Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-12-31
EDUCATIONAL.
A Circular Letter TO Public School
Teachers.

- hAAHu OlSutii A. M Aldcn seminary, West
Lebanon, N. HI
MY Dear Friends BY long service in the
school-room have gained a permanent re-
lationship to the whole body of American
teachers, and naturally feel a deep interest
in you, and sympathy for you, in your i'm.
portant and difficult work. Hence l beg per
mission to address you, in a familiar letter,
touching the points which have an important
bearing upon your improvement as practical
teachers, and your present and future sue
cess
see you installed in position Of great
dignity and of commanding influence. YOU
are intrusted with the management and in
struction of the nations children, who are
soon to become citizens in this Republic and
to share in the management of public affairs
With the aid of the mothers in their homes
you are to form their characters, and thus
under God, in a measure, to determine no
only their individual condition in life, bu
also the condition and destiny Of this grea
people Other professions share in the re
sponsibility of this important work, but non,
so largely as your own. The mother, az
have intimated, has given form and tint tc
the bud and opening flower, but it is yours t.
watch over that mighty process until tn
fruitage shall appear. When these childrel
leave your hands they will come into practi
cal life, and their influence will begin TO tel
upon the lives of others. You should, there
fore, measure your own responsibility b,
this practical standard, and see to it that you
work is well done.
Your field of labor not limited to the school
but includes also the homes from which you
pupils are gathered. Indeed, your success
as teachers depends largely upon what yo
say and do in these homes. You will fin,
too many of your patrons ignorant of wha
constitutes good school, and Indifferent a
to its success or failure. You should tax
special pains, therefore, to instruct them
and to inspire them with new interest in tn
education of their children. In word, yo
should aim to elevate and improve the Who'll
people among whom you reside.
You can reach and gain the confidence G
these parents through their children. Wi
the child aud you will win the mother, An
through the mother the whole family. A
you visit these homes, you should interei
yourselves in whatever interests them, an
aim to impress them with your own views
and impart to them your own enthusiasm
regard to school matters. In this way yo
can secure the cooperation of both pupils an
parents, which is Of the utmost importanc,
Indeed, no school can be successful Will
public opinion is against the teacher. Wher
the highest success is attained the combine
influence of each pupil and family is eKerte
to sustain n skillful master or mistress. JI
dicious management and great care are ne,
essary on the part of the teacher to secur
this result, but such painstaking is wise an
well rewarded.
Again, your success depends upon th
earnestness aud determination with which yo
prosecute your work. The ind0leHt teach,
might as well be dead, 30 far as the school
concerned. Enthusiasm is potent in Il
school-room as well as in the world. If maj
ifest in the teacher, it is communicated
the pupils. II wakes up mind, inspir
study, and becomes an animating and col
trolling force in all the exercises of the schoo
And determination to win, and hold al
control, should be cherished and manifest,
at all times and everywhere.
And if you would make the most of you
selves as teachers, and do the most for yo,
schools, present and future, You must study
study your daily lessons study collater
subjects study methods of instruction al
illustration. In this way alone can you
fitted TO appear before your classes. Stud
school management, that you may preve
evil study methods of discipline, and Il
pecuiarities of individual pupils. that "
may judiciously punish wrong No teach
can long sustain himself who does not maj
it point to gain wisdom from the expe
ence Of others. Every teacher shou
own professional library. 1t is indispens
ble TO the same end, that you take and rel
some educational journal. In no other VI
can you make progress in this progressive ag
So important is this point TO the welfare
our schools that no candidate should be
censed who has not interest enough in schot
work to subscribe for som educational pc
odical. Every live and progressive teach
|
such reading.
[The inquiry may here be made, Whe
can the best educational periodicals be foun
| answer, The National or New Englal
Journals of Education, Primary Teacher, al
the educational review, Education, publish
by T. W. Bicknell, at 1G Hswley street, Bt
ton, are the best.
Still another important suggestion may
here INDUCED. You should organize al
hold weekly, or bi-weekly, teachers meetin
in the town whore you teach. Such gath
ings are very profitable to each and all,
they afford opportunity for consultation a
discussion, and enable each to compare not
with every other teacher, aud thus to utili
the best thoughts and methods of all.
Now, in closing, allow me to express
hope that you will realize the far-reaohi
consequences of success or failure in t
work you have undertaken, and also the p
sibilities of your life, il you improve all yo
i opportunities for culture and usefulness.
/. '