Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-02-24
). What Shall We Read 20

/
''What Shall We Read 70
For the benefit of teachers there APP
peared, in recent issue of THE HER
AID. IN article under the above caption
The only piece of information it con
tanned was the fact that the educator,
of Wisconsin in convention discussed
the expectancy of a course of reading foi
teachers
While we are proud of the education-
al improvement and advancement in
Wisconsin, yet we must admit that
there is gap in her system that needs
! 10 bc filed, 1t is want of well-in-
formed teachers. We live in an age
when improvements and changes are
continually being made in every branch
of science, and teacher, above all per-
sons, should be an individual of culture
and general information one who is
awake upon all current events and dis
cussions, whether in science, literature,
art, or politics. 1t is not enough that
he read his county or state official paper,
but that he be constant reader OF
books and periodicals. We are sadly
in need of this class of teachers in Grant
county and in Wisconsin generally. As
1t Is, Young lady or gentleman who
has had smattering of the common
branches of study-a slight acquaint-
ance with some elementary grammar,
has been hurried through an inter
mediate arithmetic. has studied an an
Gent small edition of IT, S. history. and
a more ancient edition of Monteith and
McNally'S geography. has read the con-
stitution of the United States, looked up
few points in orthoepy and has a
faint idea of photography glances
over these branches week before ex-
animation in order to be able to answer
Il SET of questions that are, strictly
Speaking. no test of Il persons knowl-
edge or ability to teach. BY means
which would hardly be approved by the
Superintendent, or any person who
loves fair play; these persons generally
obtain certificates And il is not unfre-
quent that they succeed in obtaining
schools. The reduction of wages may
be justly attributed to the existence OF
such class of teachers. Many of them
are persons who, rather than subsist by
manual or other labor, and because OF
the dignity of the profession, will offer
to teach for inferior wages 1t is not
economy to employ inferior talent at
any price, and good ability will not sub
ject itself to low wages According to
County Superintendent Harper report,
OF 36S certificates issued last year, only
10 were first grade and % second grade,
leaving $40 third or low grade certifi-
Gates.
The question arises, Are the persons
OF the class referred to qualified for
teachers? In my judgment they arc
unworthy the name. As have said. a
teacher should be a person of culture,
and wide-awake, general information.
Ii he teaches geography, for instance,
he should not contine himself to a text
book, but branch out and search for
facts wherever he may find them. In
stead Of this, how many do we see who
cling to some old textbook which saws
that Ohio is the greatest wheat-produc.
ing state, Virginia raises the most cot
ton, leddo. Japan, is the largest city in
the world, and makes many other
equally erroneous statements. Do they
tell their pupils that man named Stan
ley made numerous and important dis
coverieS in Africa found lakes, rivers.
animals and even men hitherto un-
known? Are they informed concerning
Arctic expeditions that set out from
time to time, and of the results attained
thereby? Do they know the geography
Of the Yellowstone regions? Can they
name the rulers and give an account of
the changes that have taken place in the
various governments of the world since
that geograph was published? / met a
teacher in Grant county in 1880 who
did not know that France was repub-
lie! A very good plan of teaching geog-
raphy is adopted by the normal school
which am attending, and it is the plan
generally adopted throughout Indiana.
1t is to prepare list of topics on the
general outline of the subject, and re-
ANirc the pupil TO recite from these top
siesy getting his information wherever he
can. Ii the scholar is unable TO do the
topics justice by not having access to
books the teacher should be able 10 give
the information.
As with geography. so with every
branch of study, we lind that changes
and improvements are continually be-
ing made new principles are being es-
tablished in Philosophy. new facts in
Geology and Natural History. new rules
in Grammar, new words are heing con-
tinually coined and old ones becoming
obscure concerning all of which the
teacher should be informed. And the
only way in which this information is to
be CLEANED is BY diligent and extensive
reading. | do not mean that teacher
should be walking encyclopedia.
but that he should be, in measure. in
dependent of textbooks.
The press, the pulpit and the govern
ment exert their influence through the
whole of our educational system. and
they, not the teacher, are responsible
Tor blasting the minds of the young in
any particular way. Therefore no such
fear need be entertained as that an ex-
tenslve course of reading will have the
tendency 70 occasion any undue preiu-
dice on the part of the teacher. Ii were
better that you adopt Thomas Grad
grind admirable system" OF teaching
fact. fact, fact, or to follow the doe
trine of Mr.. Squeers. in the delightful
village of the Dotheboys, that political
chicanery and wire-pulling are essential