Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-10-21
A Paper Read at the Teachers Meeting.
held at Winter Harbor, October l.
By JAMES MoNOHoN.


"HEALTH CONDITIONS FOR GOOD TEACHERS"
The moral atmosphere Of the school.rocm
depends upon the personal character Of the
teacher, and that character is determined
more b, the condition of the teachers health
than by any other one thing. In life and
literature, there is nothing sadder than the
constant wall which men and women make
over the limitations set to their usefulness
by reason Of their physical infirmities. The
truth is the scholars Of this age have not
vet recovered from the bad example inher-
tied for the MEDIEVAL saints who believed
religious soul could be the occupant only Of
frail tenement. But thanks to the phys
ioiogist who has proved the intimate re-
/ laiion between the body and the soul, the
influence Of the old pagan gymnasium is re-
placing that Of the monkish cloister Our
modern educational creeds recognize that i'm
pOrtance Of physical culture and that school
Is wanting in duty TO its pupils which does
not include in its curriculum gymnastic
training
But while teachers carefully insist upon
the physical culture Of their pupils the
question is often suggested "how far do they
practice their own precepts 2" Both exper-
fence and observation have taught me that
teachers. Is class. are not careful Of their
health and do not sufficiently value good
sound body as an element contributing TO the
largest professional success. that We too o.
ten forge, ,ha, cheerfulne S, courage patience
temper. sefcontrol. enthusiasm and al the
virtues which are the constituent. Of the at-
mospsere IN which are 70 grow ami be de-
,,.opcu the human plant. committed to our
care. are The products, yer, largely. of our
bodily health. think u must h1,e occurred
90 every one that ~c ha,- tendency % sur
round our ~oTk With conditions ,ha; initiate
against our bodily sell being A.thoagh t-ach-
81. have more holidays more ana longer va
cations sor Trcupcration, te' statistics shuN
that no class Of people - rary break down
under then work. wtsh "a refer hri,h, 10
some thing. which believe are ,rlurluu.
20 the health uf tie teacher aud incidental,
70 suggest their removal H. the dr,t p.Ac,
| believe that teachers al, too ANXIOUS
Daring term tine they tao often wear .
troubled look Ike men wto SaiA on unerr-
tain ground. Tie thousand iitll, .unny-
anc-, Of the sehooI-Toom.the natural fgcIou
aitendan, upon discipline. the dul.ne,. and
indifference Of p-phs are borne home .m-
paiuug appetite. DESTROYING digestion and
disturbing sleep. These concerns haunt he
mind m What Tecreal,uns tile teacher j. 4s-
posed to take md nuiity their beneficial e.
tect. They arc ghosts that vii not down at
h.s bidding Wnai wonder then tha, 20
man, men and women flll early by the va,
or are compelled to Withdraw from the pro-
fession with shattered nerves and ruined
he.lth. Tha, the occupation Of the teacher
is peculiarly exposed to events calculated 10
ammo, and disturb the mind, no one who has
any practical knowledge Of the matter can
attempt TO deny. But the warning should
produce the guard" The profession that
demands the most sympathetic and sensitive
nature should be in the possession Of the
heaithiest nervous organism. No occupation
is tree from harasslng concerns and no man.
who engages in any work in life can expect
exemption from daily cares But he pos.
sesses the true secret of life who knows how
work.
Statesmen, generals. authors, men who
have achieved great results in irving exI-
gencies have preserved strength equal TO
their work by practieing the priceless art OF
not worrying. Let the door that closes up
on the school-room close likewise upon all
lis petty annoyances and anxieties. Let the
teacher bear to his home mind free and
susceptible to healing and healthiul IN
/ fiuences that he may gain the rest and re-
freshment he so much needs for the renewal
OF his labor. Akin 10 the worry and anx-
ieiy of the teacher is the neglect of proper
exercise. Teachers, as a class, are noted Tor
spare bodies, thin faces, hollow cheeks aud
iabby muscles. The exceptions to this
statement are the results Of some strong
constitutional tendency to sioutness rather
than to any special sanitary precaution.
What physical destruction worry does not
accomplish, oyer-study and confinement
effect. But" The teacher replies, Il have
no time for exercise. am confined to my
schoolroom seven or eight hours daily
and the remainder OF the time which can be
taken from sleep must be devoted to the
preparation Of to-morrow's lessons The
answer comes in the language with which
the teacher often meets the objections of his
pupils, viz: Take time" Health" says
Emerson, SIS wealth" and the experience Of
all time confirms the assertion. The great
est power a teacher can carry into school
room is a JOYOUS, courageous, and enthusiastic
disposition, the otfsI ring Of bounding health.
Bllousness is as catching as enthusiasm
and the teacher always becomes the pupils
barometer by which the latter NAV foretell
the condition Of his own mental atmosphere.
Therefore the preservation Of the health is a
duty as important, nay, vastly more impor-
tant than the mental preparation for the
daily work. 1t is now a common practice
in our American towns, whenever a teacher
is wanting to advertise the fact, giving no.
tice Of the time and place where candidates
are to be examined to ascertain their in
tellectual qualifications and the candidate
who bears this test most successfully is
forthwith installed in the vacant position.
Now in such test the most important ele-
ments are entirely ignored, love Of children.
equable temper and sound health. The best
scholars often make the least successful
| teachers. John Milton and Samuel Johnson
were marvels of profound erudition. but
don't know that they are repu,ed as success
full school masters. 1t is not learning that the
| teacher needs so much as an active, human
sympathy that kindles the child's affection
and q generous enthusiasm that inspires
healthy thoughts and aspirations. A cheer
full school is always a successful one and
hold that the success of a school is proper
toned to the happiness of its pupils. In
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