The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-01-30
cellancnns.
Teachers and Teachers Associations.
by j. w. CARTER.

Are Teachers Associations of any benefit to
teachers, pupils or patrons? Or might put
it, can they be made of any benefit? This is
question that every teacher of Hartford
county should consider, and be prepared to
give an affirmative or negative answer. In
this connection there are few personal ques-
tons for our consideration
First. Are any of us so perfect in our
work of teaching, that we cannot improve it
any?
Second. Are we so selfish that we are not
willing to attend and take part in the exer-
cises, lest our fellow laborcrs may learn from
us and be more successful than we?
Third. Are we afraid that some of our fel-
low laborers know more than we, and we
will not attend the meetings of the assoca-
ton lest our ignorance be made apparent p
| can conceive of no other objection that can
be urged, and neither of these three are tena-
BILE: and yet teachers do object to county as
we'll as district associations, for of the 1872
teachers in the county, | feel safe in asserting
that less than One-tcnth Of them attend dis
trict associations, in each of the Districts
There are few teachers anxious and willing
to keep up the organizations but yet we find,
that in but one district in the county are
meetings held regularly, and yet in this (thc
9TH district,) less than one-third of the teach
ers attend the association regularly BY far
the larger part meet only when the sessions
are held in their own houses.
Now we think there is not Il teacher in the
county, but will admit that teachers associa-
tons can be made interesting and useful to
themselves as well as to pupils and patrons.
AS teachers we should bear in mind that Ed
ucation is progressive, and the work we did
last year will not do for this. We must do
more and do it better. The people of this
county are beginning TO realize the benefits
that may be derived from the public schools,
and they will not be satisfied with the teach
er that is not alive to the responsibility of his
situation.
Our school system is but just getting into
working order The friction that has existed
in its parts has in a great measure ceased, and
we find more harmony existing among school
officers and the people. Teachers, patrons
and pupils are beginning to find that we have
n school system adapted to the times, and in
which there is harmony. The more closely
we adhere to this system the more marked
will be the result. The system has been
ahead of teachers and patrons, but the teach,
ers, Through the instrumentality ofour Coun.
ty Institute) are being educated up to pro.
per appreciation of the beauties of our school
system, and they in their turn are educating
the people up to the same standard Hence
the patrons of our schools expect their teach
ers to use every means in his or her power tc
increase their efficiency and we claim that tC
increase that efficiency it is necessary for us
to meet together and mutually aid each other
by practically demonstrating our different
methods of teaching as well as school disc
pline.
We find the farmers of the county have or
gained, and have regular meetings at which
they discuss the different methods of agricul
ture, and at their meetings we find the mos
prominent men of the county, and the NOS
successful farmers. Now, none can deny til,
fact that the farmers of Deer Creek, are plai
matterof-fact men, generally know VIVA
they are doing and why they do it and i
their meetings are not benefit to them the,
would not continue them. So we must con
clude that to them they are Il source of pleas
ure as well as instruction.
We find, too, by our county papers that on
physicians have an organization of their own
ut the meetings of which they give their eX
periencc in difficult cases of surgery, as wei
as their treatment of chronic cases. Now
all will admit that our physicians are mel
above the average of their fellows in intelli
gence; hence they are competent to Judge o
tiiC w DC ttllNCi iioiil isSOClullOlls
That they kept up their organization is proc
of the fact that they consider it benefit t.
them.
Now if our farmers and physicians are ben
Gifted by meeting together and compalin!
their views in regard to their particular cal
ings, may not we the teachers of the count
be benefited by the use of the same means
There is no calling in life so highly pro
gressive as that ofteaching. In proofof this
let us but look back fifteen or twenty year;
and compare the schools ofthat time with til
schools of to-day and mark, too, how regu
lar and steady has been the advancement
But yet we have not reached the maximum c
| efficiency under the present school SYSTEM
There yet remains much earnest, determine
work to be done. There are large numbe
of children in this county that do not atten
our public Tor any other) schools as much a
one full term during the school year, and W
these are to be a part of the future citizens {
the county. These can only be reached b
the teachers using their personal infiuenC
to get them into the schools and then kee
them there until their minds are stored wit
useful information that will make of theI
true and useful citizens School laws cannC
reach this class; hence they should be til
teachers special wards.
In my estimation the teachers are the tru
executive officers of the school law Thei
influence is, or should be felt in all the ram