The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-27
Its Effect on the Pupil is
Discussed.
III Is A VITAL MATTER
The Stamp Of The Teacher Needed far
More Now Than Formerly and TO
a Much Greater Degree in City
Than in Country
Schools.
BY ANDREW JOINER.


Having in mind the trite, yet useful
phrase, Fools rush in where angels
fear to tread" the explanation should
be made at the outset of this paper,
that the writer would never have pre-
sumed to discuss a question generally
now claimed or conceded to belong to
the domain of specialists in the teach
ing profession, without having been
first invited, and later commanded by
the persistent and infectious editor of
The News and Observer, whose untir-
ing and admirable devotion to the
cause of popular education, when t
was unpopular to advocate it, gives
him the right to expect obedience or
support in such matters.
Sometimes, even crude handler of
tools can give a suggestion to an ex-
pert, which superior skill or alert tai
ent may turn to lncalculabie advantage
in some one particular, as TO the future
handling of them or making them, or
dispensing with them all together for
something better
1t is hoped that in what may be
said, following those most accustomed
to public discussion of educational
matters, writing or legiSlating about
them, will bear in mind that this
crude presentation is made with sim
cere desire that others better qualified
to treat the subject, may discover
something which can be turned to
good account for the benefit of al
honest. conscientious seekers for that
which is best for the greatest number
/ am asked to present my views )n
the subject of "The Effect of the
Personal Touch of the Teacher, and
it's Relation to the Public School Sys-
tenn of the Present Day. | firmly be-
lieYe it has all to do with it. with
males at and after the period of
adolescence, the most critical period
for such impression being between the
ages of Ia and Is. the high school
period | also believe that the stamp
of the teacher is needed far more now
than formerly; that it is needed to
a much greater degree in the city ~>yan
in the country schools; that it is more
essential in city than in town schools;
that is much more essential to those
city or town schools having great in
dustrial, manufacturing or develop
ment enterprises and businesses, than
in those cities more staid and strict
ly mercantile.
Half of the value of private high
school, subsequent college or final
university graduation is derived from
the impress made on the mind or the
character or both by the long continu-
ed personal influence of the necesSari-
ly strong head and will that governs
the whole, and the close contact at
an impreSSionable age with the pro-
fessor, reigning with absolute auto
cracy over particular department for
at least ten months of any one course
of study. | have never noticed any
stress on this point made by advocates
of "higher education but to me, pre-
cocious in letters and desire for liter
ary training, who had to fOrego collie
giate or even high school advantages
because the times and my finances
were out of joint when / grew up,
the terrible and unsuccessful struggle
of twenty-five years, egad more years
than that, to equal or excel lesser men,
college trained and past or present
Collussus in POLITICAL judicial, edi-
torial ecclesiastical medical or legal
realms, there is more than suggest 0n
of appeaSed Self-abSOlution from
blame, in the conclusion from expert
ence and much anxious, anguished it,
trospection, it is a vital one. Granted
that half the advantage of the higher
education comes from the privilege Of
the boy youth or man being brought
in close and generally enforced con-
tact at a plastic period of life with II
stronger because in any case, more
experienced and trained intellect and
character, and that this article has
only to do with the personal influence
of the teacher in the public school,
which cannot under the most fortui-
touS circumstances extend beyond -he
city high school, the Importance or
the personal impress of teachers IF
all public school needs but to be men
toned. 1t should not be forgotten by
teachers, professional, educational Of
ficials, politicians, and all non-prefeS-
sional well-wishers for public school
efficiency and progress, that in the old
and less strenuous days when the
school was not crowded as now, not
only the teacher had chance to i'm
press the pupil personally, but a ply
ical imprint was periodically admins
tered at any age under 81; that in adj
dition to this, parents were often rude
and unlettered but strong enough to
make of virgin America without books
the freest and proudest nation of
earth's record: that these parents in
the period of the log house school and
the hoosier school-master, had more
TO do with theiC< children than now
because their occupations and the
state of the country perforce made
companionship of the whole family the
first law of nature, and the child 70
ing to school to such a teacher with
the advantage of such parents i'm
press had a vast privilege and opportu-
nifty for "sold larnin' in the mud
daubed log school house over the city
youth of today who attends a NUM-
cipal crowded, luxuriously fitted up,
bath equipped. steam heated automa-
tic water furnished. oil-poliShed floor
ed, scientifically educated and society
leading teachered grade school. And
the modern youth has not the adj
vantage of the old of close and con-
tinued acquaintance with his parents
the mother being 80 harrassed with
social or domestic grind, she welcomes
the Youngsters habit of rowing from
home until it becomes so fixed she
can't correct it. the fathers occupa-
tion necesSitating his absence from
home when the children are in, until
he doesn't know whether they are
there when they should be or not
and at best he eases himself by pay
ing his taxes. amending to the profess
sional adulation of the great benefits
of public education free of tuition,
and often as he thinks at somebody