Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1878-12-07
Essay by lis. Schonkee.


Teachers Since Cadmus invented let
ters, and Plato brought TO life the latent
powers of mankind and Rdproved that mans
mind is kingdom whence wiss!om. has
her stores, the MUSES. have presided over
Poetry and Essays. But do we expect
any poetry in the life Of n country school
marin. who very often does not reach the
mind except with the help ola good birch
rod, and who is not supposed by many Of
her. patrons, and not expected by
Others. to teach the children TO get
beyond my dear friend / take my
pen in hand to inform you that | am well
and hope when these few lines reach you
they may find you enjoying the same
good health? We will leave penmanship
and photography out of the question, for
it was neither, but a grand failure in both
How Is she to write an Essay that would
engage the attention Of the learned Pro
fessoIs and Lawyers, ard ID. Ds OF this
Institute? Would not the gentle Muses.
retire in disgust and leave her 10 her own
prosaic thoughts, which | find are very
full Of sympathy for the poor teacher or
scholar who has a task to perform for
which he is not gifted by nature or art ,
Why. | really believe that. after this, |
will have so much sympathy for my
scholars that will not mention Compost
ton or Essay 10 them, but will let my inn
agination place them in my position before
our Superintendent. and will say: Chill
dren, | will excuse YOU this time for,
really, it is = greater task than ! thought
il was. Well do | remember my first
attempt, which, if you had undertaken to
have parsed, YOU would have found a
mixture Of prose and poetry, but which
my teacher could not dicipher for the
blotS which in my nervousness ! had scat
tered pr0miscuously over the paper. And
nor, with all Difference for the opinions
Of our worthy Superintendent, let ne ask
if Essays could not be dispensed with in
our Institute, rs men are but" children of
Il larger growth" and instead of making
blots, may make errors which may be
equally hard to ehare! Then, not as an
Author, but "a n Teacher let me come
before you this morning, feeling that ours
is a great and noble task, and that those
who educate the nations children shape
its DESTINY" and to our care is entrusted the
keeping of the jewels that will make bright
the escutcheOn of our nation, and glad
den with the light of love and true refine
ment homesall over our hand. Nor l. this
greatest orall for each trusting, coniiding
little heart given TO our care may become
a bright gem in our Lords crown Of
rejoicing. Truly, then, ours isno small
task, nor shculd it be menial Que; but
let us as Teachers take Excelsior for
our motto. and feeling that the Human
Mind is capableof grand possibilities, let
us train it to noble thought, and by teach
ing (both by precept and examplc) deycl-
op those latent sparks'of Divinity in our
our souls that will achieve these grand
results. Teacher, look upon that little
child that the parents have this day en-
trusted to your care. 1t is innocent and
full of enchanting ways that will win
your love-if you will open your heart TO
love-and feel that your task Is not ended
when that child quits school but that the
impressions You make may mar its future
life, if not blast it, happiness forever
Follow that child down 10 its three score
and ten ond think what possibilities for
good or evil are bound up in its life, and
that YOU, through your influence and by
your example, may bring on: all that is
good and the world may rejoice in the
great reform a Luther can bring about,
or admire true patriotism in a Washing
ton. or stand amazed in wondcr at the
genius Of a Morse ora Franklin. Then,
how can we best develop the mind, and
bring to life and light the good that is
bound up in those tender little hcartsy-
Yes, tender and pliable, and almost
nodded by Us at viii, and SO deep and
lasting are the impressions that wc make
that all the rude and rough storms that
come to them in after life cannot uproot
one single idea that We have planted
there! Does itnot become us, then, to be
careful to store their minds with truth, to
draw out the aspirations Of their souls for
a higher life-cycn Immortality; teach il
of the grandeur Of God as witnessed in the
roar OF the thunder, the lightning fash,
the fury and the violence Of the stormy
wind His majesty in the heavens and all
the hosts OF the world around Us; His
love aud sympathy in caring for all the
creatures that he has made and the daily
Manifestations of His power IN nature,-
Can child fail TO drink al this in? Can
he doubt that God paints the rose and
decks the lily fair? Can he fail 10 hear
Gods voice in the thunder, or witness His
power in the storm? Can wc, then, in
our own strength take these immortal
souls and train them 70 reyerencegnd love
that pure and holy Being who placed
them here 70 glorify his name and show
forth his love2 Dare we in our own
strength. or should ! not rather say weak
ness. attempt 10 mold that particle Of
Deity that Is in man and that slumbcreth
mott No one is capable without help
from the only source Of wisd0m-for what
are al the stores Of earthly knowledge
compared to the fountains from whence
man draws his thoughts that are truly
and great! Then, ask strength
Of Him Who hast created the mind an
leaf on the ever green bay
tree Of existence word from VISIONS
mouth that cannot he unspoken; a ray Of
Loves own light drop in Merey's sea