The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-07-19
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
BY A. c. HOLBERT.
CHAPTER NV.

CHAPTER XIV.
Aspirations. We all have them;
all down the ages is the record OF
mans wish for something higher,
nobler, better. All down the un-
numbered cycles of the eternity OF
the past is written the story of the
evolution of the great and the good
from the lower and more imperfect
forms of moral and intellectual be-
ing. True, our creed teaches US that
man, far back in some unknown,
mysterious past, made a tremendous
retrogression, stepped from a high
estate into one so low that the whole
created universe felt the shock of
his fall. How that may be | know
not. Let theologians decide the
meaning of the records that have
come down to us from Arabian
sands, Idumean plains, kaldean
fields, from forests and mountains,
and desserts, the pages of which are
written in blood with a sword for a
pen. Let the old history lie upon
the shelf, and gather the mould and
dust Of ages, and be forgotten. Let
the memory of the old teacher whose
penalty was death for all oifenses,
who awarded ''an eve for an eve. a
tooth for tooth, and a life for a
life" let his name pass out of the
memory of mankind, ike the name
of the Egyptian he slew in the
brighter and more glorious efful-
gence of the Prince of Peace, in the
practice of that milder precept,
Whatsoever We would that men
should do to you, do We even so to
them"
The teacher who is worthy the
name, is guided by this maxim of
tine Great Teacher, who spake as
never man spake. | am now brought
to the first point which l wish to
make. The teacher must have the
great question settled in order to do
his best work. He wants no grim
doubts, or hideous fears of the fu-
ture fitting across the horizon Of
the present to scare him like shad-
ows of the night frighten timid chill
dren. Settle the great question,
then, III such manner that come
when it may, you may
Approach them, and.
Like one who wraps the drapery Of his couch
about him,
And lies down to pleasant dreams
In the words of another poet
Make a firn-built fence Of trust
All around to-day;
Fill it in with useful work.
And within Il stay.
Look not through the sheitrring bar.
Anxious for the morrow:
God will help, whatever coIucs,
Re it joy or sOrOw.
There it is, all of it. With an
army of such teachers, actuated by
such principles, think you there is
any possibility Of bad work being
done?
Teachers well read up in all the
branches they expect and intend to
teach school houses properly con-
structed, furnished with suitable APP
aratus, books, and all other school
furniture, owned by the State, teach
ers hired for a term of years instead
OF term of months. the schools of
the county running under the direc-
ton Of the county superintendent,
like the schools of a city or large
town, run to-day under the direction
OF their principal, certain amount
of work prescribed and done during
each session, pupils complete their |
books III a reasonable time, instead !
of dawdling over part of them win
ter after winter, session after session,
and completing nothing. Pupils /.
leave the public schools prepared to
enter college, or to commence the /
race of life, and run it to its close
with vigor and with success.
Such are some of the aspirations
which FIJI my mind for the future of
our profession. Some Of them will
be filed in the very near time to
come, others will require long years
10 bring them about, and ere they
come to pass all the present genera (
ton of workers, and shall | add of
1Iones, too. viii have passed into
the silent land" Other men will [
have arisen to take our places. but
they will reap the benefit of our
work, the tree which we plant will .
attain to fruitase, not in our day. +
but in theirs; but what of that2 I
Other men planted and we gather .
the fruit. Why should we not plant I
for our successors also? Only let US
plant Alright. Let it not be said of
Us in the time TO come, "the fathers ,
have eaten sour grapes and the chill /
lren's teeth are set on edge"
There are many things, | am well
lware, which might have been men
toned, many which, in the opinion +
1f MANY of nv fellow teachers,
should have been mentioned. and
some may deem that things are men
.ioned which had been better omit
ed. I have 30 apology to offer for
what | have written. Where | have
uttered any words Of condemnation,
hey have been engendered by ex-
Derience of defects. / leave the
subject with you with the single re-
gret concerning my work, would it
we're worthier." Whether or not
nv pen shall again ask the attention
,f the public on educational topics
know not. have nothing ofthe
Kind planned for the future. j have
written these chapters in compliance
With a promise made several months
100. NV task is ended sO-fare-
veil.