The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-02-20
Benefits and Proper Method 0i
Reading.

Reading.
II IContinust from last vsekl
The particular branch OF the class o
: useful reading to which a person shoul,
, devote the most Of his attention, is de
terInined by the vocation which be ia
stends 10 pursue. The disciple OF -Escula
-pius must be conversant with GRAY an,
r other standard medical authors. Will
Blzckstone's disciples must pursue al
entirely different course of reading Go
: why has not the teacher a regularly de
fined course of reading spread out be
fore him. Echo chimes ia, there Is !
he only chooses to pursue IL
In the professions OF law. medicin
and theology, there is no lack OF book
and treatises, but up 10 short time sine,
there was a great vacancy In the cafa
Ilogue OF books, which treated Of how Il
teach instead OF what 10 teach. But fhi
want is being rapidly supplied. ans
every year sees several new books pub
lished exclusively for the much neglect
ed profession OF teaching.
Now. thst we have the works pub
lishcd and ready for use. do we pro ar,
them and study them as we should.
will venture to make The assertion (bM
would be truly glad TO see il di~proved
that not one-sixth OF The teachers u til.
county are the posessors of single worl
on the theory or practice Of teaching
II i true that many. or possibly all. taA,
the Normal Teacher or -Siafs
Journal" and probably the majority OF
those who take them read them carefully
but what was the motive which prompt
cd most Of them 10 subscribe for them
i IL NOT palpable tact. and one w;,icl
they are al no pains 10 conceal. that il j.
the extra per cent, 70 which they are en-.
titled for taking an educational pnblica
tion. that Induced most OF our teacher,
10 subscribe.
\ In looking around for On educafiona
journal for which 10 subscribe. is The
question they ask. -which is the best ?
or \ which j. the cheapest:v lam sf-if
the first question would be sadly in III,
minority. III the truth were ascerfained
DO you suppose the student Of law
medicine or theology. when purchasing
works treating on his profession. In
quires which can be procured with the
least outlay? Certainly not: he secure.
the best or the one which il recognized
10 tie the standard authority on the sub
jecf. Thus il should be with Us. We
should spend all we can convenient,
afford aud get Tie best.
1 Ii we would keep teaching in the rank
Of professions Tor which IL is struggling
one important factor j.. TO secure Tor il a
Literature OF its own We can lend d
mite il this direction. bv purchasing
reading and helping 10 create demand
for them and trust 10 our leading educa-
tors TO see that the supply az new book.
shall always equal the demand.
But outside Of the pale Of school ol-hooks
and books treating on the theory and
practice OF teaching there are other
classes of literature which tie n cce>stul
teacher cannot afFord 10 neglect
He should have general knowledge
OF every branch Of English literature a.
extended a. circumstances will allow.
But there il still another class within
your reach every day and which your
school and classes need as well a your-
selves: and this j. the much neglected
class Of general information: such as il
afforded by every newspaper and peri
odical
Too many teachers have absolutely no
general information. The teacher W no
does not keep pace. and take stride for
stride along with the current events or
the day, j. not fit 10 take charge Of q
school. Such teachers allow their minds
10 rust and grow mnsiy. and lose al
energy aud real. There is as great n
contrast between live. ac;ive teacher
and one OF this class. as there il between
the clear. pelIucid. dashing mountain
brook, and Prof Sweeney's dear
classic Patoka.-
III an event OF note takes place in this
country. or indeed. in the world.
the school should be informed Of III
without delay. There can be no bet
ter known way 10 create thirst for
knowledge in your scholars. than this.
As II Is important for every teacher TO
be familiar with the current events Of
the day; for this purpose. he should take
and read. not glance over. one Of the
leading weekly newspapers, and try and
keep himself and school posted upon
what Is transpiring in this country, III
not in others.
That reading which has no bearing on
should be deferred unit. vaca-I
ton. OF which the district teacher always
has qnantnm suflicit. Who ever knew
q law or medical student % teach s.c-l
cessful school while studying Al the same
time. with view 10 practicing?
In Germany, that teacher u crimi-
nal. and amenable TO the civil law. who
spends his time in preparing for anyI