The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-09-05
Esculapius and Schoo! M1rm.

EaIor CFangedu7y Democrat:
In previous communication re-
ferred to q class of teachers who
stand in the way of progress, and
made allusion, parenthetically, to the
incompetency Of woman for this vo-
cation. This seems, and very natur7
ally, to have aroused the indignation
of many of those charged iu that
opinion.
''School Marin" essayed reply in
which she affects to abhor the idea of
being put in the category of ncwspa-
per polemics and as to the imperti-
nent coxcomb who, quite oblivious of
his obligation to woman, dares to as
sert IN opinion. Especially wheu it
approaches SO near that truthfulness
by whose beauty one woman was
"struck" and by whose plaiunces
many have been ohiended-"why, she
doesn't wish to know him, have moth
ing to say to him, &C." This | rele-
gate to her for her especial dclecta-
ton as being irrelevant TO the sub
ject. Again she seeks TO divert at
tention from the main issue by at
tempting to ridicule Esculapus in
her illusions to tho "per(cctibility"
OF his knowledge, his thorough CON-
potency to decide such momentous
issues, and her fear of having her
"edge forever blunted, dulled 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 10 an
swcr some direct enquiries that
again call attention TO this subject.
"Will Esculapius kindly furnish us
with list Of the qualifications pre-
requisite in a first. class teacher?" OF
course he will, and commend them to
your study.
They are; first, intellectual capa-
blllty; 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
~arn essential--fn the make. up Of a
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, dof
my cap to woman, yielding to rome
in paying her due honor for her de-
votion to morals. In devotion to
virtue and moral rectitudc she is in
"5cings endless chain" the brightest
emanation from Diety. But how
about the other elements. The fac.
ulty of imparting information is
rare gift, and not an .c1uir-
ed talent; hence, slightly changing
IIorace's oft quoted line, we might
say: Praeceplor ndscitur non fit.
Woman arrives at conclusions more
by perception than by reflection,
hence she cvinccs tact, but not pro-
fundity, and the pl ofound and philo-
sophie thinker can in every case
make the closest demonstrations OF
any problem. A man may Lave wis
dom and knowledge, but if he is
lacking in the 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 origine, it was not given
to woman to govern. Man was or
dained the head Of the woman and
the family-vthe author and the adj
ministrator. Unquestionally God in
Nature ordained it so. This is hu-
man instinct, hence the 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. 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 q oood to,nLor eo,,o