, exaggerations. but,
to some extent, they are faithful represen-
tatives of the. schoo,master eff the past.
The ancient pedagogue was a strange mix
ture of pedantry and affability, of severity
and tenderness, OF wit and wisdom. He
doubtless exercised great influence for
good and was a usefal member of society,
yet we are glad that he has been superseded
by the more intelligent, the N ore unpreten-
tious, the more humane teacher of to-day.
| But there is yastimprovsment yet to be
made before perfection can be reached. We
look forward with hopeful expectancy to
the coming teacher, the embodiment of our
cherished ideal. Let us try to sketch his
portrait. In the first place he is one who
appreciates the dignity and value of his
calling and has made it q life work. He will
also be thoroughly educated. He will not
only understand the common principles of
English grammar, bu5twill be familiar with
the sources and history of the language and
eonversant with its magnificent literature,
De able to nse it with ease and elegance.
He will not teach geography and history
merely from the text book, but will possess
a vast store of interesting descriptions and
subjects and render them attractive. He
will possess a considerable acquaintance
with the arts of drawing, psnmanship and
music, and will employ his skill for the in
struction and entertainment of his pupils.
He will be an enthusiastic student of nature;
ne will know the names and characteristics
Of the rocks-athe flowers. &hs. insecta and
I0h SNAn EtNS1 will hn nh In IN
open the great volume of nature TO the
smallest child and show it the wonderful
pictures ard teachit the alphabet of science.
He will not only thoroughly understand
the branches CT study which he teaches and
the higher sciences to which they lead, but
will possess the faculty of inparting mis-.
knowledge to others ; he: will not present to.
them the dry skeleton of'learning, but will
clothe ii with form flise and beauty and
send the warn heart current thrilling
eloquent ard his eyes Will CLEAN with entAu-
siasm when he talks Of the wonderful trndhs
OF science he will feel an interest in his
pupils as thoagh they were part OF himself;
he will realize the value of the immortal
souls committed to his charge and labor Tor
their spiritual as wen as their intellectual
development. In the realization OF this
ideal, is there NOT scope for the highest
talent and the finest powers? Need any
one say that there is not room enough In
the teachers profession for the exsDcise of
all the powers of man of talent and cul-
ture?
Lee the teacher of the present realize the
digni y and the infinite possibilities of his
mission. 1t is his sublime prerogative to
enter as High Priest !rto the very Sanctum
Sanctorum of the great temple of truth aid
from It's living oracle receive the revelations
of to-day. Sacred as is the oface of the min
lister of the gospel, the teachers vocation
does not yield in sanctity to the hottest
priesthood Sublime as is the mission of
mission are infinitely greater. Never did
Phdias fashion so divine form as cui-
! tured mind, never did Raphael sketch SO
grand a picture as the teacher may pain.
upon the fresh white canvass Of the youth
| fui heart.
| The teachers vocation is assuming an
Importance which it never before possessed,
and hundreds of the finest scholars of the
age are enrolled under its banner. Instead
of an anchorate, musing in the depths of his
solitary cell, we see an Agassiz leading a
band of enthusiastic pupils into the very
depths of natures grand arena instead of
an astrologer. trying to read mans destiny
in the stars, we see Tyndan plucking the
sunshine from the sky and revealing It's Sc
crets to charmed multitudes. Wherever
the ak of the pioneer is heard, wherever the
smoke of rude hamlet curls heavenward
there may be found the schoolmaster, the