Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-05-15

any otner WORK IN the world. WHY, sir
think Of the work Of teacher; think how
the whole future life Of the pupil is shape,
by the influence cxerted upon him in th,
| school-room for tell YOU. next to III,
mother. the teacher is the one whose opin
ion is unquestioned by the child. Think q
| this complex machine called the mind witt
its will. its reason. its perception and no
( tion so various. so divine. Think Of eaci
one 50 different to he placed aud guided il
the best path think how often the teacher
! must stand in council in piece of gooc
| home influence, and think of the igno.
rance lin all but booksl. the youth anc
poor judgment, that is often placed oyel
these schools, in the form OF a teacher
and points 10 system very far from
lofty standard. What proportion o.
| the teachers Of Hancock county have
ever received an hours special training
for i. or mingled with those who have
Some are noble examples, but many other,
are robbing our schools Of the talent and
work that they need. Am severe am | rec.
reant to the calling admire. am uncourt.
eous? This is no hour for smooth words
If they do not represent truths. | hold tha,
no person has right TO guide these chill
dren through this misty way until he has
given the matter itself his bes, time and
thought. \ score Of years ago it was far
different. We had no such schools for
training teachers as now. Contact With
the world did no, require the same degree
Of knowledge as now. for success in life did
not depend then as now so much upon the
educators Of the man. Yet | question II
the average teacher of TO-DAY is far better
fitted 10 instruct than a, that time. The
qualifications that the times demand have
quadrupled. would be- glad to know what
proportion Of the teachers have taken suf-
tioient interest to attend this all important
meeting. do not know tie number Of
schools in thi. county, nor The numteT Of
teachers some Of YOU do how large a pro-
portion are here Am asserting that no
teachers are good but those who have A.
tended Normal school, or other schools Of
training Assuredy ! am not There are.
undoubtedly. those present. vta vithou,
special instruction have shown most excel
ent results But one .uch who has had ,uf.
iicleni talent 10 overcome obstacles and
llck Of high instruction ha, been The hor~.
upon which a dozen unqualified oucs have
rode into the position Of teacher. Because
Nr. Llnco!n'and Mr. Whittier were graduated
from no college wol.d tie poor excuse .or
my staying al home Personally. recall
With shame the work | did as a teacher,
without proper training Tor The noble work
And ! ca. upon YOU teachers of Hancock
county 20 place your seal upon thi, work.
Let no man or woman receive the stamp "
Your commendarion, Who i. noi willing u
prepare FOR high and responsible rrtsr.
Another evil OF which | am proud ID >ay
TINS town has rid itself. l. the practice of
ne Z EeeiptiHg "&nIlqpnsgt IF libs.eiesSiaF ia
tina, of the school committee. | shall pass
BY this with little comment. the argument
in favor of the former is 30 speclnus, and
in favor Of the latter so palpable tha, will
not de,ain YOU. The only reason with
which am acquainted offered by the agt ncy
system i ,hat.-"We tried the committee
method year and Il proved failure.
Logic cannot be expected to reach those sat
isied with one wears trial Of any such i'm
portant change as this. Il cannot be said
to have stood or fallen by the test Of eI-
perience. ill at least decade Of wears has
answered 10 It's use. Go back INTO some Of
our northern towns where the ''turn meth
cd" Is in use. each one in the district ,ery-
ing his wear as agent. and candidiy con>il-
er how much progress may be expected from
th, method Wages is the everlasting
standard, not the only but the prime test.
! think may assert without fear Of sue
css,fu denial, that most school committees
have Judgment and education for this work
far above the average agent which. If true.
is an unanswerable argument to the agent
system" Still another custom at square IS
sue with the progress OF our common
schools, is the continual change OF teachers
i pause. only to emphasize 1.-THE reasons
are s-lf.eyiden, think WHY is it not ns
profitable to continue d good teacher from
year TO year in common school as in those
Of higher grade We should smile to see
the corps Of teachers at Ca>tine or Bucks
ports yacate their positions at the end Of
each term and new one replace them. 1t
is not more absurd, save the custom. Again
why not adopted III our cities, where the
school government is of higher grade !.
You all know how il is. begin at reduction
this year, the next year al reduction. again
the third year perhaps At the beginning Of the
book, according to the whlm of the teacher,
or because he has no other means Of judy
ing the pupils proficiency. There are many
other barriers. as certain loose arrangement
Of text books, but cannot mention them !:
already have exhausted the time Teach
ers of Hancock county, with YOU rest these
and other reforms. You will wait in vain
for the people to wake to the needs Of the
common schools, until you make them il is
true in other professions, tue in yours. Ard
uous as your work now is, il will hardly
be less till the whole grade IS higher through
your efforts. And call upon you in the
name Of the people to educate the parents
as we'll as the children. Have | been over
strong? should be sorry indeed to have
any young. aspiring teacher wounded by
words Of mine. But these things need a
trenchant knife, not an opiate, they are ma
lignant, not benign. To those who feel
we'll the trust Of their high calling. bear
the heartiest sympathy and good will but
l shall ever advise the removal from this
body Of those who do not.
Go Home, Boys.