The Mineral argus., 1884-10-16
AN ADDRESS.
Delivered Before the Teachers Institute
OF Meagher County, Sept. 25th, 1884,
by Miss Alice Nichols, County super
intendent of Public schools.
Friends and fellow teachers.

duties of our annual Institute. In
most of the states and territories, ap-
preparations for this work are made by
the legislature, whereby the Institute,
under the leadership of professors ed
ucated and prepared for the work,
takes the place of a Normal school,
continues two or three weeks, estab
fishes regular course Of training for
the the teachers. and consequently
lends an important influence to the
educational progress of the state or
territory in which it is held But Mon
tana has as yet no such appropriation,
therefore we are obliged to do the
best we can among ourselves. 1t is
highly desirable then, that we should
meet together with feelingof freedom
as of one family, with one common in
terest, and without restraint express
our thoughts and opinions on the diff
ferent subjects brought up for discus
sion. With no spirit Of censure, but
one of kindly criticism, may we each
give and receive all the aid possible,
and endeavor to make the work prac-
tical that real benefit may accrue there
from. Fine theories clothed in well
chosen language are very facinating to
read or listen to, but our time is too
limited, and our schools are too much
in need of earnest work for us to give
our thoughts and attention to such
fancles, which, as DR.. Mayo has ex-
pressed, can never be practical until
we reach a better world, and have a
higher type of humanity with which
to deal.
These%meetings should form kind
of educational exchange, where teach
ers may meet and discuss the value of
current educational doctrines and de
mands. In this transfer Of opinions
all may be the gamers. Those who
present information acquire greater
.clezrness by the necessity of making
the statement of their views plain to
others, while the listeners have an op-
portunity of enlarging and correcting
their ideas. We visit, as it were, each
others schools in spirit when we listen
to the relation of each ones mode of
teaching and general management.
Associations of this character also
possess an equal, if not greater value
in the personal intercourse the teacher
has with those of the same vocation.
In Others we may often see our own
position to better advantage. and dis
Germ traits which we lack or possess
and which it would be desirable to
cultivate or discard. The position of
the teacher, occupying as he does the
place of authority in the school-loom,
controlling Others according to the die
tates of his individual judgment and
accustomed to having his will obsarved
as law, is liable to exert an undesirable
influence on his mind and habits.
There is a tendency to grow rigid in
manner and assert himself doglnatical-
ly. This is not well. Freshness and
bouyancy of spirit should be cultivated
and the cares and daily round of school
life should not be allowed to narrow
thought or render infexible the lines
of personality. The best remedy for
this evil, which constantly besets the
professional teacher, is social inter
course with those he can meet as
equals or superiors. 1t has been said
and it is principle as old and as fixed
as the mouptains, educate the child,
not for the school, but for life. In |
order to do this effectually We must be !
constantly on the alert, We must our
selves be fitted for life, We must avoid
the deep grooves and rut work to
which there IS SO greata tendency IN
the regular routine OF school duties.
The intellectual eye compelled to dwell |
on details naturally becomes near
sighted, and we loose the grander out
lines of wider views, unless we give
portion of our time, not only to the
social element byt to reading and study
1t is our great privilege to see life
through the eyes of the deepest think
ers and highest cultured when we per-
use the printed page and have our
minds imbued with their thoughts
arisen intonewness of life. Our read
ing shouu be general, that we may be
able to sand on broader plane and
Judge Fisely Of the demands Of the
times. Tor it Is not always the newest
plan Or the loudest claim that IS the
most important. The wel[belng OF
socilty and the safety of our Republic
demands a deeper general education,