The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-03-09
GIlr 6eacIler.
INDIFFERENCE IN TEACHING !;
How Shall We Have a Good School
Written for the Democratic Adrocate,
BY LAUREL.

mon errors. The teacher is a part of the
school, the engineer who guides the train.
A good engineer viii be careful to guide
the train Alright, while bad and reckless
one win tend to misguide.
Our influence is daily felt, and there
fore the success of our school, its charac-
ter, viii be efysdependent upon us. [
truly believe the school will be Just as the
teacher makes it. The teacher to whom
the subject of my thoughts is not one of
deep and paramount interest, is certainly
out Of place. Ifit be a matter of indif-
ference to us whether our schools are good
ones or not, If we are content to let them
run along in hap-hazard sort Of way,
J without aim, and without effort ON our
part towards any elevated standard of en-
inence, whatever may be our true position
in society, whatever our appropriate work,
we certainly do not find it at the source
of the school. We are then very much
out of place. If we cannot SO interest
ourselves in our work as to make "Excel-
sior" our motto, we ought with all speed
abandon it, for We are standing in the
way of most important interest. We
occupy position of trust, to which great
responsibility is attached, position upon
which much of the peoples money is ex-
pended, and in which are involved some
Of the dearest interests of the community.
1t is rather hard that we should be defeat
ing by our. apathy and indifference an OBJ
ject that costs so much aud that is so dear
to the community, our principal aim being
to receive our salary, for which, small as
it is, we attempt no adequate return l
again repeat that the teacher who is wholly
Indifferent as to the character and pro-
gress Of his or her school, who is not ear
nest in his or her aim and effort to ad-
vance it to the highest possible degree of
excellence, should abandon it. So long
as teacher is thus Indifferent and apa-
thetie, no matter what may be the advan-
tages of the general system of education,
it is impossible for that teacher to share
in them properly, the school win derive
no benefit, and of course win not be
good one. Managing to have full and
regular attendance is an important condi-
ton upon which, to great extent, the
success of any school is dependent. do
not mean that the school should be a large
one, high numbers are not very important
Especially to a care-worn teacher). a
small school may and can be made a good
school more easily than large one. The
attendance should always be regular and
constant throughout. Some of our school
officials call an irregular attendance an
evil-a serious evil, and agree With them,
for it is an evil which produces both vex-
alton and anxiety on the part of a good
manager. We are responsible to Ger
tain degree for this very evil. Not full
responsibility, for there are circumstances
operating, in the country more particu-
larly, to produce this irregular attendance
that we cannot control Yet | know we
can do something towards correcting this
evil. If we cannot remove it altogether,
we may lessen it. We may, with some
advantage, seek out the absenting scholars
and inquire into the cause of their absence.
A word to the parents expressing concern
at the absence of their children, and urg-
ing regular attendance viii have a magic
effect. 1t was during the fall term of
1877, that / was very much annoyed by.
the irregular attendance of bright and
inquiring little girl When asked her
why she missed so many days, she hung
her head bashfully, and refused very kindly
to give me definite reply. l did not re-
proach the child, but took her sweet little
face between my hands, and said, "Iwould
like to have you here with me every day,
for l miss you very much when you stay
away" She laughed lightly, and said she
would "tell her ma. In a few days
after this conversation | had the pleasure
of meeting the mother of my little de-
linquent. | made inquiries about the
matter, and found that the hinder
lag obstacle was simple one, and
could be easily removed. The mother
was q laboring woman, who found it diff
cult at times to purchase various articles
of clothing for her little ones unless &C
tual necessity compelled her. The weather
being very pleasant she had deferred buy
ing shoes for her child until later in the
season. She disliked to send her little
girl to school with her naked feet exposed
to my gaze, as she thought it would be re-
pugnant to my proud nature. She meant
this, but hesitated to tell me in such plain
words. She being unable at the time to
purchase an outfit for her little darling's
feet, and not wishing to use her button
boots for everyday purposes, thought it
best to keep her away from school. livery
soon enlightened her about my pride.
That it did not consist of the outer adorn-
ments, but of higher and nobler princi-
pies. told her that her pets bare feet
were just as pleasant to me as the very
best clad in my school; that the weather
was entirely too fine to cram little feet
into stockings and shoes. In my final re-
marks used an oft-repeated wish, viz:
''Ifall could 20 bareiooted the whole year,
how glad would be, for | preferred the
patter of little barefoot to the shutting
noise of heavy boots and shoes. The
mother seemed to understand my proud
nature, and manifested extreme regret for
allowing her imagination to form such
opinions of an entire stranger. She sent
her child to school regularly after this,
and appeared to be pleased beyond de-
scription.
1t is grateful and pleasing to parents to
know that we are interested in their chill
dren and want them at our schools. They
will be much more willing TO send their
children in such eases than if they have
reason to suppose that we are indifferent
and do not care whether their children
come or not. -.
Again, We must manage always to have
our school rooms in a comfortable eondi-
ton, so far as We can make it. Some
teachers are so very slow about having
window panes inserted in place Of broken
ones, or about putting up their stoves, SO
as to have FIRE when the dull, damp and
rainy autumn days come. The little chill
dren often sit shivering, while the teacher
is warm enough by moving about the room
continually. Many children are often alb
sent after such freezing, so they can
have the advantage of a warm CRATE. 1t
is the duty of every teacher to see or know
that the school room is warm and comfor-
table, and not only this, but clean, neat
and tastefHlly arranged (the contents of