Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1900-08-29
Continued from last issue,l
HoPEFULNEss AND PATIENCE.

HoPEFULNEsS AND PATIENCE.
Many and many are the times that
you will think that your Efforts with
certain dull scholars are of no avail
and will give up all hope of ever eau
eating them to the desired extent.
| However, perseycre; examine your
methods OF instruction, and having
rightly concluded that the fault does
not lie with you, hope for the best;
remember that some who were and
even are bright and shining lights,
were once very dull in childhood.
Baldwin says that the teacher needs
world of patience and hundred
things will occur to make him i'm
patient, but to yield is ruin. Child
hood is full of pcrversity and the
mind of child develops very slowly,
especially in those things that are to
distinguish them in after years. Do
not be surprised that to-day's lessons
will be entirely forgotten TO morrow.
Nothing but patience and horefulness
will prevent worry and fretlulncss,
both deStroyers OF energy. Carry to
/ y
heart, nor be afraid to let it shine
forth in your lace. Learn to labor
and to wait.
VIGILANCE.
Vigilance is the next necessary
characteristic. a teacher must be
vigilant. This wilt suffice for the
present,
I pEFINITENEss.
This characteristic can scarcely be
overrated, 1t means clearness and
lixedncss OF purpose in order to be
successful. We must have clear
conception Of that Mt which we are
aiming; we must place the plan of the
work Of the term clearly before our
minds and arrange the classes accord
ingly; not only this, but we must
have Il settled purpose with the ar
rangement OF every class, the teach
ing OF every lesson and the putting of
every question. The teacher without
an aim is like ship without a rud.
der--a drifting wreck, carrying every
one with him to destruction. A ran
dom shot may now and then take
down stray bird, but good marks
man singles ont one pigeon from the
flock and trusts to stray shots for the
rest SO the careful teacher fixes
clearly his aim, arranges his plan oil
campaign, prepares EACH lesson and
puts each question in accordance.
Speaking Of questioning, | may say,
in no respect is this characteristic
more necessary than the mode of
questioning. The questions should
he put 50 us to admit OF but one
answer viz: Those which lead up to
the point intended; after what has
been said you will be able to attach
considerable Importance to this char
acteristic. In your teaching | shall
ask you to state clearly before begin
ming a lesson, what is your aim in
teaching it?
THoRoUGHNEss.
cannot hope that you will at pres.
ent understand all that is implied
here; experience will bring its full
force home to you after many bitter
Disappointment, but in order to pre-
pare you as well NJ | can, | will at
tempt to explain. 1t means review,
repetition, routine, drudgery, disap,
pointment, and yet it /. possible that
the teacher might possess all the fore
going characteristics; and lacking this
one, fail most signally, for he who
fails in this particular fails to harvest
what he has sown. One may prepare
his lessons carefully and teach them
diligently, but if he stops here, sup.
posing this to be all, he is doomed to
failure. With children we must re.
view and review, and then review
again.
; CHEERFuLNEss.
The teachers lot is cast among the
young, the strong aud the happy, and
he should never forget that joyous
ness is us necessary to the bodily aud
mental growth OF the child rs air aud
sunlight to the plant. His occupa-
ton and habits of mind incline him
to gloomy view OF life, and only con-
slant vigilance will save him from
chronic melancholy, constant activity
and cheering conversation being the
| TcIltults. OVON CDttI 10 tSoVhkIh' w
the teacher for his own sake. Moth
ing is more ruinous to good health
than quiet aud melancholy. 1t is of
the utmost importance, too, when
viewed from an educational stand
point. The teacher is to the child
the embodiment OF learning. II he
sees reflected in the teachers face only
ill-humor, child-like, he will infer
that education is the cause, and will
conclude that learning lie hears so
highly praised cannot be such a cheer
full, beautiful thing after all. Let US
be chserful, happy and active, and
cast sunshine all about us. when
the day comes,' says an emipeni
teacher, Gin which cannot run up
stairs three steps at time, then
should think it high time to resign
UNIFORMITY or TEMPER
/ | cannot do better than give til,
views OF few eminent man under tbi,
: heading The following is from Fitch
Familiar as the truth, ii is worth