The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-08-08
WHAT SHOULD BE TAUGHT


Address OF w. A. Lee To the Tenchers
OF the AbbeviIle Institute, Friday
Evening, July 25th, 1894.
Ladies' and Gentleman, my Friends, the
teachers of Abbevlle here present:
have been asked by Prof. McCain to give
a ten minutes talk to the teachers here pres
ent, by way OF advice and encouragement
but though. doubt my ability 10 interest o, OF
years ago. with the intermediate years de
voted In part to literature and philosophy, and
always q student, l may draw from my pas
experience, some simple lessons of advice and
to the exercises OF this occasion. And whal
an interesting occasion IL has been? 1t Is 9
matter OF just pride, that the attendance hat
been so large. and that the labors of the In
structors have been rewarded with an Interest
10 constant and unremitting, and we are sure
that they deserve and will receive the thanks
OF our whole people for their able and earnest
work, and that the Institute has set upon
this beautiful building the seal OF its crownine
glory and attraction, and baptized IL with the
spirit Of earnest work and liberal culture.
| / will endeavor 10 make the most OF my
time by condensing under few heads the
burden OF my talk.
lst. The Importance OF the teachers work
Can there be- any more important? All otheT
but the teacher is called upon to mould the
immortal mind, to fit II for duty here, and to
Undue it with principles which are .tc
brighten It in the world 10 come:
tiny of mind? Read those matchless line,
of the poet Wordsworth:
"Our birth is but sleep and forgetting,
The soul that rises with US, our llfe's star,
Hath had elsewhere II settling
And cometh from afar,
Not in entire forgetfulness,
Not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds OF glory do We come
From God who is our home.
Heaven Is about us, in our in infancy"
"Those first affections.
Those Bhadowy recoll ections
Which be they what they may
Are yet the fountain light Of all our day
Our noisy years. seem moments In the being
| or the eternal Silence. Truths that wake
And perish never.
"Though inland far we be
Our souls have sight of that immortal Sea
Which brought US hither,
| Can In q moment travel thither
And see the children sport upon the shore
And hear the mighty waters rolling ever.
more."
! It ia the chosen work Of the teacher to cher.
ish and keep alive "these first affections" and
-shadowy,, re. rec9ilections" -"this fountain
Who OF US parents realize the full measure
OF our responsibilities. We water the dow
ers that brighten our homes, we kill the
weeds that choke our gardens, We cherish the
favorite horse or dog that ministers to our use
or pleasure, but how often do we suffer our
children TO run wild on our streets, unheeded
and uncared for, and when they have &C.
Quired the habits, to say the least Of idleness
and insubordination. we turn them over To
our teachers to correct the faults which
should have been guarded against at home.
and the mother is the first and best teacher,
She deals with the infant mind when IL IL
most susceptible, and love brightens the task
and enlivens the tedlum Of the work. John
ers that bis mother taught him on his knees
and Philip Doddrldge imbibed the best les
sons OF Bible lore from the Dutch hearth
titles, which his mother explained TO him.
! The teacher takes the place OF the parent
and it should be with something OF the par
ent's love, to carry on the good work which
has been begun at home; 10 discipline the
mind, 70 brighten the moral sense, TO teach M
spire love OF knowledge love OF the truth
love OF the beautiful and the good.
How important then that the teacher bt
qualified. How manifold are the require
nents that 20 to make up the perfect teacher
The first important qualification 1s knoWi
edge. The master must be above his disci
ple in knowledge and In wisdom, and ike tht
great DIR. Arnold OF Rugby, add daily to hit
stores, lest bis mind becomes q stagnan'
3. He must have the power Of impartinl
knowledge, Of making his knowledge attrac
3. Whilst he directs the bright minds. he
must have patience with the sluggish.
4. He must be impartial and mete out even
handed justice TO the good and the way Ward
| 5. He must maintain discipline else he !,
but as ''sounding brass or tinkling cymbal'
"a very apostle OF anarchy and disorderIhls
school q synonym OF all all that schoo
ought not 10 be.
An officer in the British Navy was called
on to restore order and maintain discipline
over one OF the most rebellious crews In bel
Mojesty's service. and put In command FOL
that purpose IN 3 few days ne enforced aa1 per PEI,
In showing the crew that he WAS but the OF
fcer Of the law and that 1t panied him TO In
fiict punishment. So of the teacher.
6. The teacher must have the power or In
spiring respect, IL not love. How did DR.. Ar
mold OF Rugby, or DR.. Thornwell OF the South
Carolina College, maintain their wonderful
ascendancy, over even the refractory and the
disobedient, aud earn their love anu respect
an exhibition OF the highest wisdom ant
learning, and proving that 10 the discipline
OF the school they were controlled entirely b!
| q regard for It's best Interest.
IA teacher must have wide sympathies, mus
be O seeker OF the truth and eager TO inspire
the same love In Others. The highest accom-
plshment OF the teacher is TO nix the atten
to make the subject interesting and thus Il
open up the field OF knowledge.
! Lastly, let US speak OF the discOuragment: I:
and cancellations OF the teachers vocation
Let him do the best he can, he will often f1nt
q poor reQuital on the part OF both pupil aut
patron. When he has bestowed most labor
he finds no progress In the pupil and fault
finding In the parent. TO one parent his Oils
cipline Is too lax, and too strict for anoLhe
I-One child has too little 70 do, another
pressed beyond endurance. A teacher mus
prepare himself for lack OF appreciation
want OF sympathy and even mlsrepresenta
ton. He will find that those complain most
who have less reason TO do so,and that he VIII
seeks TO please everybody Will please none
He IL or ought be the best judge OF his owl
has he o proper conception of his own power
and capabilities. what cares he for The judy
ment and plandits OF others, but 81 an ell
dorsemept OF his work, and as means o
extending the sphere OF his labors. He hold
himself amenable to criticism, but shOult
feel selfsustaining.
And what shall we say of the consolation
OF the teacher. of those rewards which max
amends for all the trials and vexations OF th'
way side. To him is committed the task o
training up the bright minds, which shal
preside with wonanly grace and affection
over the thousand happy homes OF our land
perhaps lend wings TO the mind OF some hs
piring youth, who shall some day, seek "th
applause of listening senates to command,
shall aid In the path of knowledge some piOu
youth, who shall break the bread OF life 10
famishing people, some enterprlslng tiller o
lngloriuos Milton, ,"some high priest Of nature
some inventive genius who Shall give neS
impetus 10 the whrlpg wheels OF industry
ALI To share In the busy work OF life, ant