The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-02-08

IE1ANAALn suouIu nave TIE aDuALV 10 PICK III
and DISREGARD the other things. That is the only
solution of the problem of the o called overcrowded
-. courses of study. THE FAULT LIES ONLY WITH
THE TEACHERS. Those in authority should discover
a persons qualifications before they give permission to teach. Ap-
pGcants for a teachers license should be persons who intend TO
DEVOTE THEIR LIFE TO TEACHING. 1t is all too fire.
quent that young men take up teaching simply as a makeshift until
something can be found that will bring in more money. And it is
not unusual to find young women who think that they will teach a
year o two until the right young men come along to take them
from the burden and care of the schoolroom. Teaching is a high
and holy calling, and no one should enter it unless willing to devote
all Of his o her energy, soul and time to it.
No work, l presume, is more nerve racking than teaching, and it
needs good health as we'll a strong will and strong mental powers.
A person afflicted with serious physical or nervous trouble is by just
sc much incapachated to do good work as a teacher. A TEACHER
SHOULD BE THE MODEL OF HIS CLASS. If lie is irritable
he is not the proper person to teach children; if he is a cripple he
cannot lead in the exercises, and by just so much he fails in his ability
as a teacher.
Sound, extensive, accurate scholarship is the second quality that
a man or woman should have who intends to teach. The public
schools arc established for the purpose not merely Of giving the ee-
ments of a literary education, But TO DEVELOP THE FULL
EST EFFICIENCY, individual and social, of every citizen. This
is realized by bringing each child into harmony with his environment.
His mind must be brought into contact with the great possessions of
the race-our intellectual inheritances. However, it is not enough
that a teacher knows something Of these inheritances. He must
possess industry, courage and, above all, SIMPLE MINDED DE
NOTION to duty.
Professional training should also be acquired before the active
work of teaching begins. The applicant should be an expert phys
ical trainer, that he or she may lead the exercises with which the in
tellectual tasks of the children must be relieved. A teacher should
understand chhdren's games-not only theoretically, BUT PRAC-
TlCALLY. There is no surer way to get in close touch with your
pupils than by engaging in their games.
The time has passed when all education was considered to come
from the printed page. Now it is the theory that the hand and eye,
as well as the mind, must also be trained. Therefore the teacher of
today should be an EXPERT in manual training. 1t is essential
for a man teacher especially to be at once a N athlete and a mechanic.
The best use to which a teachers study of psychology can be put
is to a keen, accurate observation Of children. He should know how
to test a pupils sight and hearing. He should be able to tell if any
special physical exercises arc harmful or beneficial. He should have
the capacity to gauge a pupils power of perception, rctcntiveness,
judgment and reasoning. He should possess the insight to discover
SPECIAL. ATTITUDES in children that he may advise them as
to their future life work. 1t is my favorne theory that schools would
be of more economic worth if TEACHERS could advise the pur-
suits for scholars to follow.
THERE is NO ECONOMIC WASTE COMPARED WITH THE WASTE
occAs,oNEo eY SETTING PEOPLE At WORK THEY ARE NOT FIT.