Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-07-26
IN THE SCHOOLS.

.
accepted fact of the existence OF nor
nal schools and colleges in which IT is
presumably taken for granted by the
leople that the teacher is armed at all
oints a, trainer of the young, sill
he pregnant inquiry Is constantly pre-
,euted to the friends of the common
,chools: "Where is the model teach
ar?" One feels inclined to speak of
aim in terms like those used in de-
,ribing the poet or musician: "He
must be born and not mada.-poetd
qaScittu ron it,"
1t is a charming trait in the success
tul trainer of the very young children
in the English primary schools that,
she is quickly appreciated on account
IF her winning and persuasive ways
with the youngest members of her
class, the tender two or three year old
lambs who are entrusted to her as the
shepherdess who will gently guide
them into wIsdom's ways, where all is
plea antness and peace. Doubtless
the winning and persuasive way
s gift not Inherited by every
One who aspires to be successful
;eac' er OF the young. If so, why
,EOuld she not Immediately set alb Iut
discovering this talisman of prompt
promotion; Does the attention aud
interest of the Young child always turn
lpon the principle of utility2 Not
necessarily, Judging from the interest
manifested by children of a larg, r
growth in the airy nothIngs of myster-
ious romance and magical display; 1t
may truthfully be affirmed that fre
luentIy the most weird and improbs
Die events are those which enchain our
attention the mos thoroughly, and
therefore gradually prepare the mind
for quicker and more prominent inter
est in real facts when the happy mo
ment arrives to secure the prompt ac-
ceptance of the latter.
1t is at this point, after @ cursory
examination of the results in the pri-
mary grades, that more thorough de-
velopment of our educational system
might be made, and the patient, well
qualified teacher is the one to initiate
the reform, beginning as low down as
the first CLEANS of intellect and ehild
like faith will allow. 4 measurable
familiarity with manual training, varl
cites of tone, form and color, even
plain sewing and cooking are now OBJ
tainable, the possession and happy
power of imparting a knowledge OF
which might be considered an ap-
Proclamation to the condition of a
model teacher.
The three Rs will take good care OF
themselves through the power of tr =
ditlon. and the ever present estimate
of their immense practical utility.
Though lying at the foundation of our
elementary educational system, they
are far from embracing every depart
ment of il, while In the view of many
experienced educators they limit the
mental vision, or at least so concen-
trate its attention upon a narrow range
of subjects that the youthful mind, if
confined too long in securing IN ex-
tended familiarity with them, loses ia
terest IN other departments of study
eminently calculated to enlarge the
intellect, develop the imagination
amelIorate the heart and affections,
widen human sympathy, and greatly
improve the taste in every condition
of life. There would be less friction
and complaint in the advanced grades
if this earlier preparation in the lower
grades were made more comprehen-
sive, more varied, covered more ground
of inquiry and development, and were
finally made subject to intellige mt ex.
animation and merited diploma.
Among the most gratifying indIca-
tiuns of self-sustalnlng power among
the teachers is, the continued existence
of the two societies, known as the
Teachers Mutual Life Assurance As.
socIation, and the Teachers Mutual
Benefit Association. The former now
embracing about two thousand mem.
bers with a fifty cent individual taS
upon the death OF any one mem Der,
furnishes $500 for contingent medics
aid, nursiug expenses and undertaken Z
bill with Out a perceptible ripple o.
complaint or loss, and in the words ot
its president "causes no trouble anC
sim ply runs itself" As the yearly
depletion by death among the teacher:
is largely among young men and youn2
women, there is positively no Longer
excuse for the latter to decline mem
hershIp for a single day. The
Teachers Mutual Benefit Association
of two thousand members, with its
permanent fund of $500 invested
safely in bonds and mortgages upo1
New York and Brooklyn real estate
and its Annuity Fund of one per cent
a month on the salaries of its members
still continues to afford a handsome
yearly individual annuity to its retired
invalid and aged members, OF whom
there are now nearly seventy helped
in this way. OF the efforts of thi.
truly benevolent ASSOCIATION, it should
not be forgotten by the younger teach
ers that their days of weakness, declin
ing health and advanced years will sure
ly come, and it behooves them to see to
it in time that they partially prepare
for them by becoming active members
of the Teachers MAtual Benefit Asso-
citation.
The Common Schools of New York
have sustained serious loss in the
death of ia, 5. Boyle, Principal oil
Grammar School No. 75. A native OF
this city, and a genuine example sedu-
catIonally of its school system Mr.
Boyle gradually grew with its growth
and strengthened with its strength.
Indeed it is not too much to state that
he in great measure sacrificed a score
of the best and most valuable years oi
his life il identifying himself with,
and in personally developing the
course of study adopted, and IN seek
ing, proposing and carrying out plans
for a higher and more appropriate
mental elevation OF the teachers. and
for improving the ir physical condition
and social surroundings. Elected first
President of the Teachers Mutual
Benefit Association by unanimous vote
of its members, be contributed by his
example and friendly counsel greatly
to its prosperity and its adhesive
power of endurance. The practical
character of the society under HE
kindly, gentlemanly bearing and wis
administration of its affairs secured
for him the unlimited confidence OF
the teachers, and the present favorable
condit on AMI outl, ok of thi1 Berev-
Olent Association is in great measure
due to ! is unfaltering fuith IN tie ne
cessity for we'll guarded provisions
.or tie Invalid and aged teacher. 1t is
"a very satisfactory statement to be
made III connection with the future
success of this society, that 1t has elected