The San Francisco call., 1898-04-09

too far. Too much importance has been laid upon the question of how much mere learning a pupil will acquire in school. IL is true that pupil will learn more from a good teacher than from the best Of books, and the knowledge of this fact tends to lead educators to attach too much impor- tance to the teacher as a source of in struction independent of books, or at least to underestimate the value of books.
 If the true purpose of teaching were merely to cram the mind with knowledge. then that system that would impart the most knowledge in a given time would seem to be the best. But the gaining Of knowledge is not the sole object. Of at least equal importance is the development of mental powers and the formation of good habits. The pupil cannot be pupil always; cannot always have the help or teacher. He should be taught to rely upon himself. to stand alone. When he leaves the school room his work is not done; he is only just entering upon the actual business and duty of life. He does not learn in school all that. he should learn, however excellent his teachers and their system To succeed in life, to ac- complish anything of value, he must be progressive, must continue to learn; and he must do this without either the spur or the aid of a teacher.
 To this end his course of instruction and training in school should be such as would not make him dependent upon his teachers. He should be taught to learn without their aid. He should have de- veloped in him a love for learning that should cause him to desire it for it's own sake and his own good, and should have haoltS or industry and thoroughness and feeling of self-reliance that would lead nm to active and persevering work on ms own account. His school should not De regarded as a place where his work is completed, but as an apprenticeship in which he learns to use the best tools in Ine pest way for the work of his lifetime. NO man ever accomplished anything or amounted to anything whose improve school life
 Of all means of improvement at com mana the most valuable are books. These are storehouses of all knowledge, upon all suD1ects, always within our reach and diWayS at our service. Pupils in school | shouid be taught to use them and be tausht now to use them to the best ad- vantage. This should be one of the main objects Of the teacher. No matter how great his capacity for imparting knowl- cage directly from himself. he can give .lls pupils no instruction of equal value 10 that which teaches them to make the | pest use of books. The pupil who leaves school with love for books, trained to make the best use Of them, and with the courage. industry and perseverance, to dig into them and lay hold of their treasures, mas an education that is immensely valu- able, which will lead him continually
 Iarthcr and higher in the ways of life;
 
 his standing in this, his requirements are destitute of life and v1gor, temporary and of comparatively little value. He lacks the vitality essential to progress and growth. One cannot stand still after leaving school; he must either grow or dwirdie
 The pupil at the beginning must of necessity depend upon the teacher. As he advances he should become more and more independent of support. His text books, especially in the higher grades. should contain substantially all that he is required at the time to learn. and in such form that il can be learned from the books themselves. And. while it is true that there is no royal road 10 learning yet the books should, as far as practic- able. present their subjects in a clear ana attractive manner. so that the student should be led to regard books not as conundrums or task masters. but as friends and helpers. The teacher should guide and encourage the pupil. not So much with view to giving the informa- ton sought as to building up habits of application, perseverance, and self-reli- ance. so that in the end the pupil may be able and willing to walk alone. As a re- suit pupils. on leaving school, might not have so large q knowledge as might otherwise be crammed into them, but they would have strength, character and hab- it's of thought and action Of infinitely more value. H. GOODCELL. | Oakland.