Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-09-04

character Is kept erect and as long a,
our people realize the great import
ance and necessity OF its being thus,
just so long will our people be safe and
just SO long will this the grandest
government in the world be preserved.
What a grand and useful field is there
open TO every teacher! OF all the hon.
orable occupations in which man ha.
ever engaged, none are grander and
nooier than that of teaching, 1t is a
profession that should be honored and
reverenced by every liberty loving cit
zen; 1T is a profession that should be
placed at the head of all professions;
and 1t is profession the honor and
nobility OF which should be maintained
BY the teachers OF our laud. The des-
tiny OF the rising generation. the des-
tiny OF this government, and the des-
tiny OF our country are. to great ex-
tent, held in the hands of our teachers.
About the first and most lasting i'm
pressions made upon the young and
tender mind of the little child as he
begins to learn of the world, are those
made by his teacher. In the school
room character, that grand and mag
niiicent structure is being erected day
by day, and someone has rightly said.
"As is the teacher, SO Is the pupil. II
The teacher is harsh, unkind and un-
concerned, he need not be surprised to
tnd his pupils cultivating the same
unpleasant dispositions. But oa the
other hand if he is truthful, honest,
industrious, and perseveriag. he will
find his pupils cultivating the
same noble dispositions. forming good
habits, and growing up into honor and
usefulness. How important then that
every teacher should properly fashion
his character and endeavor to make
himself an individual worthy of imita-
tion.
A knowledge OF text books was for
merly considered the aim and end OF
all school work; but the present age
has clearly and fully demons strated to
the minds of all right thinking indi-
viduals that education means some,
thing more. something higher. some-
thing andcr, and something nober.
1t means proper development of all
the faculties, such training as will
prepare the pupil for the realities of
life.
Every individual who aspires to
teach, before entering upon the inn
portant duties and responsibilities OF
the teacher, should thoroughly qualify
himself to properly instruct his pupils
in all the different branches he may be
required to teach; but in addition to
this. the manners and morals of his
pupils should receive special attention.
Some ono has rightly said that polite
ness OF character is the last touch in
the portrait of a noble character Yet
how few teachers devote any special
thought to the formation OF correct
morals and manners. How many
schools in all this broad land have a
moral atmosphere overshadowing
them? Investigate the history of our
most noted and successful schools and
you will find that their success de-
pends. not so much upon the thorough
instruction given in text books, bnt
upon the moral influence found in such
schools. Take. il you please, the Iuba
Normal as an example; while all ad-
NIT that the success Of this school is
Largely due to the thorough inst uc-
ton given given by the teachers; on
the other hand all must confess that
the moral training and the moral in
fluences here, have been largely in
strumental in making it, as no doubt
it is, one OF the grandest schools in the
South.
Then in conclusion. we would say to
every one who expects to embark in
the profession Of teaching. carry with
you the moral training aud the moral
power that you have gained here. and
keep in mind the ore grand and i'm
portant object that character building
Is the aim and end OF all school work
In the school room. your work is un-
limited. You can make yourself an
important and influential factor in
reaching the mind and heart OF those
entrusted TO your care. In the school /
room you can accomplish work, the I
good OF which will last as long as the
wheels of time may roll; you can aid
those entrusted to your care in erect
ing u noble character-a structure
which will enable them to stand in the !
front anks OF honor and usefulness,
Then In all you teaching forget not
that magnificent structure, character,
but in the language OF the immortal
LongEellow remember that