Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-19
washington Times.

financially in the swift movement along
educational lines, 1t is evident that the
present prospect for the japanese woman
is one of great opportunity and increas-
ing power. says the New York Tribune"
A japanese student newly arrived In this
country writes a charming. comprehen-
sive description of "a teacher" from her
own standpoint of experience in the far
east. The English at her command is
the result, of two years study In her
native land. She says:
Is a teachers work simply to trans
NIT knowledge to the pupils? No, it means
more than that. A teacher must be a
builder of good character Of the pupils,
developing their good traits and checking
their bad.
Such being the function of a teacher,
there are many requirements for being
a good teacher. First, of course, she must
have a full knowledge of what she teaches
and how to teach. The latter is very
important thing, because, however deep
a scholar she may be, IL she does not
know the proper way to impart her
knowledge to the pupils 1t is not of much
worth 1t is necessary to have the pupils
understand and digest what they are
taught and make IL their own.
What is the next requirement? 1t is her
own good QeDOTLIuGnl. IL any OlO CNCA
realizes how much influence she has over
the pupils. especially over the little chill
dren, she will be very careful Of every
thing she does. To the pupils teacher
is something superior, a higher being TO
themselves They look up to her and be-
lieve her. Every look and every move
ment of their teacher unconsciously al
fects them II she is sober, they are too;
If she is careless, they arc TO. And 1t Is
e. that q fQQrhnr'Q be-
havior has more power over them than
her words.
Now what are the important charac-
teristics as a teacher7 They are patience.
sympathy, and love more than anything
else The pupils are all young, and can
not see and feel things as the teacher
does. They think, they act, proper TO their
age. So If a teacher who already has
passed that period Of life only recollects
her own past and tries to feel like them,
that will be the secret fountain of sym
pathy and patience for them. The last
and greatest thing is her love for the
pupils She ought to teach, not because
II is her profession, but because she loves
the work and loves the pupils. If teach
er only has a true love for the pupils
little defect in her character, little lack
of knowledge, will not concern much, for
love conquers all things.
These are the requirements OF good
teacher. But to get such teacher is very
hard. She has her own defects and &c
centricities, as others. She cannot be al
ways cheerful and sympathetic. The pu-
pills are not angels. Some Of them are very
trying. II she shows her sympathy, they
get willful and If she be severe, they
don't like her. They do not study as much
as she wants, and the work does not go
smoothly. Then disappointment comes.
But all life Is full Of ups and DOWNS
so If she thinks how much teacher can
do for the world she must be satisfied In
spite of many difficulties.
A teachers work is to educate the next
generation. However little her work may
he n NAV become the means Of bringing
up some inventors, reformers and great
men, who in their turn will do great