The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-07-12
LABOR FOR FUTURE RESULTS.


One Of the most eminent and success
full teachers Of the present century
once remarked to q pupil, who was
FESTIVE under some well-merited disci-
pline, Il care far less as to what you
think of me and my treatment now
than | do what you will think of me
and my management twenty years
hence" The teacher referred to was
at the head of one Of the oldest and
best academies in New England, IAN
honor TO his chosen profession, and
highly esteemed by the community in
which he lived and labored. Several
years have passed since he was called
to his reward, but the student to whom
the remark was made is still living,
and is highly respectable and useful
member of the clerical profession.
Though at the time the remark was
made, he felt not it's force, he has
long enough to appreciate it's truth
and wisdom.
There is a lesson in this incident
which we would be glad to impress
upon the minds of teachers. The les
son is this: Labor for the future
good and usefulness Of your pupils
Let all your instruction and discipline
have reference to their usefulness and
happiness as men and women in COM
ing years" Probably there is no class
Of lab0rers more strongly tempted to
gain immediate results than teachers.
When the release from some difficult
task, or from some Well-deSerVed dis
cipline, will secure the temporary good
will Of a pupil and the good opinion of
his parents, the teacher is often strong
ly tempted to yield to a momentary
pressure without considering what
the effect will be upon the future Of
the pupil. In this way many teacher
Of moderate abilities has gained an
ephemeral popularity, while another Of
rare powers and marked fidelity has,
for d time, failed to secure popular
favor. But in "the long rum the
strictly faithful and conscientious
teacher will "bear the palm" and re-
Ceiye true honor and respect
The true teacher will keep constant
ly in view the highest and best good of
his pupils, and not allow himself to
relax either in rules Of study OF dis
cipline, merely for the sake Of gaining
the immediate good will either of pu-
pills or parents. Let it be remembered
by the teacher that his pupils will soon
become citizens and that his great and
constant duty is to give them such
instruction and discipline as will tend
best to prepare them for the duties Of
good citizens.
II boy about to go upon q hunting
excursion should be excused by an
indulg6nt father from taking the nee
CsSary ammunition on the ground
that he did not like the trouble Of
carrying it, he might. for the time,
thank his father for the act of indul-
gence, but how will he feel when he
reaches the hunting ground, finds the
desired game abundant and himself
destitute of the necessary materials
for securing the same? Will he not
feel inclined TO censure his Over-indul-
gent father for allowing him to come
without the needed ammunition {?
Most certainly he will, and he will also
feel that his excursion has proved q
useless One,-a failure.
1t is the teachers high duty to send
his pupils forth into the community
well stored with such information and
discipline as they will need to enable
them wisely and successfully to dis
charge the duties and meet the 0bli-
cations which await all good citizens.
To the teacher we would ay,-strive
to be strictly faithful in all your
duties. Aim not for mere temporary
applause but for the highest good of
your pupils. In. every case let the
question be, not how will this or that
course best please pupil or parent
but rather what course will best meet
the approval of pupils when they
reach the age Of manhood. Strive to
have your entire dealings with your
pupils of such nature that when you
meet them as men they will greet you
as one who had been faithful to them
and given them such lessons and dis
cipline as had prepared them to "act
wisely their parts in life
Teacher,-y0ur duty is not simply tC
perform the routine" duties of the
school rOOm,-but so to labor that you
will daily do something, by word OF
action, -0ften more by action than by
word,-tO prepare your pupils for the
wise and faithful discharge of the
duties of good citizens. How soon the
boys of to-day will become men,
powerful in their influence for good Oh
evil Which it shall be depends
largely upon those who shape theil
early discipline and education, Teacher
don't forget, that, in no small de
gree, you decide what the character
and influence Of the men and women
of the future will be.
CHARLES NORTHEND.
a Ill