The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-03-13
MANKATo FREE Press
FRIDAY. MARCH ID. 1895.
TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS.

think our schools have made COM
mendable progress the past winter, gen.
orally they have done well; but to do
well is to be doing better and better,
There is room for improvement. An old
adage runs like this, Like priest, like
people," In more than one sense 1t
may be said, as the teacher so the school.
He is its soul, and its sun. He controls,
inspires, enlivens, cheers, and in every
way gives character to the school; and
fortunate is that person, whose manner
and ability is such that he can give his
school high moral and business tone
without any seeming effort on his part.
Our schools want;
LIST. Teachers who know the value Of
time, who mean business, and who drive
business, with whom the school-room is
a place for work and not place merely
to pass time, teachers who can work
with some rapidity and enthusiasm, and
who do notspend one-half hour in hear
ing recitation which should be better
heard In ten minutes,
| 2nd, Teachers who know when piece
of work is thoroughly done, and when
one thing is done know how 10 go on
and take up another. Who do not fold
their arms in idleness, because they
have accomplished one or two things
but who still go forward, who themselves
are progressive and can lift up their pu
pills To noble aspirations,
sympathy with the work, and will moi
permit the exercises to lag because, for
fsooth, they do not expect to teach again
4th. Who know how to adapt the les
sons to the capacity OF the young mind
and who will not permit pupils TO tloun
der and struggle with questions entirely
beyond their comprehension, but wht
can lead them step by step, just as thei
attainments require.
9Th. Who will take especial pains Il
have each days work in mind, befor,
entering school in the morning, wht
have reviewed all the lesson topics o
the day, who are ready to develop ant
explain oil points in the lesson withou
delay.
9TH. Who do net love the recess NOR,
than they love the recitation, and VIII
do not draw out the recess to an intoler
able length for the purpose of passin
time; but who are eager to shorten tn
recess and get to business. In some in
stances what a perfect nuisance the re
cess has come to be.
9TH. Who will not accept part for
whole, an incomplete answer, or a.
answer which in no way expresses tn
idea which the question purports, VIII
know that statements without ideas ar
useless, who look for the development
of ideas, and not to mere repetitioni
meaningless TO the child.
9Th. Who have clear conceptions 9
each lesson, whose knowledge of it
exhaustive, who can state things clearly
quickly and in the fewest words.
9th. Who can spend five minutes eac
day in giving instruction on some genel
al topic, and who make such an exercis
profitable and instructing.
10th. Who in teaching reading-espe
cially to more advanced ciasses-wi
give attention, LIST, to vocal culture, 2nC
to distinct enunciation and 3rd, to ez
preston. Who can make reading some
thing more than mere calling of word
"a formal eXercise-a tread mill opers
ton. Who can lift their pupils out {
long worn ruts, and teach their classe
to read with clearness, distinctness an
expression.
18th. Who will give the utmost a
tention to the solution of arithmetic,
questions. We need to emphasize here
Let teachers distinguish between cult
waiting the reasoning faculties an
strengthening the memory. Mathema
les is designed to cultivate the reasonin
powers Let teacher and pupil not b
satisfied with results, or answers, as on
children call them; but see that the
can give clear statement of the process
by which the result is obtained.
10Th. We would like teachers, 80 we
qualified that they have no fear of tn
examination. You, young teacher, ca
: become so. Iwould not say one wor
to discourage you, ! would much rathe
speak thousand for your encourage
ment. Can you not give some porto
of each day to study? If you will
will very soon tell for your improve
ment. Our schools need to take fol
ward move, and to you we look if 20
enter the school room, to help them t
advance ground. EDWIN ROGERS,
Co. Sup't.