The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-06-15
Written for The Morristown Gazette.
MODEL TEACHER.

q III WIN L JhG11 In.
: There is no position that man
j, called to fill in this life that hi
: such great responsibilities as that
t training the mind and especially tn
G mind of the young. Therefore ther
f is no position that requires so grea
qualification as that Of teacher.
} is my object in this short essay t
speak of some of the necessar,
, qualifications to the high and hon
J orable position of teacher.
/ list To be a Model Teacher is t,
/, have a thorough knowledge of that
that is to be taught Without thi
we cannot expect success, for how
can we impart to others that tina
we do not know ourselves. Thii
will require knowledge of our pro
fessiOn. We are educators. Hence
the first important thing for the
teacher to know is what education is
or means. He may have every
other qualification, and be wanting
in this he is a blank. We may
have a perfect knowledge of books
and yet be without an education
To educate is to train the mind IT
does not consist strictly in what we
may know of any one thing, but a
mind rightly trained or educated is
prepared to secure and digest all
knowledge within the reach Of
mortal intellect. Without knowl-
edge of this truth we are not able to
lay the foundation of good educa-
ton, andIyetwemay know all books
but if we rightly understand this
we have the first element of mo-
del teacher.
I'd. To know and fell the re-
spOnsibilities that rest upon the
teacher is another essential element.
There is something moro than dol
lars and cents in teaching. fear
that too many engage in this work
without considering the responsible
tiles resting upon them, the teacher
is shaping the destiny of men and
nations, developing for good or evil.
The model teacher feels this, there
fore he uses his power to draw the
mind out into that field where the
race may be blessed by it and the
grand principles Of good government
advanced.
3. He appreciates good govern
ment and tries to instil into those
intrusted to his care such principles
as will lead to the same apprecia-
ton. and in order to do this makes
the school a model of good govern
ment. He is not a tyrant ruling
with an iron hand, but studies to
impress by example that great prin-
ciple love, which is at the founda-
ton of all that is good and true.
4. The knowledge Of character
and Of mind is another necessary
qualification. The teacher should be
able to understand the character
and disposition of those placed I'M
der him in order to make a true
and successful development for
good. Too much pains cannot be
taken by the true teacher on this
point. The potter that does not
take trouble to clean the gravels
and Jumps from his clay, will make
faulty vessels. So the teacher that
does not strive to eradicatet he bad
from the character of his pupils
does an imperfect work. So must
there be a knowledge ofthe strength
of mind that he may be able to Sc
lect the methOdo of importation
that is best adopted to each mind.
5. The model teacher sees also
that he must have true foundation |
upon which to build the great edifce
of an education, therefore he gives
all diligence to have the elementary
principles thoroughly mastered by
his pupils.
6. The model teacher regards |
pOliteness as one of the essential
parts of an education, therefore he !
he is ever careful to make gentle
men and ladies out Of his pupils. |
and pOliteness are as polish |
to the diamond; therefore should be
early impressed upon the mind Of
the young. Last and greatest of all |
is, the model teacher must be a |
Christian. The great end in educa-
ton is that the mind may be
brought up to it's full strength and
that for no other purpose than it
may be able to return unto its
great Creator the full amount of
glory due him. 1t is consoling to
know that our people are awake to
this great truth, and Christians are
being sought after to teach the
yogthso our country. Finally, my
friends, those of us who are engaged
in the great work of training the
mind, let us strive to excel in these
points and we shall not only be
model teachers but will be able to
serve our generation faithfully and
gain the world of eternal
JOY and happiness. tx