Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09
Teaching aS a Profession.

v henever two or three teachers arr
gathered together, the subject of the
discourse is usually the nohlenesS
of the profession We do not lack in
the Apostolic virtue of"Maguitinp
our office" The OFFICE Is y mag,
nititent onc-therc can be no doubt
about that. Whether the OFFICERS
are altogether 50 magnificent is
quite another thing
This tendency to sclf-laudation
may hetoken one Of two things an
inward consciousness Of short-com-
ings or 4 suspicion that very un-
comfortable class of persons known
rs men of the world have an idea
that the teacher As A TEACHER is Il
very useful individual, but that
when he ventures outside Of his
sphere, he does not cut SO graceful
a figure.
In other words, no man who has
sense enough to be ut large with
safety to the community has ever
denied the splendid possibility OF
the profession Of teaching. We
may therefore let that rest ~ estab-
lishol. There is danger Of reitcra-
ting that truth 50 necessarily and
SO loudly as to lead even ourselves
to fo-get how large gap separates
the actual from the possible lfit
be a truth that men of the world
look upon The teacher as u sort OF
living sacrifice, we had better look
that truth wholly in the face and
ask ourselves why is it SO?
In offering n few suggestions ON
such a subject, it may be well at
the outset, to disavow all prctcn-
tion TO authority TO criticise others
or find fault with them. The con-
sciousness OF ones inward short
comings should not be less wildly
present TO any one, than the pre-
ccption Of the shortcomings Of
others. | disclaim therefore all
rights to occupy the seat Of censor,
and prefer rather to sit upon the
pcnitential stool of confession.
rhn dangers inherent in the na-
ture of the profession are not few
nor difficult of discovery. There is
certain element of seclusion in
the life of Il teacher which, to some
natures, constitutes one of its chief
recommendations. But it is n
principle applicable throughout
nature that the absence of disturb
Ing influences means the presence
designating influences. The mo-
mnt you place boundaries to the
activity ofany thing At that instant
ysu substract something from the
pTfectncss Of its existence. Several
radical reforms are necessary before
til, profession can attain the po-
siton of advantage from which il
en- demand authoritatively, from
stciety, that deferential respect, to
which it is entitled by its natural
position as guardian of socicty's
most vital interests. The want of
higher professional, SPECIAL, scholar
ship is beginning to be keenly felt
inthis country and loudly called
fol Hitherto the arduous task Of
sDduing the soil-of developing
tlr material resources Of the coun-
tgof setting in motion gigantic
commercial enterprises, has engross-
ed the attention and the energy Of
tn nation. 1t is somewhat CALLING
toour national vanity 70 find such
a 3ritic as Mathew Arnold, declaring
in one of his books, that Americans
hive not begun to do any thinking
as yet-that they have their think
irg done for them on the other side
OF the Atlantic. Like all other
sweeping condemnations, this Of
th Oxford scholar goes a little too
fa. But it rests upon a basis Of
truth which we had better frankly
aimit, than denounce az libelous.
Our American life has not yet
become staple enough-our wealth
fns not yet become sufficiently
hereditary, to admit of the growth
q class in society with sufficient
means, with leisure and with incli-
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