The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-02-12
Teachers and Teaching.


teachers and good teaching are the
prime essentials OF good schools. and to
secure these it becomes necessary for
the good people to select good directors
who will act and legislate intelligently
for the good Of the young and rising
generation. II is dcplorable fact. but
nevertheless true, that too little atten.
tion is given to the primary department
of the schools of this country. Directors,
parents and every one else pay little
heed to the educational foundation, the
primary schools, but are constantly
gazing upward TO the cupola or the
highest grade, forgetting the old maxim
that "As the twig is bent, the tree is
inclined" We speak from observation
gained in practical experience and not
by heresay, when we assert that
about one in every ten Of the pupils,
who attend our public schools, can per-
form rapid addition. unless he or she
is natural mathematician. and why ?
| Simply because the fundamental rules
of arithmetic arc considered Of no inn
! pOrtance, and the principal aim of the
pupil is TO go through the book on sched-
ule time, regardless of results. And we
are sorry to say that many so-called
| teachers will allow this To be done and
delude themselves and the public into
the b'ief that they are teaching. II
| isn't every one who holds n good GER
tificate and has good education that
makes good teacher, not by any
means How many of the teachers who
are engaged this season are teaching
because they lore The profession About
one in ten, the remaining nine are
putting in time" for the mighty dol
| lar" To be successful teacher one
must have love for the work, cheer
ful disposition, a thorough knowledge of
human nature, ana always keep in
mind that "Thc best part of mans
knowledge is where knowledge leaves
off aud ignorance begins" How many
are thus qualified?
There are too many 'ology's" and
'isms" introduced into our higher
grades to the detriment Of the common
branches in which there is n great de-
ficiency, and too many inexperienced
teachers placed in charge of the primary
departments, just the very place where
the skilled and experienced teacher is
needed. Directors make great mis-
take when they place low salaried.
inexperienced persons in the primary
rooms where the very best teachers
should be, who thoroughly understand
the young, and are capable of instilling
into their minds the fundamental
principles of a good education, so that
AS the pupil advances from grade to
grade the work becomes pleasure and
moves along smoothly instead of being
an onerous task, and by thus advancing
with each step thoroughly mastered
before taking the next higher, their
education would b. complete and last
ing. A good education is the bulk Of
the patrimony that the labOving man
can leave to his children, and il is for
the requirement of this that he pays a
school tax from his hard earnilggs and
expects the board OF directors, Who are
placed in charge of the school affairs,
to legislate wisely. lay aside personal
favoritisn, and select good experienced
teachers to take charge OF the training
of his children, especially the younger
or primary portion. Don't pFactice
false economy by imagining that money
is saved by employing cheap, mex
perienced teachers. who do not leach,
but merely put in time as the rate of six
hours day and twenty days month,
and who, instead of devo5ing the noon
and recess periods To the interests of
the school and their pupils spend. the
time in gossipping. These are dear at
any price. Teaching Is, a profession
that requires more than a mere eGica-
tion. To be successful teacher one
must have a natural aptitude for the
work besides love for it, and must be
possessed of unlimited patience and a
complete control of himself. These
must, in the main, be natural qualiii-
cations, as it takes a lifetime to acquire
them and without them the venture
will be a failure. Too many fondlS
imagine that they are destined for teach
ers, when in reality they are better fitted
for the farm on workshop. Teaching
is profession on which too little stress
is placed and in consequence thereof it is
becoming more and more demoralized
from year to year. A teacher in start
ing out in the profession should never
be allowed to take charge OF a graded
school, but rather mixed one wherein
he or she will gain more knowledge OF
human nature and the routine OF school
duties in one term than in any graded
school in two; simply because there is a
variety in the work.
Elect good, intelligent, reliable direc-
-. Al l.