Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-04-02
Educational Column.
JOHN B. SCOTT, EDITOR.

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| JOHN b. SCOTT, EDITOR.
1t has been said that of all the dang
ers that threaten the future of our
country, none, not even the fetid tide
OF official corruption, is so. fearful as the
gradual decrease in our habits OF obedl-
ence. Young America is exuberant in
its Independence; but the greatest
blessing it can have, is to be saved from
| itself, and to be taught that liberty ris-
ing above law destroys its victims; un-
tempered by humanity is mere SELFISH
ness; and unregulated by law, becomes
anarchy. This discipline is the work
of education, and can only be accom-
plishedNby its broadest and most thor
ough operation" One among the
port of public schools consists in the
fact that thousands of children are
taught habits of obedience by the pub
lie schools. and the public schools only.
In the "people's colleges . as Webster
called our public schools, children are
taught submission to constituted au-
thority, and thus are developed useful
and lava biding citizens. When we
curtail the power of the public schools,
we strengthen the source of lawless-
ness.
Our p ,rsevel ence as teachers should
be seen in the government ofour school.
Steady, persistent measures, rather
than violent means, should be used to
secure good department and earnest
work. There are few pupils who will
not yield to moderate forces, if steadily
and persistently applied. At the same
time it should be felt by both teacher
ana pupil that there is reserve force
which may be used, if necessary. The
consciousness of this fact will have a
controlling influence.
Too many teachers of country schools
cease studying the common branches,
those required for the district school.
entirely toon soon. This is generally
in order to gain d knowledge of the
"higher branches" This practice is
commendable in teachers only when
they have thoroughly studied the COM
mon branches and how to teach them.
Every teacher should have his course
Of study laid off, for the year, and one
part of this course of study should be
the study Of those branches, required
by law for certificate, in which he is
most deficient. The superintendent Of
the public schools OF Cleveland says:
II find ten teachers qualified to teach
geometry, in a high school, to one who
is prepared to teach reading in a pri-
mary school; and, in general, it IS more
difficult to find teachers adapted to give
instruction in the lower grade, than in
the higher"
One of the greatest evils, in nearly or
quite all of our schools, is our neglect
to teach our pupils self-reliance. The
pupil who is not taught self-reliance, is
taught but little that will enable him
to make life success.
We fail in this important work, us
parents and teachers, by solving the
pupils hard problems, analyzing his
difficult sentences. and, i'm short, lift
ing him DIP every difficult ascent of the
hill of science. Pupils Of course need
assistance. 1t takes siillful teacher
to render assistance that will not ia its
final result. be the reverse. The teach
er must, by his judicious questions,
lead the pupil to discover 70. himself,
SO that lie will feel that he has solved
the difficulty, anf not the teacher. DR..
Booth, of England, said: "a man can
no more learn by tn. sweat of another
mans brains. than he en- take cXer-
else by getting another man to walk
for him. All mental improvement re-
solves itself. ultimately. into s.lf-im-
provement."
''WHAT TO READ.n
Are you deficient in taste? Read the
best English poets. such as Thomson,
Grav, Goldsmith, Pope, Cowper, Cole
ridge, Scott, and Wordsworth.
Are you deficient in imagination?
Read Milton, Akenside, Burk and
Shakespeare. Are you deficient in
powers of reasoning? Read ChilIings-
worth Bacon, and Locke. Are you
deficient in Judgment AMI g,,i sense
in the common affairs of lifea Read
Franklin.
Are you deficient in sensibility?
Read Goethe and Mackenzie. Are
yo deficient in political knowledge?
Read the Federalist Webster, and Cal
houn. Are you deficient i'm pa triotism?
Read Demosthenes, and the life of
Washington. Are you deficient in
conscience? Read some of President
Edwards works. Are you deficient
in anything? Read the Bible.
AWa!king Skeleton.
Mr.. Il. Springer, Of Mechanicsburg, Penn.
writes: II was afflicted with lung fever and
abscpSS on lungs. and reduaad tn annIL;nu