Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-06-12

them.
While this careful study of human
nature must be made before one can
deal with patrons successfully, 1t is
much more necessary that child life
and child nature should be thorough
IL understood. Forty different pu-
pills need forty different maps by
which they shall be approached and
true teacher will study to make his
pupils feel that he has respect for
their ideas and desire, while it will be
seldom that pupil will be found so
obstinate that if he is told of his
faults kindly, told of them in the
way which best awakenes his ideas
of right and wrong that he will not
be obedient and docile.
Then the broadest and most pro-
found subject teacher needs to
study and the one which will help
him most in all his work is human
nature. Know myself physically,
study thyself honestly, candidly and
with judgement, then learn to know
others, yet be not narrowed by the
belief that to know oneself and inn
pulses is to know all humanity, but
lea1p the child.
But most of all teacher needs to
give him true culture, the love of
God in his heart. Pestalozzi said,
That faith in God is the source of
all wisdom and is natures road to
a pure education," and | have no
doubt that Solomon perfectly un.
derstood what he was talking about
when he said, The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of all wisdom. OF
all persons teacher needs to be as
wise as serpent and as harmless as
a dove. lie needs that largeness of
charity which can appreciate the
temptation S, the struggles, the trials
of child life, and to deal with pupils
as he would. choose to be dealt with
He needs faith in God which shall
teach him not only how to control
himself bat how TO control others
If God is oil knowledge and has
made our bodies temples for his
dwelling place then the teacher who
recognizes the Holy Spirit within
him has never failing source of
wisdom and of strength.
Much might be added of the true
mind and soul culture which is fit
ting preparation of every teacher,
and how it could best be obtained,
but if one strives TO develop the best
there is in him, to crush out the
ignoble and that which belittles him,
there will grow roundncss and
a beauty of character which will
make him respected and beloved by
pupils and patrons alike.
If there is the true culture it will
show itself in outward appearance
and manners. Child life is very
plastic and the teacher who does not
study neatness of dress must expect
uutidy pupils. One, whose desk is
always in confusion must expect to
see confusion. One, who is not hon
est in his word and action must ex-
pect deceit in his pupils. Who says,
''john hang up your coat" aud
Charles sit down." must not expect
John or Charles TO say, "Please may
! get a drink" AS we are all crea-
lures of habit these things cannot be
pat on and off at will, but there
must be an every day striving to at.
tain these virtues ere we enter the
school room.
Before a body of teachers l do not
need to advocate a special prepare
ton for work.
y lawyer never pleads his first
casein court, nor does minister
preach his first sermon before his
fpastorate. Each is obliged to take
preparatory work before competent
instructors and critics, so a teacher
ought not 10 enter upon school work
without some special preparation.
Zone should have some ideas of theo-
ries and methods of teaching; not
what he 1could do under certain cir
cumstances but what others under
similar conditions have done. These
can be obtained in part by the care
full study of works upon Pedagogy
and by observing the work of others,
or better still, taking actual practice
work under competent critics.
With the most careful preparation
fo- ones work before he begins yet
a teacher needs daily to get ready
for the duties before him. 1t was
said very happily not long since that
teachers have a most excellent "for-
get" and however excellent know
ledge one may have of subject, yet
minor details soon escape one and a
specific knowledge Of the textbook
used also, will necessitate dai
Fly preparation on the part of teach.
ers as well as pupils. care not
how simple the lesson may be, the
amount of ont huciaorn ,,,o oro obI, 10