The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-03-22
The Teachers Duty to His AS
sociation.

livered by Mr. Thad. W. Dreher be-
fore the Lexington County Teachers
Association at it's February meeting,
and is publishedin Compliance with
resolution of the Association:J
We are here today representing a
noble profession, which is second to
none in Importance and in its far
reaching effects upon the destiny OF
the human race. MOTHER profession
presents such rare opportunities for
the development of character, cult
yating self control, sympathy, pa
thence, kindness and love for children,
all of which are necessary in the
make up of a successful teacher.
The highest qualifications Of soul or
mind that the teacher possesses by
nature, as we'll as by study, e1per;-
sace and practice, are called into SER
vice in organizing into an obedient,
law abiding body children Of differ
emit dispositions, brought together
from different homes and different
Influences.
In this difficult undertaking, intel
lectual qualifications alone will not
insure success, Many well educated
men and women have failed in the
school room because they lacked
some of the natural qualifications
that intellectual training cannot give.
In some respects the teacher is like
the ancients said of the poet: "he is
born not made
Besides being we'll educated, the
true teacher must have love and sym
patty for children. He must have
tact, judgment, untiring patience and
a large store of common sense. The
teacher who possesses these qnalih-
cations will be a well developed hui
man being. But such a development
comes only by patient toll, p~ersever-
auce and experience. To rise above
the common level, and reach the srt
OF teaching is the desire OF every
enthusiastic teacher. His animal
ing thought is to become a good
TEACHER"
This thought will be with him day
and night; and he will seek every op-
p,rtunity hat will help him to reach
that goal. But his interest is not
confined to self improvement. He
desires the improvement of his fel-
low teachers, and to that end he will
give a part of his time, experience
and talents.
He recognizes the professional duty
he owes to his co-laborers, and will
give them all the encouragement he
CAD, and willingly labors to advance
the professional standing Of the
members of his profession. He will
seek opportunities to show his inter
est in his fellow teachers. And
where will he find a more fitting
place and better opportunities than
a teachers association?
The prime object Of all such 1850
cations is the advancement of edu-
cation, and whatever affects an edu-
cational system, affects the two great
factors in the system, the child and
the teacher.
We meet in this association for
mutual benefit. Our great aim is to
Increase our professional standing,
and to arouse greater interest in
school work among the teachers of
our county. In this association We
meet face to face, we become better
acquainted with each other, conse-
sequently We will be more interested
10 the advancement of the members
OF this association. Thus we are
placed in better position to render
aid to each ether.
Here the young, inexperienced
teacher can gain much valuable in
formation from those who have learned
experience by years Of work in the
school room.
# the teacher is interested in the
advancement of his fellow teachers,
he will seek to do what will give
them pleasure and profit. II this is
true, here is the place for him to show
his interest. In this association we
discuss the live questions of the day
that are Of interest to every true
teacher, and that concern the pro-
gress OF our schools.
There are many vital questions
concerning the welfare of our com
mon school system that are occupy
ing the minds of great educators,
school boards, trustees and Legisla-
lures that We might discuss with in.
terest and profit. In many things
we have gone from one extreme to
another. In reading some of the