The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-06-22
A Circular Letter to Public School
Teachers.
From Hiram 0rcutt, \. NJ.

have gained a permanent relationship to
the whole body Of American teachers,
and naturally feel an interest in You,
sympathy for you, in Your IN
portant work. Hence ] brig per-
mission to address you. in II familiar
letter, touching the points which have
an important bearing upon your i'm
provcmcnt rs practical teachers, and
your present and future success.
| see you installed in n position nf
great dignity and Of commanding in.
huence. You are instructed with the
management and instruction Of the Na-
TONS children, who are soon to become
citizens in this Republic and to share in
the management Of public affairs. With
the aid Of the mothers in Their homes,
you are to form their character, and
thus, under God, in a measure. to de-
tcrnine not only their individual con-
dition in life, but also the condition and
destiny of this great people. Other
professions share in the responsibility
of this important word. but none so
largely as your own. The mother, as I
intimatcd, has given form and tint to the
buo and opening flower, but it is yours
to watch over that mighty process until
the fruitage shall appear. When these
children leave your hands they will
come into practical life, and their inlu
!ence will begin to tell upon the lives Of
.oethrs. You should, therefore, measure
your W responsibility by thiy practical
standard, and see to it that your work
is we'll done.
Your field Of labor is not limited to
the school, but includes also the homes
from which your pupils are gathered.
indeed, your success as teachers depends
largely upon what you say and do in
these m You will find too many
OF your patrons ignorant of what con-
StItutes a good school, and Indifferent as
to Its success or failure. You should
take special pains, therefore, to instruct
them, and to inspire them with new
interest in the education of their chill
dre2. In a word. you should aim to
elevate and improve the whole people
among whom you reside.
You can reach and gain the confidence
OF these parents through their children
Win the child and YOU will win tho
mother. and through the mother, the
whole family. AS you visit these
homes, You should interest yourselves
in whatever interests them, and aim RI
impress them with your own views, and
lmpart to them your own enthusiasm in
regard to school matters. In this wav
you can secure the corporation of both
pupils and parents, which is of the
most utmost Importance. Indeed, no
school can be successful while pubic
OPINION is against the teacher. Where
the highest success is attained, the COM
olned influence of each pupil and family
is exerted to sustain a skillfull master
or mistress. Judicious management
ana great care are necessary on the part
OF the teacher to secure this result. but
such Palnstaking is wise and we'll re-
warded.
Again, your success depends upon
the earnestness and determination with
winch you prosecute your work. The
'dotent teacher nigh. as we'll be dead.
SO far as the school is concerned. En-
thuslasm is potent in the school-room
as well as in the world. If manifest in
the teacher, 1t is communicated to the
pupils. 1t wakes up mind, inspires
study, and becomes an animat;no and
controlling force in all the exercises Of
the school. And a determination r. win
and hold and control. should be cherish
and manifested at all times and
everywhere.
And if you would make the most Of
yourselves as teachers, and do the most
for your schools, present and future.
you must study ; study your daily les
study collateral subjects study F,
OF instruction and illustration. ,
q this way alone can you be fitted to :
appear before your classes. Study n
'chooi-management, that you may pre- t
'ent evil study methods of discipline =
nd the peculiarities of individual pu- /.
Ills that you may judiciously punish y
wrong. No teacher can long sustain '
himself, who does not make it a point to y
'a'n wisdom from the experience oil n