The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-03-09


How can gentleman teacher forbid his
scholars from using tobacco, whiskey and
profane language? when he makes no
secret use of either, but employs any part
OF the floor as spittoon, while his breath
IS often impregnatedwith alcoholic fumes.
How can a lady teacher remind her pu-
pills of their soiled and torn garments, their
unclean hands and faces, their disheyeled
hair and disordered looks ? if she is in
ciined 70 have the same unrefned habits.
We should remember that our business
IS to teach and to educate, aud we should
endeavor to do it in such manner as not
to weary or tax the patience of our pupils
any more than possible We should tax
our powers of invention to discover WAYS
in which study can be made pleasant and
agreeable. We should inspire the conf
dence of our scholars. We should impress
them iayorably as to our own ability, and
the best way for US to do that is to have
the ability.
Some highly educated man Il disre-
member his name but not his qnotation)
has said, ''That the best and the easiest
way for a man to seem to be anything is
to be that very thing" Therefore the
teacher should be thoroughly acquainted
in al. the branches OF. study which he or
she processes to teach. 1t is rather an
awkward position in which teacher is
placed sometimes, when, from the want of
preparation he or she finds himself or her
self at fault in hearing recitation. and
has to be prompted by one of the scholars.
It does not tend to increase the confidence
Of the scholars very much. We must
guard against that by going over each les
son in advance, and so refreshing eur
memory with its details. We must not
be caugk1apping by our pupils. For
instanc I've had a problem brought
to me for Explanation, which, in the midst
of the school, with the pressure of many
claims upon my attention, have had
some difficulty in solving; l have thus
learned by experience the Importance of
being ready by previous and timely prep
aration, so that there will be no hesitation
and consequent embarrassment. This
preparation is something super-added to
the general knowledge which we ought to
have of the branches taught IF we
would have well-conducted school, we
ought, by thorough study, be well posted
in all that we undertake to teach. We
need not expect to get along well by Just
keeping ahead of our classes from day to
day. We may get along ourselves in
some sort of way, but we are not likely
to get our school along much.
From fear of taxing my patient hearers
Twill refrain from dwelling any longer
upon this subject, though BY no means
are all the points exhausted. | have men
toned what may seem to some to be little
things, yet they are not trivial and unim-
portant, and after all, when we reflect
upon life and observe the operations of
nature, and the movements Of human So
eiety, it is surprising to see how the great
results in this world are reached and ac-
complished through the instrumentality
of little things, aud so it is through these
little things, it is by persistent attention
to these details, day after day, that we are
to reach success in our work. It is thus
we are to make our schools good ones.
This essay was written for the Teach
ers' Association, which was held on Feb.
Sth, 1878, but the very inclement weather
prevented the author from being present. I