The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1885-09-02
TEACHERS IN COUNCIL
Proceedings of the Ohio County
Teachers Institute, Held at the
Hartford College. August
Path. 1855.
FIRST DAY

met at the tOlltSt I'LL IldElIOTu, Oh
Monday. August 9th, 1855, at 10
o'clock A. NJ
The Institute was called to order by
County Superintendent +. l.. Felix,
when Rev. +. a. Edwards, pastor of
the Methodist church of this place,
offered the opening prayer. 1t was
then moved and adopted that the Su-
perintendent, Mr.. Felix, be permanent
chairman and Mr.. X. Z. Miller perma-
nent secretary.
The Superintendent then delivered
the following address to the teachers:
Feilow Teachers, Ladies and Gen
uemen-The time has again arrived for
the annual meeting of the teachers OF
Ohio equity. | have much to con
graduate you in. i am pleased to be
able to state that the qualification of
teachers in our county has much i'm
proved since our last meeting. More
zeal and interest il being manifested
among the teachers than there has
been at any time since my superin-
tendency of the schools. Parents and
the people in general have aroused
from their Indifference in regard to
educational matters, and are now de-
manding higher scholarship on the
part of the teachers employed and are
furnishing better means in every way
for the education of the masses. The
people are better qualified to-day to
know the requisites of good teacher,
and they are demanding teachers pos
sessing those qualifications necessary
to meet all the wants of the school
room, and those failing to prepare
themselves for the coming emergencies
will, without doubt, find themselves
without a school | am sorry that
every teacher i'm the county is not here
to day. No teacher can have any su.
perior interest to this one, if he has,
he il not a suitable one to direct the
young mind to higher aspirations and
school. Every teacher, no matter how
high his position may be in the school
room, should not fail to associate him
self with the Institute work. Now il
he possesses superior ability as teacher
he should be here for the purpose of
assisting others; if he il deficient in
those things necessary to make good
teacher, then he should toe here for the
purpose of improving himself
THE OBJECT OF THE INSTITUTE.
l am afraid it is not well understood
by all, and propose to make a state
ment of the great object of our coming
together:
LIST. 1t is to give the teachers a knOwl-
edge of their profession.
I'd. To teach them the methods
founded on those principles which will
prove most serviceable to them i'm their
work.
Sd. To create among the teachers
desire for professional improvement.
4th. To promote the acquaintance
and harmony of the members of the
profession, and to indicate means of
improvement, and to consider the ad
vantages of normal instruction.
5th. The Institute should reach the
people, and leave a conviction of the
great importance of education, to the
individual and community. An ap-
probation Of the great difference be,
tween good teachers ana bad ones, and
determination tn secure the former
and get rid OF the latter.
These are principles of very great
Importance to every citizen and to
every teacher of our common country.
Upon an educated and virtuous people
rests the security of our temple of Lib
erty, and the time has now come when
the people are determined to employ
none but energetic, well qualified men
and women to take charge of the train
ing of the immortal minds of those en-
trusted to their guardianship, and he
who fails by self culture and energy to
fit himself properly for this great work,
must and will be left behind. We can
not excuse ourselves upon the idea that
We have not the time and opportunity,
for this is not the case. Every teacher
who is not prepared for his work at
this advanced period, is 80 from his
own apathy, or else he fails to under
stand the dignity and Importance of his
profession.
Ladies and gentlemen, the work you
are doing is endaring. 1t is expended
upon mind which is immortal. The
teachers image is photographed upon
the receptive negative of the child's
impressionable nature. Just as you
are, so will your pupils be. II your
conduct and bearing are lofty in their
nature, if your hearts are filled with
noble sentiments and lofty aspirations,
SO will become those tender minds sub
mitted to your care and training.
Yours is responsible profession.
Among the long catalogue of vocations
none has higher responsibilities at
tached to it than that of teacher. A
teacher who is content to measure his
merit by the wages he wins, and who
feels that all his responsibility ceases
when he completes his draw on the pub
lie treasury, has feeble apprehension
of the moral dignity of his high calls
ing. Teaching, like the ministry of the
gospel, is one o: those works whose
reward transcends the paltry pay,
when the duty is nobly done. A
teachers faithful toll is not expended
upon the chrystalized stone, but upon
living soul, that will expand and grow
as the years go by; and heaven en-
throned will unfold its immortal pow
ers more and more, as the cycles of