The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-08-15
Some Obvious Points in Etiquette for
Teachers.

By the author of "Do."
l. The cardinal principle underlying
all your motive for action should be
firm and unfaltering reliance on your
self-sufficiency. There is no support
so unstable as perverted self-conscious
ness. Believe in yourself
2. AS no one is ever great who does
not believe in himself, and as result
of this belief all great men are cyclists,
you must perforce be one, but of course
you are one only in a pure, clean
sense. While in the words of Paul
you are not to think of yourself more
highly than you ought, you are never
theless to think of yourself as highly
as you can.
3. In all cases of dispute adjust the
complication by employing the same
method you use in your schoolroom;
namely assume the dignity of absolute
superiority. 81 say it is So" and that
of course ends it.
4. Don't fail to talk "shop" when
ever you meet your fellow-teacher
They need the stimulus of your en-
couraging words, and they are duly
grateful for your confidence.
5. Don't fail to advertise your call
ing by your words, your tone of voice,
your severe department. There is
nothing like living up to your "cloth."
The world needs assertive persons,
positive in their convictions and fear
less in their utterance of them.
6. By all means retain in public and
private conversations your school room
tone of voice. There is majestic
command and an eloquence of power
in it, and you cannot fail Of impress
ing those that listen to you with the
superior force of your character.
Z. Frown severely upon all giddiness
and all frivolity. Don't relax for
moment your principles ON the out
ward observance of the strict conven-
tionalities of life.
8. 1t is better for you to associate
with those of your own profession.
Promiscuous association with those of
Il less noble calling will tend to make
you lax in your devotion to your own
rules of life as laid down here and in
your own heart.
8. 1t is meet and proper that you
cast dirt and ridicule on the methods
employed by other teachers. You
know your ways are always right, and
if other teachers do not adopt your
plans, or reach results comparable
with yours, so much the worse for
them, and they must expect to re-
ceive castigation in your whitening
scorn.
10. At institutes and associations
you may properly refuse to sit out the
reading of essays on reconcile sub
jects by eminent men in your profess
sion. You may call them theorists,
and pity their decisions on the sub
ject matter which they have lucu-
brated. You know just how it all
should be, for you labor close to the
raw material.
IL. You will be untrue to the tradi-
lions of your trade if you fail to assert
that you have absolutely no whisper
ing in your school,
II. DenOunce your superintendent
in round terms. He was selected by
your committeeman for that purpose,
and if you fail to criticise him adj
versely you are unfaithful to- your SUI
perior officers. The superintendent
thrives only on your shadows of him.
ID. AS far as possible and as much
as in you lies, do not fall into the vul.
gar error of commencing that which
may be said or done. Always pre-
serve your critical character and avoid
complacency. You must be like Iago:
Nothing if not critical"
Ia. Don't fail to remark when YOU
hear Il certain learned person advocate
Il method in teaching or discipline:
81 tried that years ago and discarded
it as unworthy Of serious considera-
ton. 1t proved useless" BY this
you prove your superior wisdom and
your strong perceptiyo powers. 1t
also shows you have the true prilci-
piles Of pedagogy.
10. Don't fail to make known what
a strong influence you possess over
your committee. 1t shows by your
oft speaking of it what a power you
must have, and what a really inauen-
tial parsonage you must be in your
Is. Regarding educational journals,
assure your hearers you never take
them, as they contain nothing new.
You could write better articles than
you ever saw printed in any of the
papers.
IL. Remarking on teachers insti-
,utes, announce that you have re-
been invited to read paper
before them but you have proudly re-
used. You do not now attend the
gatherings as you have found the
'ame persons gathered together every
'ear, and the same old threadbare
opics discussed. You can spend your
line more profitably.
IL. Don't fail to berate soundlv the
and the mental arith-
netlc. They are obsolete furniture
or the schoolroom and you have no
iced of them.
~. Hesitate not to ventilate vour
opinions on all subjects introduced IN