The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1893-05-05
EDUCATIONAL ooLuAN.
CONDUCTED BY PROF. REoAS.

CONDUCTED BY PROF. REGAIN.
From eight years upward, on ar
average, the child spends the mos
significant part Of his life in school
and the teachers influence becomes
the great morally determining fac
tor of its character. How Is this
matured soul influencing this spir
itual beginner ? How is this earli
est and most trusted of pastors
preaching TO this little schooI-room
parishioner ?
These are questions which | would
bring home 10 every teacher. Your
school-room is in a very real sense
church, house of God, whether
you wish IL or not. You are, per
force, preacher you cannot shuf
fie off the homiletio function. Your
very way of thinking, your views
of life, are texts, and your actions
are sermons. No pulpit in the
land has greater character-form-
ing power than yours. The teach
er really makes the mould which
the minister fills. School room
preaching is primary homiletics.
Which, then, is the more important
function ? Upon which will the
greater burden of responsibility
fall
The problem OF a superintendent
of the schools is, by far, the most
important and the most difficult
problem in all our common school
system. 1t is very easy to criticize
one in that position, but any one
who has not had experience in the
work, cannot possibly appreciate
the immense difficulties in the way.
Democratic growth has its terrors.
The indifference Of the masses TO
true education, the selfshness of
individuals, all enhance the tre-
mendous distractions to anything
like q rational superintendency.
See to it then, as patriotic citizens
of this great republic, that the
schools Of America, that the schools
Of this state, that the schools of
your county are the best, resting
assured that il our American system
Of free schools is maintained to its
greatest efficiency in this great re-
public of the freest, most intelligent
and happiest people on the globe,
il will prove the richest legacy
that our generation can transmit to
the latest posterity.
***
Said a teacher in our hearing d
lew days ago:
"I am so lonesome for want of
matter. The family with
whom | board have no hooks and
AXE but one paper. That is a
monthly fash advertising sheet"
"But do you take no papers your
'elfr'
"No, / can't afford it. Ny wages
ire small and the school term il SO
Ihort / cannot afford to spend
;ent for such things"
Out upon such teachers Ameri-
"A has no use for them. The teach.
II, of all persons, must be abreast
With the times. He should come
'efore his school enthused with the
Forld-life thatis throbbing on, out
ide bis little domain. In these days
+ cheap newspapers, cheap miaga-
ines, correspondence, and agencies,
10 has no excuse for saying be can
nt afford il. Does the teacher not
now that the surest way for him
o stagnate is for him To attempt
wing and teaching outside the
forld ? Does he not know that the
most certain way to preterment and
Onor is through broad minded cul-
nre ? There lies the way and he
J indeed sbort-sighted who will be
enny-wise in view of the possibili-
es before him.
.**
The New York normal school at
.lbany was bitterly opposed by the
sachers themselves, and by the
lass of taxpayers. The $4,000 d
iven then under protest has be-
ome $3.50, 900 and another school, II
ven. ia Droiectad. Wisconsin Rnent