Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-07
To Teachers,

Mr.. Editor AS our winter schools are now
opening, few suggestions to our district school
teachers and school government may not be out
Of place. School discipline should claim your
first attention, as nineteen failures out of twenty
are due to lack Of control on the part OF the
teacher. 1t does not In the main rest with the
pupils, parents, committee or superintendent,
whether your school is success or not. 1t rests
with you
First-keep order. One OF the first and last
things for teacher to bear in mind is that Or
der is heavens first law" and that without order
the school will amount to but little IL anything
The teacher who cannot keep good order is to be
pitied. Parents and friends, committee and
superintendent, all say, keep good order The
The pupils will respect you land love is pretty
sure to follow respect) II you insist upon quiet
and orderly school. Attempt to hear no recita-
tions, answer no questions, do no work, until you
have comparative quiet. There will be some
noise from working pupils, absolute quiet should
not be aimed at,-but all unnecessary noise
should be stopped
Second-GoUern yourself. The teacher who is
hasty, who has no control of his temper, who says
and does things out Of place, is not fit person to
teach school. Be patient be pleasant, be cheer
full, for "as is the teacher, so is the school,
Third-Do not talk too much "Wherefore, nv
beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear,
slow to speak, slow to WRATH" and "unwise talk
is matchless in unwisdom." Say but little, but
let that little mean something. Talk to the point
and stop when you are through.
Fourth-Ailo,c no " ansperinq back" Any in
cination in this line should be nipped in the bud
10
not the teacher will be master of that school,
1t will not do De decided In this mattar and
check at once any attempts in this direction By
all means encourage their asking questions at
proper times and in proper way, but discourage
any tendency to be too smart, too pert.
Fifth-Insist upon prompt and eract obedience
You can easily manage any cases of downright
disobedience, You will have but few such,-but
many pupils will try to compromise Do about
half what you require, and put off doing Just as
long as it will answer. Stop work, stop the reg
ular school exercises, II necessary, and see that
your request is needed at once
Sixth-Be not udridble. Let them see that the
same rule holds to-day that was in force yester-
day. In assigning lessons in the general man
agement OF classes and school work. show no
hesitating, doubtful, changing mind. The schol-
airs will soon, and with reason, conclude that
teacher doesn't know herself half the time what
she does want to do. Take time to mature your
thought or plan before you speak, and then speak
and act decisively. I" II the trumpet give an I'M
certain sound, who shall prepare himself to the
battle7"
Seventh-Be cool and uigildnt These charac-
teristics are sure to be found In truly successful
teacher When your pupils have learned that
you are wide awake, that nothing escapes your
notice, that you cannot be thrown off your guard
or surprised by any occurrence, you have an un-
told power over them. They have an impression
OF great reserve force in you which will prove
very wholesome.
Eighth-IntereSt yourself in your pupils II
they see that you wish them well, that you are
willing to work for them out Of the regular school
hours, that you mean to do your very best for
them, there will be but little cause for any disci
plining. Visit them at their homes, get acquaint-
ed with their home life, counsel with the parents
about their children and their work. You can in
this way much more easily carry point you con-
slider important, than by remaining in the school,
room and arbitrarily saying, "This thing shall
be-"
Ninth-Do not govern too much Make but few
rules, make them only when occasion calls, and
then see these few are regarded. Many rules
will often suggest instead OF prevent mischief.
Finally, teachers, control your school or quit
teaching ~