The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-23
VIRGINIA TEACHES.


VIRGINIA TEACHES.
We print in our Educational Depart
ment to-day tie second section of DR..
K!iie's article on the Educational
Needs of Virginia" He starts out by
saying that our educational machinery
is impaired by the lack of at least three
fundamental things-an aggressive, intel
!igcnt, high-idealed public sentiment;
larger percentage of efficient teachers
and a department of education IN at least
two of our State schools.
When a merchant decides to go into
business the first thing that he does is
10 seek the most desirable location; then
he makes his storchouso as attractive
as possible; and, finally, he employs
trained men and women to sell his
goods These rules apply equally to
our public-school system First of all,
the school-housc should be eligibly To-
Gated; the school-house should be made
as attractive as possible with the means
at hand: and, most Important Of all,
there should he thoroughly trained teach
ers. 1t is not every educated person,
by any manner of means, who is quail
flied to teach school. Some people have
the natural talent of imparting knowl-
edge, of controlling children, Of gaining
the respect and affection of children and
so of influencing them for good.
We have never seen this proposition in
print, but we know it to be true: The
best way for any teacher to interest chill
dren in their studies is to interest them
in the personality of the teacher. The
first thing for the teacher to do is to
gain the respect and confidence and good
will of the pupils. That done teaching
and learning become a labor of love. and
all the rest is easy.
1t is natural for children to complain
Of the teacher, and, no matter how good
the teacher may be, some children will
complain. But when all the children
in a school dislike tho teacher, there is
no better proof, to our mind, that such
teacher has chosen the wrong vocation
in life and should be removed.
But, even with these natural endow-
ments, the successful teacher must be a
trained teacher; not merely an educated
person, but a person who has been trained
at some good trainiltg-schcol in the art
of teaching. Teaching is a profession,
as truly so as law or medicine or jour
nalisin or what not. Teaching is pro-
fession, as truly SO as preaching. When
a young man starts out to study for the
ministry he takes a literary course. Tut
he does not stop with that. After his
literary course is competed :he then
takes a course in theological school,
where he is taught the profession OF
preaching. And so we say that per-
soy who starts out to be a teacher should
rot stop with Il literary course at college.
There should be added to this regular
course in a normal school, where the art
OF teaching is taught
I'VE believe that the greatest defect in
our system in Virginia :.dav lies just
here. Far te it FROM US to say, or in
mate. an M q; nSt these noble men
and women. especially those noble y
men who are giving their life TO this
cause and who are receiving a small pit
,ance for 1heic work. They are doing
The State a great service and they are
entitled to the gratitude of The people.
But we say that the schools of Virginia
would prosper ana flourish far more if
every teacher in the public schools had
had thorough training in this noble pro-
fession.
IL any of our readers have received the
impression from these articles which The
Times has been publishing that we have
addressed ourselves to this subject il any
spirit of carping criticism, they are
greatly in error and are doing The Times
an Injustice Our aim is to arouse the
people of the State to the Importance of
the putaic-school system, to the impor-
lance OF improving that system and max
ing it as good as their means will JUS
tify. We have not set out to scold any
body. Our purpose rather is to uplift
and encourage. But in dealing with u
condition We must speak OF the condition
as it is. We may mako all the excuses
imaginable. but we must point out the
defects if we would correct them.
a part of our object has already been
accomplished. 1t is apparent to all who
read the Virginia newspapers that there
has been more discussion on this topic
within the past several weeks than for
wears. Communications have been pour-