The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-04-16
EDUCATIONAL BUREAU
Under Direction OF Kate MARKHAM POWER

NA+NAhA 49, ~F .
fountain source of the weakness ut 4
great many teachers is the fact that
they do not accurately comprehend
the common school branches. knowl-
edge of the subjects YOU teach Is the
necessary basis for professional study
and professional spirit.
The common school curriculum in
Mississippi is one of the lowest II not
the lowest In the United States, II
there is no excuse for a teachers tAiI-
ure to thoroughly master 1t, A teacher
that continues to teach without mas
tering the subjects taught Is unworthy
of the name OF teacher. YOU should
not merely study The text used, but
should study the subject, Nothing
will SO contribute TO the pleasure ot
your own work and SO improve the
spirit of your school as for you to feel
conscious OF the fact that you under
stand well the implements with which
you work,
You should also read school maya
zines and professional works, every
teacher in the State should take the
course of study outlined by the de-
partment of education Of the Uniyer'
, sity for institute conductors. Every
teacher should also keep Informed on
current events; advantage should he
saken of the interest of the children
when aroused in these subjects.
2. Join with your fellow teachers
in doing organized work. There should
be an active teachers association IN
each county. These associations
should take up a systematic course OF
study and not give up the entire ume
to reading essays and making
speeches by its members, based on
their own experiences. The eNpe'
~riences of rural teachers In Mlssis-
sippi are not to any great extent dlt'
ferent, a teacher sho.ld not only avail
himself Of the experiences OF his lei
low teachers, reared and working
pretty much under the same ohdl'
tions as himself, but he should make
the experiences of all the great teach
ers of the world and Of all time his.
Courses of study should be adopted
and the teachers should prepare them.
selves on the text before the time OF
discussion at the meeting,
The teachers at their county meet
ings should discuss questions apper-
tainIng to the profession. Every effort
should he made to develop a true pro
feesional spirit, 1t Is our fault h a
the teacher is the butt Of every joke.
True teachers should be considered
as entirely distinct from fake leach
ers. a true teacher should have no pro-
ressionaI dealings with a dishonest
teacher. A teacher who would cheat
on an examination should have only
the contempt Of every honest teacher,
Remember that the benefit you re
ceiye from a teachers organization
will depend upon what you put into 1t
A teachers meeting is always q
bore to the teacher who contributes
nothing to it.
3. During vacation every teacher IN
the State should attend a normal OF
institute. The sentiment in some couh
ties against county institutes Ia a re
Election on the teachers OF that
county. 1t is u~nthinkable that the
, teachers of a county can meet to
, gether for a week or more II receive
no benefits from such intercourse
Such people are not teachers, though
they draw money from the schoo
treasury that should be paid foI
teaching. 1t is with an institute Al
with a county association; a teachej
, gets out of 1t in proportion to VIVA
> he puts in.
. 4. Teachers should do what the!
, can in educating public sentiment cor
= rectly on school questions. An In
!, formed teacher will leave a commun
: ity with a higher conception Of wha
=. It means to educate and with a create
: willingness to do its part in makinI
5 its school a success. The educating
. properly of their children is a parent
! greatest earthly duty, yet how man.
;, subordinate this duty to almost a.
) other considerations.
a One of the very best ways to edit
), cate the people on this question Is t
y make your school house q center o
q culture and refinement. A desolat
u room and barren grounds, without ei
= pense, can be transformed into mos
. refining influences by a teacher OF III
- proper spirit.
d 5. want to appeal to every teache
to think Of the great responsibility
1t that he has assumed in becoming
3 teacher: you can not help being a moi
u potent influence in determining IN
|, character of the children under yo'
q Can you afford to be careless in tn
o great work? You are not only WnTl
y ing for time. but for eternity. Yo
are also determining your own cha
e acter by the manne In which 20
work. IT Is a law Of our being thu
u we become as we do. 1t matters NJ
n how unpleasant your surrounding
ID are. or how meagre your salary ma
et be, It is possible for you to do a grei
work and to get the satisfaction Thu
u. always comes as a result Of havif
TX performed duty well.
e You are in the greatest work
ie which humanity a engage, and W
81 should not be ashamed of it. The w0l
ID of a true teacher tends to the deVelo
ment Of a noble life. Let US not I
about this work as though we we
scourged to 1t, but let uB feel tn
ct ours is a high mission, on the snccc
a Of which will depend the future pro
or perity and happiness Of our below
State. Respectfully,
'e H. L. WHITFIELD,
~ State Superintendent Education.
d. "
~-x.u st. NnNyon