The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-22
The Responsibility of the Teacher.

In a few weeks we, the teachers of
! our public schools, shall be confronting
those whose destiny We shall in a
measure control.
With this heavy possibility rest
ing upon US, is it not wise that We
turn the light of scrutiny upon our
selves and see whether We have just
apprs"i;,on Of our position? Should
We ,.p. look within, and see whether
our i,!eai Of education measures up to q
,n.rltcL standard: What do we mean
ty rLuca:;pu? What is our aim?
Whit part falls 10 the lot Of the teacher
iu this work? Education consists in
the drawing out and developing the
innate mental, moral, and physical
forces of man. Tie chief end of this is
the formation of character. The scope
Of the teachers activity is so well eX
pressed 10y Rhinehart in his ''Prin
ciples of Educationn that I give his
words: The teachcris the stimulatoT
of the child's activities, the director of
the child's unfolding powers, the su-
perintendent Of the hearing process.
10 teach, therefore, is to assist one in
hearing; to present occasions, to de-
termine the extent and the degree of
the child's activity"
1t is a fearful responsibility that we
assume when we undertake to lead
these youthful minds in the pathways
that shall lead them to the goal oftheir
greatest good.
Have we prepared ourselves for the
accomplishing of the great work? 1t
is not sufficient that we say we do the
best we can. Is it a fact that we do the
best we can? I fear not. TO do the
best we can we must have taken ad-
vantage of every opportunity open to
us to improve ourselves. Have we
done so? Have we regularly attended
odr county associations when we have
the opportunity to exchange expert
ences with our fellow-teachers, and to
give and receive encouragement? Did
we attend our county institute, where
the opportunity to listen to talks from
our foremost teachers was given? If
we did not then we can not say We
have done cur best.
How many of US subscribe to school
journals? I trust they are few who do
not take at least one. A first class
school journal is Normal School with
in itself. We can rot conceive how a
teacher who desires to rise in the pro-
fession, and who wishes to keep abreast
the times in all thar pertains to Peda-
gogics and Pedagogy, can do so with
out good school journal.
One might just as reasonably expect
a physician to do without his medical
journals or a lawyer his reports.
. One may be throughly competent so
far as knowledge of the course to be
taught is concerned, and still be an
utter failure as a teacher. A know
ledge of the best methods of presenting
facts is of paramount importance. A |
certain method may present fact |
with noon-day clearness to one child,
and have it enveloped in Egyptian
darkness to another.
Hence the necessity of attending as
sociations and institutes; of subscribing
10 educational journals, that we may
earn the most advanced and approved
methods of teaching.
The teachers of Newberry County
nave a most enviable reputation. Let
Is Strive to keep it. TO do SO it is
necessary that each teacher in the
county should think that upon his
shoulders rests the responsibility of
holding our position
Let every one attend the associa-
ions meetings. One day in every
month is full little time to give to so
important a work, and great and last
ng benefits will result from constant
attendance.
Let US begin this scholastic year
With full realization Of our response
>ility, and an unalterable deter NINA
ion to take advantage of every oppor-
unity offered US to convert our
apacity into power. T. w. X.