The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-04-19
EDUCATIONAL.

Inc TlCn IN an asked CnSlSb WlAb ne
should do to be saved; the answer was
"Take up thy cross and follow me-" If
the teacher will faithfully and resignedly
take up his or her cross and follow me
through the few lines which I write, 1
will be as brief as possible.
Teachers, ours is work of great i'm
portance; so let us throw our influence in
the right direction, and perform every
known duty. It is these duties 1 refer to
in order to deepen, if possible. the sense
of them in the minds of those who are en-
gagged in the work. Time is precious, 30
let US find employment for each moment
as it passes. In glancing at the subject of
time, one is almost forced to believe that
time was unequally distributed. No gift
bestowed upon us by God was more
equally distributed We have lust as
much time as the queen in the palace, or
the tired mother in the kitchen. The
question now is: what is the reason some
of us can accomplish more than others
There can be various answers given the
question, but the one most appropriate. in
my opinion, is, many Of us lack system.
When mention the word system think
can hear you respond, "Oh, do away
with that old story. We have been taught
to be systematic eyer since we were child
rem, and there is nothing we are so weary
of hearing" Patient, dear teachers how
can you teach pupils to be systematic if
we are notP Block out your time; be sure
you have period for study, for reading
educational journals and books of good
authors, and for recreation. Keep and
work by regular program. Much time
is wasted by doing everything hastily and
sketchingly, but it behooves us as teach
ers to be the patterns o. perfection. When
we teach a subject, teach it throughly
and Systematically, and in such manner
as to leave pupil hungry; then he will
study to satisfy himself. If you do not
it is waste of time both to us and our
pupils. AS Smiles says: "Most of the
work done by teachers is wasted or worse
than wasted, for it is of such an imperfect
character that it will take much more
time to complete it,"
Another important duty of teachers, is
attending to little things. Many little
things attended to will work together for
a great good ifnot, to great evil. The
fact to which I wish to call attention is
doing the pupils thinking for them. Now
comes the question: "is it necessary for
the teacher to do the thinlxing?" en-
phatically say, "no." Some parents ap-
parenty seem to believe that the more
thinking the teacher does and the less
they leave for the pupils to do. the better.
l disagree. Teachers should give suffi-
cient amount of assistance, but they must,
in order to teach successfully. present the
subject in such manner as to cause the
pupil to think for himself. Teachers and
parents seem to forget that all education
is self-education. 1t must be confessed
that the main object in teaching is to pro-
duce thought, and if this point is missed
the pupil has sadly wasted his time. Let
us in the future, when we are engaged in
teaching, mediate on each days work, to
sec five have made any impression on
the minds of the pupils which would
cause them to think. Noted men have
said much on this subject. Spencer says
Children should be led to make their
own investigations aud draw their own
inferences. They should be told as little
as possible and induced to discover as
much as possible. Humanity has pro
gressed solely by self-instruction, and
| that TO achieve the best results, each mind
| must progress somewhat after the same
fashion is continually proved by marked
success of self-made men," Hope the kind
friends who read the above, will kindly
sift out the wheat they may find few
grains to pay for their trouble.
A TEACHER.