The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-09-02
Tsneuurer gnaepeuaent,
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2. 1876.
School Teachers.

In the honest dealings Of sober PEG.
pie, prices are the measures Of utility.
A slazy fabric OF little utility rates low
in the scale of prices, because of its lack
Of utility. Such articles, however, are
generally made to appear what they
are not, and therefore cost more in pro-
portion to their utility than articles of
more intrinsic value. We have, there
fore, the saying, "the best is the cheap
est in the end" People very soon
learn this lesson in its application to
their material wants, but are slow in
adopting it as a practical truth in mat
tiers concerning their higher natures.
The general education of the young,
next to birth, the most important Of all
things in the world, is matter wherein
people are too apt, for the love of gross
or things, to adopt an article of slazy
character because low priced. Among
other things that might be mentioned in
this connection is the inefficient school
teacher, which is one of the poorest in
vestments any community can make.
The assertion has been made, that one
months school, with teacher of good
qualifications, is better in the end for
the children than three months school,
with an inefficient teacher; and there is
wisdom in the assertion. In this mat
ter, as in other things, price is the
measure of utility. This is the general
rule. The young mind, like the young
twig, is ever inclined according to bent;
or, to use another figure, ever retains
the mold received at the impressible
stage of its development. Early ecu
cational discipline bears the same rela-
ton to the mind that early physical
training does to the body, and its i'm
portance cannot be over estimated. 1t
ranks above houses, lands, or social in
fuence and power; takes precedence of
them all in exactly the same proportion
that the right use of money ranks above
the process and speed of its accumula-
ton. The parent who thinks poor
teacher will do because he is cheap is
like Esau of old, who bartercd away an
nhc.nance tor mess of pottage.
Trite though it sounds, it is eternally
true that moral, spiritual and intellect
ual attainment is the only basis of true
happiness. Parents therefore cannot
make better investment OF their mon
ey than to hire the best teachers for
their children. But what should
teacher be: The ideal teacher must
have mature age, good health, good
morals, kindness, charity, sympathy
and perception, command OF language
with originality of thought, love of the
business, and lastly, fair degree Of
book learning. School Superintend-
ents and Directors should bear these
qualifications in mind and be influenced
by them aud not by the money price in
the selection Of teachers. The person
atty of the teacher is more important in
a school of beginners than book lessons
and the mechanical recitation. Secure
teachers approxlmating as near to the
ideal as the country affords, even
though they cost double the present av-
crage of wages paid. Shorten the term
by half, if necessary after putting the
hand into the pocket twice, but have
capable teachers at all hazards. Such
teachers may cost more money than
poor ones, but they return larger
measure OF understanding and wisdom,
which is more valuable than money or
rubies.