New-York tribune., 1902-10-30
A TRIBUTE TO TEACHERS.
NOBLE HEARTED. sKILFUL CORPS IN PUB.
Lie SCHOOL sYsTEMS-PRACTICAL
VALUE THE ONLY TEST OF
THEORY

The common school systems in our large cities
continually subject attack. from the
jealous fear that things have been going wrong,
are COINS wrong. will wrong. said teach
yesterday 1T is gratifying. therefore. 70 hear
the tribute the teachers IN our city schools which
comes from ar educator who has travelled broadly
10 investigate methods and theories OF teaching.
q" our teachers to-day. he says. must needs com
prehend the child and the youth with his environ
ment This latter is not ours OF yesterday We
must adapt teaching 20 II. our proteges will
leave behind and be liable 70 follow false teach
their own idle fancies Education has passed
the stage OF being a thing apart The educated
men and the educated women must take their
places in the ranks. and from them must rise the
leaders in the times that are come The teaching
that is demanded to-day is vastly more difficult
than what Professor Mdnsterberg mourned In
his recent work not 10 md in this country. The
demand is being met by the noblest hearted and
skilful corps OF individual teachers that the
world has ever seen, and the dignity OF the work
Is rapidly pushing il 10 the front as an honored
profession. II is no temporary occupation OF the
mercenary TO learn 10 command the respect OF the
American child. Our all around teachers must
possess an alertness a cleverness Of tact. and
above ALL personality. that unique in the his
tory Of teaching. Men who are true gentlemen and
women who are in the best OF the WORD ladies
are to-day as school teachers appreciated and de-
manded never before.
In the face OF adverse criticism IT may be as
serted that very great efforts being made, at
least IN this part or the country 10 Improve lne
quality OF our teaching But IL is along broader
lines and not lines. that the special edu-
cation of teachers should be encouraged We DO
not so much need better teachers IN the sense OF
their learning. teach boys and girls fewer sub
jects and more matter concentrated along special
lines. but in their being better informed and
trained so that they may be better able to meet
adequately the many sidedness Of our American
youth.
' Educators stumbling around on all sides TO
discover methods 70 t all these vaguely felt changes
in the functions OF education Ia America 1he
methods will II the aims are clear. II is i'm
possible force their growth. The teacher VINO
fully realizes the present American conditions VINO
Is the furthest possible from pedant, who lives IN
the world as n Is who comprehends those practical
needs OF the child OF the future generation, VINO has
the same good qualities which she viii impart TO
the chld-such teacher will do more TO advance
the methods Of education than all the theorists.
Psychology and child study and pedagogy are use
full very useful: but when they run mao tney
have outlived their usefulness Theories VIII stilI
be read and promulgated by clustered brethren,
who will deplore the age and scorn the degeneracy
OF the American race and the American SCHOOLS.
But that degenerate faction will have the ~
way will take from the theorists in passing What IS
Of practical value and VIII oufgroW thoSe Bood
people who not in the line of successive de-
veloDment