The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-02-11
Essentials to Successful Teach.
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Essentials to Successful Teach
ing.
There is no avocation or profess
sion'to which men are called in this
life that involves greater RESPONSE
bility than that of teaching. The
truth of this statement is evident
when we recognize the fact that
teachers are a great factor in
moulding the thought and senti.
ment Of those who in a few years
are to hold the most important of.
fees and positions in church and
state. There is no end TO a teachers
influence. Every day that II, la.
bors in the schoolroom he leaves q
lasting impress upon the young
minds with whom he comes in con
tact. Realizing, then, tho great re
sponsibility which he has to carry,
a teacher should strive with all his
mightto fulfill his duties conscien.
tiously.
There are many difficulties with
which a teacher has to contend 4; the
first and most formidable Of which
is self. He must make u careful
study Of his own disposition and
find out where his defects as a teach.
er lie. If he has q quick temper he
must learn to overcome that if he
is impatient he must learn t, o :
come that and in whatever point
be finds himself weak, he muststrive
to grow strong. Q
We must learn to control our-
selves before we a control others.
With these preliminary remarks,
lei US pass on to the consideration
of the essentials to successful teach
ing. In the first place, a teacher
should be possessed Of a considera.
bic degree Of frmness. If you see
n man who is not Diet rmined in his
purposes and who LET'S himself be
influenced by the opinions of every
ono yon may at once set him down
u a man who will not do to teach.
EVeG children admire firmness in
any one, and on the contrary have
not mu"h respect for q man who
suffers himself influen ed by what
every Il says.
Along with firmness should be
mentioned executive ability, for
firmness and executive ability. go
hand in hand. One may be safe in
making the assertion that a mans
success in life depends largely upon
his ability to influence and control
Others. This is true in any avoca-
ton in life, but especially in teach
ing.
In order to d. successful work
in the "chool-room, IL teacher must
enforce order AMI good behavior on
the part of the pupils. ltis impossi-
biz to teach or study in a room
where there is noise and confusion.
Another quality which q teacher
should have is aptnass to teach. II
makes no difference how intellectual
one may be if he has not the ability
to impart knowledge he is sadly
deficient, though this deficiency in
many cases may be remedied by
experiences. Truths have to be pres
ented to young minds in such o
way as to be grasped readily and
retained. Some have no!thc ability
to present ideas in this simple and
attractive style, and those of this
class will find it hard to hold the
attention of the pupils which is very
necessary for the proper advance
ment of the child.
There is one other thing that is
necessary for successful teaching
and that is, the teacher must be
thoroughly prepared.
1t is impossible to teach or ex:
plain something to O. child which
you do not understand yourself.
The necessity of being competent is
too plain to need further emphasis.
Besides the essential qualities al
ready mentioned. viz, firmness and
executive ability, aptness to teach,
and competency, there are several
others which might bo mentioned,
but we will only mention one other,
Love. A teacher must have some
love in his heart for his pupils,
otherwise his teaching will lack that
softening and refining influence
which itsh,uld have. If the teacher
loves his pupils he may be sure that
it will bereciprocated, and it is only
when this feeling does exist that
teaching ia a success in the fullest
of the term.
II Mao cTJTT