Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-01-23
THE TEACHER.

THE TEACHER.
EDITOR INrELL1aENcER:-T duties
of the teacher are many; often tedious
and very trying. A responsibility rests
upon the teacher which is seldom found
in any other profession. When taking
upon him or herself the calling of
teacher, one enters upon field which
requires unceasing labors. Novel
reading and school teaching, at the
same time, will not harmonize. While,
giving instruction in text books is the
most essential duty of the teacher, it is
not the only one by any means. To
iuculcate the principles of morality
and Christian truth in the mind
of the child, is almost as impera-
tive as book learning. The teachers
calling is full of responsibility. To
take, as it were, the human mind, un-
cultured and in the rough state, and
polish it, and prepare it for the many
duties and trials of this world, and, et
the same time, induce it to look be-
yond this life, to q bright future world,
is an art more grand than that of any
sculptor or artist who ever lived. 1t
requires diamond to cut and polish
diamond; so it takes mind to cultivate
mind. When we look upon the art
of teaching in this light, when one con-
siders that the teacher has to deal with
the intellectual part OF human beings,
with human souls; yes, with the great
est of Gods works, should he or she
not be proud of the calling? Should
not this sense OF responsibility, of duty,
awaken the teacher to his or h,r
sphere, to such an extent. as to raise
him or her far above resorting to any
disgracetul act, which would tend to
disgrace the calling. Do teachers
realize that they stand as models for
their scholars3 DO they always re-
member that they are dealing with
living souls2 Are they aware that they
are shaping the minds of those under
their charge to appear in after life as
stars to assist in lighting up their sur
roundings; or on the other hand, is
the conduct of the teacher such as 10
degenerate. When one views the call
ing of the teacher in the true sense, one
cannot help realizing that there is a
certain dignity connected with the
same. We do not mean pride, vanity
or egotism. We mean that proud dig
| nifty of manly character which should
place tho teacher above even enter
tanning Q thought of being guilty of
conduct which would reflect unfavora-
blylupop the calling. But teachers are
only human beings and possess all the
weaknesses attributable to the human
race. Yet, by discretion, thought and
manliness, backed by true moral cour
age and Christian character, the teach
er may overcome many of the human
trailties. Now gentle reader, we wish
to offend no one by writing this article,
and we are sure that no true teacher
will find cause to take exceptions to
what we write. "Dudism, "Fogyisn, p
"Theoryism, ,"ssSaloonism," and "Polit-
| icalism," are some of the diseases with
which some of the teachers of the past
have been afflicted. We have still a
few of this kind. Now our views OH
such are about as follows: The "dude
teacher" who carries small looking
glass in the schoolroom, aud who
thinks more of cultivating his mustache
than he does of improving the minds of
his scholars, would, most likely, sue
ceed In barber shop.
Tne "dudess"-but excuse us, we
did not mean it. The thought flashed
across our mind that some lady teacher
might be afflicted with a love OF style
which approaches "dudessness," is
this the correct word,) but while we
think of if, we take it all back, and
hope the ladies will excuse us for even
entertaining such a thought.
The ''Old togy teacher" who still be-
lieves that the only true requisite to
good school government is the hazle
switch, is 40 years behind the times,
and would. evidently, realize much
pleasure in driving yoke of cattle for
some saw mill. A good character,
backed by firmness and common sense,
will accomplish more in the school
room than any amount of switches.
| The "lheory teacher" who walks
into the school room with his head
orm full of theory capped off with a
capital "I," will do wonders in his
| LulIu UuI tuC IuAuhAuS tCoCuCi, WIZ l1
willing to learn from experience, is the
teacher who does the work in the
school room. The theory teacher
woald, perhaps, give satisfaction in a
Chinese laundry.
"Red tape" teachers seldom teach
more than one term at a place.
The ''saloon teacher" who spends
his earnings drinking intoxicating
drinks and playing cards, would in all
probability be happy in the capacity OF
bartender in some saloon, and in facI
it would be a blessing to the calling il
all such teachers were to step out of the
noble profession of teaching the minds
of intelligent beings, and engage in
some occupation better suited to theil
tastes.
The "political teacher" who thinks
that his influence is sufficient to revo
lutionize politics in our government.
and who never loses an opportunity il
holding up his pet political ideas to his
school, would in a manner, make 6
good politician; for if he could do no
good in that capacity, he would not be
wasting precious time in the school
room.
But we must close. What . granG
thing it would be for our country if al
those now engaged in the noble calling
; OF teaching, were to realize their duties
and surroundings, and then, by theil
actions manifest q character which
would never reflect disgrace on til,
profession. w. F. w.