The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-09-05
Esculapius and School Marin.

Ss6" "tSHyeo0'y DeUIOC7UL
In O previous communication I re.
ferrcd to class of teachers who
stand in the way of progress, and
made allusion, parenthetically, to the
incompetency Of woman tor this vo-
cation. This seems, and very natur-
ally, to have aroused the Indignation
of many Of those charged in that
opinion.
''School Marin" essayed reply in
which she affects to abhor the idea OF
being put in the category of newspa-
per polemics; and as to the imperti-
nent coxcomb who, quite oblivious OF
his obligation to woman, dares to as
sert IN opinion. Especially whcu it
approaches SO near that truthfulness
by whose beauty one woman was
"struck' and by whose plaiunces
many have been tiended-sswhy, she
doesn't wish to know him, have moth
ing to say to him, &C." This I rele-
gate to her for her especial dclecta-
ton as being irrelevant to the sub
jeot. Again she seeks TO divert at
tention from the main issue by at
tempting TO ridicuie Esoulapius in
her illusions 10 tho "perfectibility"
OF his knowledge, his thorough COM
potency to decide such momentous
issues, and her fear of having her
"edge forever bluntcd, dullcd hope
lessly." This sort of quibble may do
for some, but sensible people prefer
facts, or argument based on facts.
1t is only to correct an error in the
construction Of my article and to an
swer some direct enquiries that
again call attention 10 this subject.
"Will Esculapius kindly furnish us
with list Of the qualifications pre-
requisite in q first class teachcr?" OF
course he will, and commend them to
your study.
They are first, intellectual capa-
bility; second, moral character and
moral Influence third, power Of i'm
parting information; fourth, exccu-
tive talent Or power to maintain dis
cipline. No three will make a com
pctent teacher. These four elements
ara cssentiai--m the make. up Of n
good teacher as four quarters are to
the completion of whole. Let all
be present and ability to teach will
be unques.ioned let one be lacking,
and incompetency is apparent. Wo-
man is intellectually capable. When
we come TO the moral element, doft
my cap to woman, yielding to none
in paying her due honor for her de-
votion to morals. In devotion to
virtue and moral rectitude she is in
''beings endless chain" the brightest
emanation from Diety. But how
about the other elements. The fac
ulty of imparting information is a
rare gift, and not an .cluir-
ed talent; hence, slightly changing
Horace's oft quoted line, we might
say: Praeceptor nascitur non fit.
Woman arrives at conclusions more
by perception than by reflection,
hence she evinces tact, but not pro-
fundity, and the p, ofound and philo-
sophie thinker can in every case
make the closest demonstrations Of
any problem. A man may have wis
dom and knowledge, but if he is
lacking in tho power TO impart
the same to others, he is no teacher.
No. less important is the power to
maintain discipline. Woman Ger
tainly lacks this element, hence l as
sert her incompetency. None can
question the fact. Experience is con-
elusive. Ab oriyine, it was not given
to woman to govern. Man was or
dained the head OF the woman and
the family-vthe author and the ad-
ministrator. Unquestionally God in
Nature ordained it so. This is hu-
man instinct, hence tho smallest
child seems aware Of. the fact. I
know of many worthy ladies who
would be honored by an extensive
patronage if-as the pareuts say
they could manage. l have in mind
at this writing two large and deserv-
edly popular schools where ladies
teach as assistants and it is fair to
presume that they are not wanting
the clements of o good teacher, save