The herald., 1893-01-16

night and day to accomplish the work
set before her. Her evenings she epends
in careful preparation for the work OF
the coming day; her nights are often
spent in planning how John can be made
more honorable and manly, or how
James can be more deeply interested IN
his work.
She goes to school in the morning
tired, but with grim determination to
bring everything up to her standard.
She works under high pressure all day,
and goes home to carry out the gro
gramme OF the previous evening.
Has she read that instructive new
book in which her friends are all so
much interested? ? No, she has but little
time for reading, and when she does
have time she feels that she must read
books that bear directly upon school
work.
Has she met that new family that has
recently moved into the neighborhood? :?
They are exceptionally interesting and
cultivated people. No, che has not time
to devote to society, and when she goes
in company she feels i'll at ease-she
goes SO seldom.
Miss B. is also conscientious young
woman, and has sincere longing to
benefit every child entrusted to her
care, but you will not find her spending
her time as does Miss 4.
After school closes Rt night, she spends
a short time in planning the next days
work. She then takes walk and enjoys
the beautiful GUNNER day, very likely
she stops to chat with some pleasant
friend or to make a short informal call
Of n cahnn1 Hpr n
ing is spent in reading a good book, pos
sibly novel, or in going out to social
gathering or an entertainment. The
night she spends in refreshing, whole
some sleep and on the morrow she en-
ters her school room with an elastic
step and bounding heart. Her chill
dren are confident of receiving bright.
happy smile from her, and her lessons
are bright and attractive, not because OF
the studied preparation but because she
has the physical vigor and consequent
enthusiasm to brighten them.
At the end OF five years people learn
to say sit seems to me that Miss A. Is
not as interesting as she used to be;
she is getting dictatorial and almost
disagreeable; even the children speak Of
it. How old che is beginning to look,
too. 1 fear her health is not good"
1t is quite different with Miss B. she
is welcome everywhere, and is always
spoken of as most agreeable person.
She looks as well and happy as possible
and no one hints that she is getting old.
The difference between these two
teachers is that one is school ma'am,
the other woman. Cannot the
teacher be woman with all a woman's
feelings, aspirations and sympathies Is
it necessary for her to become dis
agreeable, rasping machine?
Could we remember that when we
enter the great body of public school in
structors we have not sold ourselves
body and soul to the state but have
pledged to it our most efficient service.
Our country demands that our public
schools shall send forth broad. minded,
good principled, loyal citizens. Can
they ever - this if our children are
domir...eo by narrow, cramped school
teachers unless nature mercifully coun-
teracts their influence?
There is no thought which brings
with it greater weight OF responsibility
to the teacher than the one what We
are we teach"
The child is a keen interpreter of
character, and our own worth stamps
itself upon his plastic personality, our
limitations lower his horizon and our
expanding thoughts broaden his view.
May we not find inspiration in the
thought that in trying to avoid becom-
ing narrow ourselves, we are helping
our pupils to reach a higher plane Of
being.