Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-11-20
The Teachers Influence.

The Teachers Influence.
"A paper read AT the recent meeting Of the Han
co,k County Educational Association, at orlaud.
Beside the country road lying quiet and
secluded. under the branches Of an oak
which occasionally grants to suffering
humanity refreshing shelter from the
rays of the July sun, or banked by winter ,
snow. battling with the elements in it, e.
fort to maintain warmth stands temple
of learning, namely, the country school
house of to-day.
1t i with this institution, perhaps that
most OF Us are best acquainted. Let this
De our object Of consideration; let it be
our centre for thought and comparison,
and as we look beyond into the larger
world outside let u> Use our information
gathered abroad 10 the advantage of this
little room.
Look within. The teacher ls laying
the foundation Of manhood and woman
hood In the minds of score or two Of
susceptible children. How j. he doing his
work: The answer apparently i Of little
moment The weeks Of the term must
be completed, and be the seed good or evil
it i being sown, it is taking root, it Will
bear fruit in generations 10 follow
How shall We consider the sower of this
seed: Is he worthy of continued atten-
tion? All teachers to-day are moulding
the characters for future craftsmanship.
for literature, for science. for art They
are employed upon weak, pliable material
in all it, childish susceptibility, which will
some day reveal the impressions made up
on its nature How shall the Instructed
look back upon the instructor of his youth: 7:
1t is too true. H, heart will harden and
he will fling back upon the architects Of
his mind and character fierce ccnsure for
the roots OF vice and folly, or else he
will bow in blessed praise and vcncration
to him who strove to benefit and uplift.
Here, within low walls, seated upon I'M
comfortable benches. devoid Of the latest
convcnicuce> If to-day, here we ind tho
future citizens OF America just A. surely
as We find them in the thriving city, sur
rounded by all modern appliances and ei-
1cient means of education; and thanks 10
the freedom Of our land. our hoys and
girl, even from the lowest depths of pow
erty can here compete with the lofticst in
wealth. The rounds Of the ladder Of fame
and ambition VIII support them both; ard
he whose worth j of the highest intrinsic
value be he the millionaire or the penni-
less-will reach the highest round.
History i rich in examples Of success
ful poverty. Would that the future might
be richer in these aids % tie poor would
that money might be able to purchase less
and true worth raise the standard Of val
ue.
In our little school-room, as in many
others, the hour of nine indicates that the
bell for assembling be rung. Does the
teacher send forth the signal at the exact
moment: Does lie teach his pupils pune
tuality: Does he tell them that in every
occupation in life prOmptness is necessary
that the farmer must sow his seed and
reap his crops at the right season if he
would experience the best results that the
clerk must be prompt if he seek the ap.
proval of his employer; that the general
must not be tardy in battle if he would
win; that the engineer must reach the
avoid a collision, and that the physician
must be prompt and active if he would save
human life: All. perhaps our master
comes tagging to the schoolroom at five
minutes past nine, finds the room cold and
uninviting and doubtless $50 finds him
self and pupils hardly ready for action
late; the allotted time for recitation i:
overrun; lesson or two is omitted; il
fact, there is a hurried unsettled feeling
throughout the school. The boys length
en- the recess ten minutes beyond bell-ring
ing, because the master doesn't mind, hs
himself is not punctual and the selt-eviden
truth is this: that the future farmers, thu
clerks, the generals, the engineers, thu
physicians who come from this school
having been long under the example an(
precept of the tardy master, will alway:
be Just a little behind time.
The master of our school, perhaps. expa
tiates to his pupils upon the necessity OF
order. He may, in accordance with tn,
dictates of his conscience, give lecture
for half an hour in majestic language up
on a certain system of order Let u.
glance into that teachers desk as Ii,
leaves the room for the night. We per
haps find books, papers, pencils. bells
crayon in dire confusion. The boards ar,
left without being erased, the eraser lef
upon the floor, the curtains are rolled un
evenly the room is unswept, the pail hal
filled with impure water and the teacher
brow is burning. But has he not fulfilled
his duty? He has talked at length upoI
Order its necessity, and his conscience i
clear. Friend-you do not know how
much tidy room and well-regulated desk
and apparatus will tend to lesson your ach
ing brow; you do not know what keen
sighted child las glanced into your desk
or taken survey of the untidy surround
ings. and over whom, in consequence
your words OF the afternoon hold no in
fuence. Dust your coat, throw back you
shoulders, straighten your cravat, regu