Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-01-02

cnAL COMPANY M SNS<f " IL l
county having the largest enrolment,
were won by Audrain County, which
had 40 teachers enrolled; Montgom-
cry County was second, with 26, and
Boone County third, with IA.
The Teacher as a Factor In Society.
Correspondence of the Ledger.
MEXICO, Mo-, Dec. 26.-Everyone
in a neighborhood exerts an influence.
This may be elevating or the reverse.
If the teacher is a child of God, and
this is manifest to all with whom he
associates, his influence in this respect
is only equaled ana possibly surpass-
ed by that of the faithful minister.
He is a living, moving factor, contin-
ually testifying to the truth of those
precious promises of the word of God.
Such a teacher is an objeet-lesson
that every pupil of his school may
study with profit. An aged minister
once said, 81 remember with more
pleasure my work as a teacher than
/ do as a minister He once said to a
teacher, "You are doing more goodin
your life as a teacher than am as a
minister" Another aged minister
years ago said to a teacher, "You
are doing more good than any minis
ter in town" OF course, he meant as
a teacher.
The teacher is much abused by those
who are raising boys for the devil. |
said raising. This is a misapplication
of the word, unless you mean rs pigs
are raised and some are not raised
with much care. The city teacher
does not come so directly in contact
with his patrons as the country teach
er. The lady teacher is regarded as a
model finish in every respect. Her
every motion is watched. The moth
ers wish their daughters to be like
unto their teacher, neat in person,
truthful in all her statements, polite
to everyone, from the most favored,
having a kind word for everybody, no
respecter of persons, that is, kind to
all her pupils, II sin whose eyes a
vile person is condemned and who
honor them that fear the Lord"
Such a one is a "factor" whose power
for good cannot be told. She is an
umpire to decide every question in
volving correct and accurate knowl-
| edge. There are many differences of
opinion in regard to questions of his
tory and mathematics, etc., and the
| teachers decision is the end of the
controversy, even in matters that she
may know little about. Through the
influence of the intelligent teacher
families are induced to take valuable
newspapers and periodicals. A taste
for reading is cultivated, a taste for
music, for flowers and ornamental
shrubbery. She becomes the welcome
visitor to each family. If some are
rich and others needy she does her
part toward helping relieve those who
need help. Her words are pure and
her acts in keeping with her words.
The tongue of the vile dare not say
aught against one honored by parent
and child. The conatry lady teacher,
who is worthy of the position she
holds, is among pure women what the
diamond is among other Jewels, what
the Rose of Sharon among other roses,
as Ruth compares with other lovely
women. They are jewels to be placed
in the crown of Him who spoke as
never man spake.
OF course, it is not every woman
that teaches that is worthy of such
words, but there are some who are
angels in the flesh, and after a days
hard labor bedew their pillows with
tears caused by some spoilt, hayward
boy or girl, who little think and often
little care about the suffering they
have caused the earnest, faithful
teacher, for bitter tears they often
caused a loving mother to shed, who
too late has found that Solomon was
a wise man who showed his wisdom
not only when he decided whose child
the infant was, but also when he tells
parents to spare the rod. The teacher
ought to be a model not only in the
school room but out of it.
AS the teacher is a factor that If
recognized by everyone exerting a
, wonderful power for good, so ought
| every parent be thus recognized
/ Shame upon that parent who will at
} tempt to destroy a teachers influence
for good merely because he has cor
rected a boy or girl that has never
been controlled at home. Director
cannot be too careful in employing {
teacher, and should remember tina
they have been placed in the respon'
sible position they fill to serve the
: very best interests for the children
and to do this they must remember
4 that there is no greater 'factor'' ii
"society" than the faithful teacher.
FRENCH STRoTHER,
8 County School Commiss Toner of Au
drain County.