Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1890-08-23

Vervilla, Tenn, Aug. 10, 1890.

lIOIS vi tne SCllOOl Ut lnlS place are
awakening to the importance of edu-
cation, and of securing good teachers,
1 would like to unload my mind of
a thought in that direction, and l
hope that my thoughts here express
ed may prove beneficial to all con-
cerned.
The school is an acknowledged
power in every nation, and does
more to build up a prosperous, INTEL
ligent people than all other agen-
cies combined.
But the great power of the school
lies in the teacher. Streams never
rise higher than their fountain head;
fire ever dies out when the fuel is
exhausted; so, with our schools, they
rise in effectiveness and influence
as our teachers rise in ability; they
overcome ignorance, superstition and
vice, as the teacher leads the way to
knowledge, reason and purity. Can
we demand too much of our teachers
morally? Can we be too scrupulous
respecting their habits? Layin
aside the intellectual and literary
qualifications of the teacher, let us
ask what should be his general char
acter? Can we afford to put the pro-
fame man over our children as an
instructor; or the man who INDUCES
in obscene or vulgar conversation?
Dare we place the drunkard or gamb-
Ter at the head of our school? The
answer from every quarter is, No!
But how is it about the innocent
vices of using tobacco, playing at
games of cards, taking an occasional
glass of brandy, attending horse.races,
etc? Public opinion may allow these
things, but is ii yfghts
What are the tendencies of all
these things?
The teaching is not all done in the
school room, nor are all the import
ant lessons of life learned from books.
We therefore do not conclude that
teachers who are perfectly proper in
all respects while engaged in the
school room, ARE therefore good educa-
tors.
If they engage in hurtful practices
outside, they are giving the weight
of their influence toward having the
pupils under them adopt those prac-
tees, and learn those hurtful habits,
1t is a very narrow view of educa.
ton that only sees in it the acquire
ments obtained from books. The
true teacher gives silently, but very
effectually, lessons in politeness, neat
ness, order, truth, punctuality, love
obedience, that are never expressed
in words.
There is a world of wonders sur.
rounding every child that books sell
dom mention. The child, undirected
: in thought, slowly finds out these
things, but under the tuition of 6
warm-hearted, competent teacher
what beauties are discovered and dis
, closed; how the young heart is glad
! dened, and the bright eyes sparkle
= as nature unfolds to him her treas
7 ures, through the aid Of his instruc
tor; and what high resolves he has
to be able some day to understand al
; much about the wonders as his re-
spected and beloved teacher!
= If teachers could and would realizc
the wonderful influence they are 81
lently exerting, would they no
guard very carefully their words ant
!, actions?
Tennessee has many self-denying
T noble, earnest teachers, who full.
:, understand their work, and feel tn
= weight of the responsibility resting
on them, but has need of many more
-. Hoping that what is written ma.
!, not prove offensive, | am,
., Respectfully,