Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-08-13
A School Teacher.

Ed. Register:-I was very much
pleased with the article written by
a school teacher, and signed "One
of Them" He gives us some very
truthful statements. We only wish
to add a little this week along the
same line.
We believe the teacher should
be well trained and not seriously
deficient. He should be prepared
both in the principles and methods
of imparting knowledge, and in
the principles and methods of
governing and managing children.
The last named has been ignored
to a great extent. Some seem to
think if the teacher is graded high
the result must be satisfactory, let
the teacher be what he may. A
moments reflection ought to show
the unwisdom of any such eXpec-
tations.
The old proverb, "As is the
teacher, SC is the school," is gen.
orally true. Another has said,
''The poet is born, not made" To
a certain extent the same is true of
teachers. 1t is possible for any
one Of ordinary capacity to be able
to teach respectfully by some
preparation and diligence; but nc
one will be likely to reach a high
place, OF rank high as a successful
teacher, if they have not some
special gifts for teaching.
Some persons most highly en-
dowed with ability for scholarship
succeed very poorly as teachers.
On the other hand, some make ex-
cellent teachers whose general
ability in text books are not
marked. One Of the highest aims
of a teacher should be to do good.
One who has no desire along this
line, who cares not whether he does
anything to benefit the world, is
not likely to be worth muchin any
calling; certainly he is not fit to
teach the young. We certainly
admit the compensation of the
teacher is not what it should be;
but for the past five years has been
gradually increasing in our best
districts. If there is a district
needing the services of a teacher,
that is too poor to pay enough for
him, and the teacher feels able to
teach without fair compensation,
he may be justified in working for
nearly nothing, but not otherwise.
However, if a teacher agrees to
work for small pay he ought to do
his best. The small salary is no
excuse for poor work. Money can
hardly measure the worth of a good
teacher. A teacher should have
such a genuine love for his work
as a whole that it will enable him
to bear the drudgery, and to do il
faithfully, without being enslaved
by it. One will do any work bet
ter if he loves to do it.
Teaching can never become a
profession in the same strict sense
as law or medicine so long as a
majority of our schools are in ses-
sion but a few months in the year,
and pay such small wages to the
teacher; nor so long as the ma
jority of the teachers follow the
employment for a few years only.
But the time may come when the
person who makes teaching a life
work, and who brings to it energy,
will receive all the respect and
Difference that are considered due
to members of other professions.
How soon this time shall arrive
depends chiefly on teachers them
selves. And it is the solemn duty
of every teacher to make his full
contribution to the sum of influen-
ces hat shall raise teaching to the
height it ought to occupy by virtue
of it's transcendent importance.
The moral habits should be the
very best, especially in the follow
ing: Kindness, truthfulness, cheer
fulness and justice. A careful
habit of the latter is essential to
the teachers success. 1t is of the
greatestimportance that the teacher
should be worthy elimination in all
respects. In conclusion we say,
with the writer of last week, raise
the salary, then the standard of the
teacher can be easily raised. Give
the teacher some inducements,
then the teacher will respond with
double activity.
AN OLD TEACHER.
Remember we are still closing