Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-01-20
Written for the CENTRE DKAocRAr.
School Teachers and School Teach
ers' Hopes.

| impressible minds almost at VIII. III
was Napoleon, if | remember rightly,
who said the greatest want of France
was good teachers" and good school
teachers are to day the greatest want OF
ours and every other nation in the
world
A teachers knowledge should be
much beyond the range of science to
which actual teaching is confined.
There should be something higher than
this, something more, even, than an
acquaintance with particular branches
for transcending that line. There must
be an initiation, at least, into what may
be called the science Of sciences-the
knowledge of knowledge the sound
and healthy mind capable OF distin.
gushing in respect, not only to the
quantity, but the quality of different
kinds OF knowledge-of determining
what truly enters into the idea OF edu.
cation, and what belongs TO the partial,
the sectional or the emphemeral. 1t is
Just such class OF minds as are now
most needed to perfect our common
school system--a class of thinkers who
shall gradually create a philosophical
and learned interest, which will steadily
increase the demand for the article they
represent, elevating the profession Of
the teacher, and in this way, the com.
mon mind, TO support in a most liberal
manner all our institutions, the highest
as well As the lowest
Put a we'll qualified teacher into every
school and give him all the appliances
needed to enable him to work in the
most elective manner; provide a
supervision constant, close and careful ;
make each one concerned in the admin.
istration individually liable for the sue
cess of the part assigned him, aud
every year will witness the improve.
ment in our social structure.
Who can estimate the power OF a
teacher upon the vopng mind. ahopt
him, who is constantly pushing them
onward and inward Copld the boras
tho re.Ii,cs ,ho os,,;r,,;o,. ,,b;ob -
vigorate the efforts OF the teachers Of
von,b be attended, with si,,;lor sroc.ss
full results. with which the pursui,s and
aspira,iops oC o,bor ,n., i, tho d;F,r.
ent ayocations of liro mr.. ,,,o,dod hoes
brilliant would l.. tho ,,o.,;,,,, H..
pure and boIIowed ycuId bo Tho oro,b.
eo.is ~ which ,h;I, l;r;r -. -,
dad ,bov would Ia o~,l,od, r..
nt.,r. which toll , nation. .o.,,- =.
.,e,d of bewaili,c III. do,r;.o ~ ,ho
heroic cbieC,ain Of hundred ,;,,o,fo,.
ba,tle. or va.,in, ,boir rno,o.i,l,,,.t,
ox,.,d;,,ro, ,,,a, I'll. r.,.....-
which vopId rraso,ve bis or bo-
and brillian, acbiavemop,s ,or tho 90,
templation Of n,nre co,o,,,ior.
would be went for tho fall of ,bo.o Ill
lar. Of society-,bo ,c,chor. of ,o,,b
who bv their Iives NJ prror,i,,,,, toll
Of ceaseless applic,,ion. and f,oonor,y
unreouited services. had fallen amid
the scenes Of their labors. wb,le arriving
to ins,ill into the minds Of tho voptb
the imper;.hable principles of scio,co
of virtue and religion. which vopld
serve them as inyincible bpIwarks
against the ignorance. the corrup,iops
and vices of the world upon. wbo.e
tempestuous bosom the frail baropo ~
their hopes would in later years mo cas-,
to seek amid its breakers and shoal. a
haven of secure repose.
II might. perhaps. be tbou,b,-a,d
thought even by those who are No, d;..
posed to underrate their serv;co. a.