Birmingham state herald., 1897-06-26
TALlADEGA CHAUTAUQUA
Address by Dr. Peterman-Pro- gramme For Saturday.

Talladega, Ala, June 24.-(Special)- The exercises at the Chautauqua assem-
 ply hall were opened last evening by concert from Grambs' orchestra from
 Birmingham. The popular selections All Around the City" 'The Roof Gar den" and a cornct solo, Lizzie Polka"
 by Mir. Memoli, were played The Ala
 bama Educational associa tion has been
 in session all day and the subject for the lecture for the evening was more espe- ciasly interes ting to members of the as sociation. The speaker, pr. A. l.. Peter man. of Lexington, Ky, was introduced
 by Dr. George R. McNeil1, of this city.
 pr. Peterman Is the author of a most eX-
 cellent text book on civics, used almost
 universally throughout Ala bama; he is also a lecturer of more than national rep
 utation. He comes from the blue grass region of Kentucky and brings the best
 things of that good country with him a heart full of good cheer and keen
 sense of humor. which he uses for the purpose of pointing out moral or adorn- ing a tale. It was evident to his hearers that he spoke largely from experience.
 No man in the United States knows more about the pleasures and pains of teac.- ing. He spoke for more than an hour and
 the large audience gave him the closest attention and highest appreciation. He
 began with an eloquent tribute to the Ol
 the teacher is the drill master of peace and civilization. His task is Hereulean
 in it's immensity; it means the regenera- tion of boys composed of dirt, disobedi- ence and deviltry. It is a strange fact that teaching is the only vocation in life
 which is best understood by those who do not engage in it. All the world stands open .mputhed to advise the teacher. The world contains this mystery, that the greatest work comes from men whose
 hearts are. crushed by heavy burdens Christ with his cross, Socrates with his cup of hemlock, Cervantes with his most pathetic experiences, Hugo with the great weight of the evils of Paris; so also
 the teacher who is strong and brave enough to resist the small temptations and bear with the petty vexations of his
 lot accompiishes the most good. There
 is consolation in everything if we could only find it. To the true teacher one of the best opportunities which teaching af- lords Is the personal discipline and men
 tai culture it inevitably brings. While the teacher molds the education OF others
 he completes his own. Some people have very mistaken ideas as to the qualifica-
 tons of a teacher He whose mind does
 not turn to books and learning like a , flower in dungeon turns toward the sun should never attempt to teach. Then ha
 must understood his work He who
 would better this world must know it.
 must, be in touch with it must study it, and above all things must have charity for it. Teaching affords the best oppor-
 tunity for the study of human nature;
 the touchstone of a teachers ability is
 the progress he makes in this direction"
 Dr.' 'Pe.erman decla red That the public school teachers misery began with his applicat lion for a certificate and ends with
 the last school report. As to the marks given to him by he examining eommft-
 tee they are as elastic as a politicians conscience. or India rubber. He chose the umbrella as the badge of the tribe; the insignia of the order. HAS we'll expect TO see Texan without revolver Ten
 nessean without Scriptural argument and a Kentucluian without a corkscrew as a teacher without an umbrella" He drew an amusing picture of the first day at school with the snrall boy, that an- cent and hereditary enemy of the r,eda- gogue with his sWperaoundance Of ex- Intolerance, and the small girl. with coun- ienance as composed as Liberty en- Tightening the world Although the ma jority of teachers belong to the fair sex. pr Psterman persisted in using the mas otrlsne gender He said he did so because "a woman can take a hint at long range, when you have to knock a man down with a gun barrel before he knows that there is such q thing in the air. | The old-fashioned country school house as held up by Dr. Pc. errnan to his hear CTS brought forth many smif g. The bucket. and dipper. the idol of the school the blackboard, fearfuay and wonder