The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-03-02
educational.
HABIT.

We are all creatures of habit both mentally
and physically, and he who desires to benefit the
world must guard as carefully in the one dlrec.
fion as in the other. "Man is bundle of habits,
and this bundle is made up of separate hDerS.
Habit begins with the individual act until by
many repititions the habit becomes connTmed;
The act may be comparatively unimportant, DuC
the habit often becomes of great moment, A
single snowflake is an object OF beauty but an
accumulation OF Sn0Wfakes IN the shape Oh q
mighty avalanche, strikes terror into the DraVeSt
heart. and often leaves obstruction and deVaSta-
ton in its ruthless path.
Success in life is founded upon seemingly IN
Significant trif1es while failures can usually be
traced to the neglect OF little Things ana InlS IS
true no less from a material StandpOlnt IMAM III
fine broad realm of mind. The mind Wnlcn is
addicted to peTniciOuS practices does not only
forego progress bnt positively retrogrades IL
is gradually dwarfed and It's tacultleS enerVatea
as the chain is riVeted more 1lrmly.
of the many bad habits which are TOO OICen
formed in our schools we shall mention DuG Two
dependence and superficialty. Perhaps tneIe
ic no mental vice more degrading than depend
ence. Carlyle says that his school-master was
GOOD Latin Scholar, and of the human mind knew
this much that It had faculty ca ice em0Ey.
integument by the appliance OF blrcnen RODS,
and this system, in q somewhat mOdlned form,
is far too common at the present Tune. 10 IreaG
the mind as a passive receptacle into which
knowledge is to be poured rather than living
principle in which thOughtis to be generated is a
griey0us error The aim should be to lnaugrrate
an independent activity that viii not cease 20
act when the door of the school house closes.
Many teachers make the radical mistake OF as
siSting too much and so detract from Ihe genuiI1e
Measure of acquisition. Let us have done Win
This "pOuring in process" and adopt the draw
ing out process, J." or that true development when
shall give us men and not mere dependents me
most pitiable parody on modern culture Is ne WIG
can tell what every one else thinks DuC nmSelI:
Pupils should be taught to study 1or the sake OF
obtaining material for independent work In the
future mot to accept nor to reject, but to nled3-
tate and to ponder" If digestion is properly per-
formed the fish from the sea, the grain from the
field. the vegetable from the garden, the fruit
from the tree and the game from the f0reSI may
become part of our own BODIES ana contribute
to our strength. And it is upon this condltOn
only that the mind may gather from the store
house of knowledge thoughts when become q
part of its own organization ana contribute 10 It's
power. .4
ficiaIity. We live in a fast age and among last
DeODle Teachers, encouraged by f0nd parents
are anxious that their pupils should at least seem
to be making great advances ms is naGlolai
weakness which is telling upon the character OF
our people. Wea are in danger OF becoming super
ficia1ly educated, of graSping at the shadow Dul
diSregarding the substance. we DoaSC OF Cnt
general intelligence of our people but can DOaSl
Of but few great scholars. We need TO remem-
Der that quality and not quantity is the true
measure Of success. And none need to remem-
Der this more than the teachers IN, our dlstrlcl
schools. He who would seek the BEST interests
of his pupils, and not his own ease and pOpularl-
ty, must guard carefully against the temptations
which beSet his pathway. Some teachers no MOI
make sufficient preparation outside OF the class
to do thorough work, while others do not seem &C
have q proper appreciation OF the Importance
and object of the recitation and so either do most
of the work themselves or leave 1t undOne. HARD
earnest, reSOlute work should be the characters
tic of every public school. Let us strive tnen &c
inculcate habits of manly independence an0
thOrO1gTlneSs, to rear up men and women wire
will think and act for themselves WITH prompt
ness, decision and energy.