Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1900-08-22
Continued from last issue
TACT.

county ICncncrs institute.
CONTINUED from last issuc.l
TACT.
Tact, or adapting means to the
attainment of our needs, with the
teacher, is the welfare OF his school,
and in no calling is this somewhat
rare quality more necessary than in
teaching. The teacher combining in
himself as he does, the functions of
ruler, statesman and general, is met
at every turn by difficulties requiring
the utmost delicacy and skill in their
management; especially in question
ing, in discipline, and in discourse
with parents is this characteristic
peculiarly valuable. The teacher who
is good tactician turns difficulties to
the advantage OF his whole school,
heals dissensions among the managers
and patrons and reConciles the I'M
satisfied to his management. In
questioning he will not think OF re-
jecting an answer because it does not
contain the whole truth, but accept
ing whatever value it contains, will
skllful.y lead the pupil on until the
answer is given as desired. We all
possess this quality in greater or less
degree and should spare no pains in
its cultivation.
EARNEsTNEss.
The pupils are the teachers looking
glass and will be just what he makes
them. ii we enter a school room with
n ll5tless air our pupils will be listless;
ii we come in with Il careless, languid
manner they will acquire a languid
gait and sleepy movement; il we are
| solemn they will be solemn, but if we
are cheerful, animated aud industrious
they will by imitation acquire these
habits just as readily, for children are
the teachers imitatIon-"like teacher
! like school il Il NAHUM as true as it
is old. Let us try to remember the
Importance OF our work; let Ills try to
realize that upon our efforts rs teachers
depends the veal OF countless human
beings; let us remember, too, that no
great success can ever be accomplish
ed without continuous, well-directcd
effort We do not lack for example
OF sources OF inspiration. Literature
abounds with them. Read the lille
OF Milton" "Longiellow's Psalm of
Life" or the life OF the Great Teacher
himself, and ii then you feel like triil-
ing and that lie Is a burlesQue, resign.
In the crowded, earnest ranks OF the
teachers profession there is no room
for such rs you, Ii trilling you must
be, join some travelling troupe, or at
least engage in some occupation in
which your own time and life energies
only will be wasted; do not for shame
waste those OF little children.
ENERGY.
Energy is the fourth mental char
acteristic and is aptly defined dyna-
mics as the power to do work. The
teacher needs boundess supply OF it.
will notice few only: Roger
Ascham, Queen Elizabeth's tutor,
describes his ideal schoolmaster as one
who hath the list to labor. As you
VIII anticipate, energy is greatly de-
pendent on physical strength. 1t be-
hoves us to look well to the care of
our health. Keep up the vital forces
| by plenty OF wholesome food, abundant
exercise and strict Observance of the
laws OF cleanliness, and ii not const-
tutlonally lazy, our fund OF energy
will not diminish. A word now as to
the kind OF energy. 1t must not be
demonstrative. The planets move in
their course without noise; still waters
run deep, and when an engine is most
effective it makes the least noise; and
we may conclude that when the
teacher goes quietly about his work,
| without noise or confusion, he ac-
compllshes the most. The whole
energy is, then, concentrated upon
one object-tho doing oi work. 1t is
Il well known fact that the fussy
teacher succeeds in little except in
making confusion The kind OF ener-
~ wanted is that which mauiiests
itself in the flash OF the eye or the
CULVER OF the nostril rather than in
any movement; latent energy rs well
as active, that can wait and reserve
| force.
ENTHUSIAsM.
The difficulties OF the work are so
great thut the child-llke mind is slow
to imJibe new truths, the daily routine
50 mpnrtonous and the isolation Of
the teacher from sympathy so COM
plete that unless he is fired with zeal
he will sink under the load and disap-
pear. 1t is then all important to
come TO the work inspired with a love
of it; even then so great are the dis
couragemenrs that unless his fund OF
enthusiasm is, constantly renewed it
will become exhausted. He must ac-
cordingly obtain a new supply at every
opportunity from: every source possible;
he must study methods and devise
| new nnes constantly and nrennrn nverv