The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-01

HE SCRANTON TRIB1
when led by the talent OF another. We
can fight best at all times In our own ar
NOR,
GOLIATH AND DAVID.
For n good illustration from tne
highest authority let me take you back
to ancient days. Yot remember the con-
test between Goliath and David, Goliath
had a helmet of brass upon his head, and
was armed with coat OF mall tnht
weighed 5000 shekels Of brass. He had
greavcs OF brass upon his legs and tar
get OF brass between his shoulders His
spear was like weaver's beam and the
spears head weighed 900 shekels OF Iron.
His Armor seemed strength and perfec-
ton itself. David, on the other hand,
was without borrowed arrior. Saul, you
remember, put upon Davids head a he'll
met OF brass and armed him with coat
of mail, but David Esid, II cannot go with
these, for l have not proved them" and
he went to battle with the champion Of
tho Phiiistlncs with his sling and fve
smooth stones from the brook. You
know the result and the triumph OF Da-
vid, And what does ttis lossoh tea chr 1t
teaches you and me to night not In bor-
rowed armor. 1t teaches you and me that
proved ourself. YOU cannot shine like the
moon by borrowed light, in the inteiloc-
tual world. Miss Sykes has no counter
part In teaching. neither have I nor any
other teacher. Your ego must enter the
method you use or the method Is simply a
name. not a living force.
Having briefly touched your personality
as a teacher and emphasized the import
ance OF adoption, not adoption, let me
now call your attention to the young
teachers greatest mistake, greatest skeln
Of omission. Two years previous to her
reign as a teacher she has lived In an at
mosphere Of criticism. Her normal and
training teachers have pointed out de-
fects in practice work and unconsciously
the pupil has become . critic and when
she enters the school room for the first
time her trained eye Is searching foi err
ors, blundes and mistakes made by the
pupils, and OF couse she finds them. But
does she find, too the points worthy OF
commendation1 No, she frequently volts
for experience to dictate that lesson. D.,
1 love that old legend of the Rabbi and
their teacher walking upon the shore Of
Galilee.
THE TRUE CRITIC.
These in advance, you remember.
stumbled upon the carcass of a dead
dog. One started back in disgust. an
other cried out upon the stencil, another
cursed the rotten bones. Then the great
teacher approached. His eye fell upon
the object For moment his face dark
ened with sorrow and then 1t beamed with
a joyous light See" he cried, "see, Its
teeth are white as pearls" There you
have the true spirit of criticism. He who
pronounces judgment and finds fault only
leaves art where he finds 1t. The man
who discovers beauty that has never been
hafA aId % hNTNt ~ h a anil ~
and the intellectual wealth of the world.
AS this occasion affords me the last OPP
portunity to address you. let me call your
attention briefly to a few things well
known to the successful teacher.
First-Guard your heart and mind
against prejudices of any kind; let the
Nht of reason pour through the windows
I our soul, broad as truth itself and
high IS God.
Second-Do not attempt to teach too
many things. 1t is the provence of our
public schools to give thorough instruc-
ton in a few things not a superficial
knowledge of many things.
Thrd-Never compare one child with
another. Individual superiority should
bring its own reward. mental stupidity
| its own rebuke.
Fourth-Ride no hobbies. Partially to
| one branch means impartiality to the 9TH
| ers. Good education implies a we'll bal
anced mind, a symmetrical man.
Fifth-Learn to love nature The Sc
| quel to my text here can be found in this
| bit of doggerel;
| France has her lily, England her rose,
Everybody knows where the shamrock
grows.
Scotland has her thistle, Towering in the
| hill,
But the American emblem is a one dollar
| BILL
MUST COME FROM WITHIN.
You cannot expect as teachers to count
your wealth in stocks and bonds and
| golden eagles, your riches must come
| from within not from without. When
| Paul Hayne, the. Southern poet was
| walking near his home one day with q
| friend his friend said, paul, who owns
| that forest of pine?" Hayne replied
my neighbor Smith pays the taxes or
it, but own it." And he did. His cal
| had been attuned to the melodies of ma
ture, the grand oratorios Of the forest; his
| eye had BEEN trained to see the glorious
tints of the artist divine in the sunset
| hues back of the wavering pines.
Sixth-Let the heart rule the head. Love
rules or should rule the world. Tenny.
sons tribute to this universal spirit in his
| drama, "Becket" Is to you my last anC
| parting thought.
|
ct to conceal himself from the wrath o.
the king but he relied on the sympathy
| and love concealed within the human
heart, and these are his lines while con
templating the penalty threatened by the
king:
II once was out with Henry in the days
When Henry loved me. and we came
upon
| A wld-fowl sitting upon her nest so still
/ reached my hand and touched her; sh,
did not STIR
The snow had frozen round her and she
sat
| Stone-dead upon heap of ice cold eggs.
Look! how this love, this mother runs
| Through all the world God made, even
the beast-the bird.
President of the School Poard Jen
nings then made a short address Mr.
Gibbons ard Mr.. Wormser followed
| With gracious expression of thanks fol
the attendance of friends and the kin(
remarks of the officials Miss Sykes
| closed the session.
The commencement night has no
been definitely decided upon as yet.
BOARD OF ENGINEERS.