Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1886-04-02
ADDRESS
Of Response Delivered at the last Douglas
County Teachers Institute,
by &. A. Booth.

The remarks OF our hOnored TREND
are not calculated to tighten the
weight of responsibility that every true
teacher feels. The great work OF
mind training and the duties neces-
sarily connected Herewith, are upon
us; the charge has been committed to
our care, the eyes of the little ones are
watching US and the minds that may
grow to wonders and become as giants
are left as clay in our hands. The
we'll being of their physical nature is
greatly dependent upon the habits
they are taught in the school and all
of them that is immortal demands of US
that training which will best fit it for
eternity By engaging in this work of
teaching we virtually accept the trust.
We are bound by all that is honorable
to prove ourselves true to the under
taking. We are held by Him who is
just as the guardian Of our pupils.
The true teacher may be known by his
fidelity to these principles and will turn
with contempt upon thought of be-
trayal. At this juncture he is left
alone to ponder in his own mind, to
delve into his own resources for food
for the hungry mind and the manner
in which it is to be fed Where shall
he 60 and of whom shall he ask coun-
sci. The eyes of all are upon him; to
mistake is to wrong the student, rob
tho parent, and bring condemnation
upon himself. His first thoughts may
be of his own department before his
pupils; he readily apprehends the SIM
pie rules of morality, yet finds that he
is constantly surrounded by circum-
stances that show him the mere knowl-
edge of right is not sufficient, but that
he must apply it, led by his own Judge
ment Surely will he find that life is
full of situations where his own Judge
ment is required In their solution.
But upon this thought alone he cannot
long pause. He must measure out to
each his portion; it must be adjusted
to the nature and capacity of the one
who receives it; it must be food for his
thoughts; it mus. be strength for his
mind, and in many instances it will
be the very foundation upon which a
life iu its thleefold sense is built. The
mind of the teacher will naturally car
ry him back to the time when he re-
ceived his first lesson, back to the days
of old, where, around the old freside,
at mothers knee, he grasped the first
mysteries of "a, B, O." About him
he can daily see the first instructions
given to other little ones, by others OF
this grand army of teachers. He sees
those too around him, whom she taught
years ago.
The cares Of busy world may have
touched the dark hair of those who
were once her students, and penciled
it with glistening threads of silver
the turmoils and struggles of a sordid
life may have chiseled deep lines in the
brow of him who once stood by her
knee; age, with its frightening touch
may have forced the lofty head to bow
or the strong arm to tremble, yet the
heart ever remains tender and ready
with its responsive throb to the name
of mother. AL of these recollectlons,
all of these burdened heart-throbs al
the sound of that name are closely en-
twined with tho memory of mother III
her prc-sminent capacity as first in
structor Of childhood. Why, then
tender memories; why do the impres
sions received upon the tender heart oi
childhood cling with such pertinacy
Why do the lessons received at mothers
knee become SO indeibly fixed i'll The
mindl Because they were tempered
with kindness, candor and love- Be
cause she was inspired with enthusiasm
sympathized with us in our childlsl
trials and rejoiced with us in eur vic
tories.
But each must pass from the fresld'
lesson and give place to thoss who IL
their turn must follow them. Th'
teacher here usurps the function o
the mother, and if he would be as sue
cessful as she has been, he must mani
fest the same virtues of that mother
He must be inspired with that sam
enthusiasm and love. He must sym
pathize with them in every trial ant
share with them every joy; and
must be genuine sympathy, not sim
ulated. In this work pretensions i
not sufficient. He must possess tha
great heart of a child. He must hav
that faith that encourages the mothe
to renewed energies and that leads he