Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-02-23

6tatc, IL II the PUBIC ScnoOl teacner VINO ID
now the representative man of the profession.
1t is the high school and public school and
city college that are pushing to the wall the
| wildcat and red-dog institutions of the
country.
Teachers are now expected to be experts in
their business. The day has passed when it
was thought that any raw boy from college,
or miss in her teens, or lad fresh from, the
pillow handle was fit, without any preliminary
training, to take responsible positions in edu-
cational work. Teaching not only requires
| general intelligence and book knowledge but
also familiarity with the ways, means and
methods that can only be gathered from nor
NAL schools, the literature of the profession
and experience. The day will surely come
when it will be rs necessary for a teacher to
have normal diploma as it is for doctor to
have his credentials from a medical college.
While placing, however, the highest estimate
on normal training and normal books, l
would not underestimate general culture The
| great defect of the normal schools of this
! country is that they do not unite more
thorough training in science, mathematics
and languages with their excellent drill IN
! methods. An illiterate nornalite is only q
poor stick at best, and is likely to make as
poor teacher as the plow-boy the miss in
her teens, or the conceited young man fresh
| from college. There is, moreover, much nor
! malite literature, so called, that is unspeak-
! ably trashy, whore the writers have succeeded
in getting nothing into their books except
their ears. A teacher should be able to edit
all the books he reads and fan the chaff from
the wheat. Above all he should not slavsh-
ly initiate any mans ways or any book
methods. Insist upon yourself is one of
the best things Emerson ever said. One
teacher may be capital policeman and have
his school like graveyard. That may be a
good way for him and fruitful in results
You, on the other hand, may think with
Professor Parker that school room is
workshop and that q little noise we'll under
control is legitimate and to be expected. If
that is your idea, stick to it. Have the cour-
age of your opinions. The House of Lords
and the United States Senate are very quiet
bodies the House of Representatives and the
House Of Commons not so much 50. No
two reapers leave the same kind of swathe,
and if you have individuality enough to cast
shadow, you will find your own victorious
common sense able to gauge and decide all
things. Then, keeping abreast Of the best
ideas Of the world, your mind saturated with
the best in literature, with an intelligence
open-shuttered and alert, showing in tho
school room activity without fuss, dispatch
without hurry and confusion, order without
cast-iron rigidness, and vigilance without sus-
picion, with no stabling in your brain for
hobbies, you will be the serene master of the
situation. Our sons and daughters, under
your molding hand, will be as corner stones
Of temple and carved in the similitude Of
palace.
To theteachers, who are here assembled to-
day, on behalf of my confreres of Frostburg.
extend the right hand of friendly greeting.
While many Of the old teachers who wore
the harness with me as far back as 1868 are
missing, yet see enough of them to carry me
back through the links of memory to auld
lang syne. or the young teachers many have
stood in the relation to me of instructor and
teacher. When we are laid on the shelf as
old fogies, when the curtain Is rung down
ulOiA Jul lIlllC I'LL put
out and the small change counted at the door,
it is you who will take up the torch that has
fallen from our hands and bear it on to greater
things.
To citizens and school officials, who have
honored US on this occasion by your presence
and SO attested your interest in the great cause
of popular education, We say WELCOMED"
Your presence cheers us and will add i'm
portance to our meeting.
To our new examiner, who on this occasion
meets for the first time the main body of his
teachers in official relation, we extend the
| right hand of welcome. We believe that he
will not simply be Over us, but Of us and for
lis i'll all that is reasonable At least we are
ready to receive him upon such an estimate,
and to uphold his hands by our active SYM
pathy and support. No school administra-
ton could start under more favorable auspices
than the present board, and it is the expectu-
ton of us all that the harvest of results will
be commensurate with the fullness of the
promise.
The address, besides being heartily
received, was a topic of general com
ment very complimentary to Mr.
Buckley.
Examiner Weimer in reply returned
the cordial words of greeting rendered,
and in a compact and able address
dwelt upon some of the salient points
requisite to success in teaching, and
gave clear outline of some features
of successful institute work. He,
hoped that the proceedings would be
harmonious and instructive, and that
nothing offensive would be done OF
said. He was heartily applauded at
the close of his remarks.
The song and chorus of the Little
Brown Church in the Vale" was sung
by tie same voices as before.
Miss Alice McMichael read an i'll
teresting and thoughtful paper on
Primary Reading" which was follow
ed by a general discussion of the SUBJ
ject.
The institute then took an interim s.
sion of an hour and a-half for dinner.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The exercises were opened with the
popular song, "Wait Till the Cloud.
Roll Bly, q solo and chorus. The