The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1905-08-31
EDUCATIONAL.
nv w H. I.ApGnN
MORE THOROUGH Scholarship.

| No one can teach what he does not
know. No one can teach successfully
what he does not know we'll What we
teach must be part of us; it must have
been worked into our very nature. We
must know not only Il few superficial
facts, but we must see the relation Of
these facts TO other knowledge All
other things being equal, the better the
scholar the better the teacher, provided
the teacher has a working knowledge of
mental development and educational
principles.
The first factor we should recognize in
our elementary education is that II
thorough and scientific mastery of the
coH,HtoH branches is absolute essential
Higher (0 education cannot compensate
for IL lack ot knowledge of the funda
mentals. True, teacher is better able
mastery of the secondary branches
but without u thorough and fresh knowl-
edge of the material to be taught he will
not produce results
The common branches are regarded
by too many rs supertluous Even IN our
rural schools we sometimes find pupils
who want to study some of the higher
branches before they are mentally
equipped for it. There is no reason why
our country school pupils should not
have this privilege if the foundation is
well laid, but very often this is not the
case and the result is n smattering of n
few things learned here and there but
no systematic development Further
more it stands to reason that unless
the elementary education is thorough,
the secondary must be weak 1t will be
like IA nouse built on sand. When il is
to be tested by the storms of the practic-
al world, it falls, and great is the fall
thereof for we expect so much from the
one who il educated f0.
We teachers need to strengthen our
scholarship from day to day. much
fear that our threeyea certificates are
in many cases detrimental to our in.
tellectual progress The ambitious
teacher will progress, examination or no
examination, and Is soon found working
himself upward eager to reach the
more complete life. He studies daily,
overcomes mental difficulties, and adds
TO his power. While others are playing,
he il working fitting himself for greater
opportunities of service. Bat not all
are of that inclination Too many are
content to rest on the oars and when
three years are gone are mentally
weaker than at the start. This is retro
gressiOn. There is no excuse Cor IA
teacher who has taught the common
branches to pupils of the Upper Form
for three years TO pass .. third grade eX-
animation with small standing A
year preparation in school should pre-
pare the student for continued study
so that each succeeding year find him
farther than the last Both in pro
fessional and in scholastic training he
should then b %t,oHg
May not the same be applied to gradu-
ates of higher institutionsY DO the High
School graduates continue to broaden
their scholarships | do not mean simply
those who take more extended work at
the college or university, but also those
who go directly into breadwinning oc.
cupations. Education should prepare ur
for higher living therefore the mental
growth which we observed in the class
room should not cease on commence
ment day but continue through life.
Nor is it to be supposed that the Normal
school student has reached the highest
pedagogical possibility on the day Of
graduation. Some seem To think 80 and
make the last day of their normal school
life the climax and live the years follow
ing it in an anti-climaN fashion 1t il
possible even for eX students Of high in
stitutions to be behind the time and
"out of date.
We must drink d lily from the fount
of knowledge and not from the stagnant
pool Of egoti7m Each truth added to
our mental possession strengthens and
supports our whole being The unused
arm becomes feeble and useless So does
the unused mind. Teachers. if we are t.
advance ourselves and our county il
must be done by work We are too old
to spend very much of our time in play
Art il long and time is tleeting. If
we want our profession to be honored
and paid we must be worthy of It
Think and read Converse with others
Let u+ use our preseht know ledge ~ Il
stepping stone to higher things.
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