The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1893-02-16
Department Devoted to the
Teachers of Cobb.
CHARACTER BUILDING DISCUSSED.
Spirit of Self Reliance as Well as Self
Respect, Grand Elements of
True Character.

suggestions on Character Training.
Below we give the principal points
OF his paper
With regard to the training of
the characters of the children under
our charge in the public schools it
seems to me that the first great re-
quisite is in the teacher himself.
He should most assuredly set bis
pupils good example in the line of
morality, punctuslity, &C., and on
addition nse his best efforts to bring
prominently before them, the lives
and sayings Of the great and good
whose names have become immortal
through their sterling qualities, and
endeagour to induce them to follow
their example; while at the same
time he can instruct them in the
history OF those whose lives are only
noted for their crimes and induce
them to shun such a life or such
companion8hips as being damaging
and fatal to their happiness or sue
cess.
A great deal has been said and
done OF late in educational matters,
and great amount of pains have
been taken to improve the standard
Of the teachers e1ucationally, but [
am afraid the public expect too
much from the teacher. The first
steps towards the formation of char
acter are taken at home, and gener-
ally are pretty we'll grounded before
the child starts to school, and the
habits they form are generally not
of the best. Now the teacher is ex-
pected to make the boy or girl who
is habitually disobedient at home, a
model of obedience at school, and
the parent who tells his boy mot to
take whipping at school, but get
his books and come home if the
teacher gets to cutting up" expects
his son to learn and get along all
right, but should he come into COL
lision with the discipline which
every good teacher should exercise,
why then the blame is laid on the
teacher, whereas the whole fault lies
at the door Of the parent. 1t is evil
dent then that in order to form good
characters in the children, the pa
rent should lay good foundation,
and the teacher should supply the
additions and finishing touches, in
fat, to make the rising generation
what il should be, there must be a
combine" consisting of patron and
teacher. Think tor one moment
brother teachers and indulgent pat
fons what awful responsibilities rest
upon our shoulders. With us rest
the destinies of the Republic; our
/ children and pupils will soon have
to take our places, and become the
Presidents, Senators, Judges, &c.,
-~of the next generation, and | I'M
hesitatingly say that they viii be
what we make them. Children are
imitators, they are constantly striv-
ing to copy US, and walk in our foot.
steps; if the pattern we set before
them is good, they will be good if
we walk in the right paths, their
course in lite will be in the right
direction also. THOMAS HoDGENs.
Mr.. Beach sends US two other i'm
portant points on the same subject.
CHARACTER BUILDING.-In the
4. teachers work as character builder
too much Importance cannot oe at
tached to little things, or what we
are often disposed to look upon as
trifes.
For instance, child has commit
ted fault, it may be thoughtlessly
or otherwise, and frankly and hon
estly contesses the same. Here,
while reproof should be given in as
gentle a manner as the case will ad-
NIT, a little word Of commentator