People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-03-16
1.-THE Wide=awake Teacher and His
Qualifications"

"lhe Wlde=aWake leacher ana Ills
Qualifications"
Read by Mrs. Ellen r. Clayton before the
County Teachers association. March 3, %
The young person who expects to
become a wlde-awake teacher must
first secure as extensive and broad an
education as possible. He must not
be satisfied when he has acquired
sufficient knowledge to hold a place
in the profession. He must have a
well of knowledge so deep and full
that his pupils can drink therefrOm
without ever exhauSting the supply
or reaching the bottom. His infOr-
nation should extend far beyond the
branches pursued by his pupils. His
education should be not only broad,
but thorough. The teacher who must
spend the night in study in order to
keep in advance of his pupils, will
scarcely be wide-awake next day. He
has no right in the profession, and
should take his place in the ranks of
the learners. We have too many poor
ly educated teachers. l have great
sympathy for the young teacher who
is struggling to educate himself, but
with the present facilities for educa-
tion and professional training no
teacher is exCuSable who remains year
after year at the foot Of the ladder.
The wide-awake teacher does not
cease to inform himself when he leaves
the college doors. He is an intelligent
general reader. He takes and reads
some Of the standard newspapers and
magazines and thus keeps abreast of
the times, recognizing that the his
tory that is making and the science
that is being daily unfOlded is quite
as important as that found in the
text books. This live teacher makes
himself conversant with the best lit
erature of the standard authors, that,
as opportunity occurs he may open the
great StOrehOuSe of wisdom of the past
ages to the waiting minds before him.
cannot emphasize too strongly the
value Of general reading to the teach
er. Our work takes us out of the busy
world and keeps us constantly in con-
tact with immature minds, which
take from us and give little in return.
If, then, we do not keep pace with the
world of though by reading, we will
stagnate and find ourselves falling
asleep at our post.
The wide-awake teacher realizes the
moral responsibility resting upon him
and reyerently strives to uplift the
immoral minds beneath his sway and
to broaden their outlook; to encOur.
age high aims and lofty ideals. He
sees that example should reinforce
precept and does not discourse elO-
quently on the injury Of narcotics and
then walk Serenley down street smOk.
ing a cigar.
The progressive instructor keeps an
eye upon the improvement in methods
of teaching. He uses the suggestions
of Others, indiyidualizing them so as
to be adapted to his especial manner
of work. He has of late years noted
with satisfaction the increase in the
use of school helps and appliances. He
reserves space upon his desk fol
some good catalogue Of school supple.
and finds himself more than repaid
for his expenditure for such helps a.
he can best use. A teacher without
such materials is like a mechanic
without tools.
The alert teacher recognizes tina
the era of muscular force as a facto
in education has forever passed away
that tact is worth far more than fore
in teaching. The constant aim of hi
school government is toward self-gey
eminent which, alone, is of any valu
to the pupil. That school government
which has not the moral elevation O
the pupil in view is not worthy a plac
in the school room. The trivial an,
nOn-esSential points OfcOnduct Shoul
alwas be kept in the background an
the stress laid upon those which in
volve moral principles and the hig
development of character. The chill
should never be tempted to deceit O
wrong by StriDgency of regulation,
1t is far better for him to whisper fl
ty times than to tell one lie to avoi
punishment therefor. Our idael teacl
er, then rules his school by tact in tn
development of the neral sense an
honor of his pupils, and all move
smoothly, while the teacher VII
tyrannizes over his pupils and teacht