Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-09-28

TH f PERSONA A Il ELEM EN1s
No matter how we'll informed you
nav be. or how rich 10 experience, or
how efficient in the disciplining of
Young minds. do not forget that it is
the personal element that counts. and
hat you cannot afford to lose sight of
your manner of intercourse with your
pupil, the interest that he feels you
take in him, the sympathy you express,
all these are factors of prime import
auce. Win the friendship of the boy
you are trying to teach, and you win
him into touch with the subject you
are teaching. He sees through your
eyes, be hears through your ears, be :
cause of his sympathy with you; and
there is none of that antagonistic ele
ment which so often forms the barrier
in the way of progress.
1t was my fortune, at one time, to
live close to public school in one of
our cities, and to become only too
familiar with the various noises that
proceeded from the windows. My at
tentiOn was especially attracted to one
window from whence came the sound
of wOman's voice, loud. shrill, and
disagreeable. A voice seeming to in
dcate that its possessor was dealing
with hostile Influences, and was deter.
mined to batter down such hostility.
Questions were asked in the tone of
G ,mmand. Mistakes were corrected
with harshness that would prevent
timid oues from daring to express them.
selves.
This woman was instructing a large
class of little boys Doubtless they
were of the ordinary type of city boy.
more or less troublesome and restless,
and demanding considerable expendl-
ture of vitality and nervous force on
the part of the tercher. But how would
they be affected by this continual
sharpness and "nagging," and lack OF
self-control Would their characters
be growing in all that makes for true
culture? Would the subject matter
presented, however, excellent in itself i,
f I'D joyful acceptance in young minds,
when coming in this channel? Would
love for the good. the true, and the
beautiful be likely to flourish in such
an atmosphere
In contrast to this, remember an
other school-room in another part OF
the same city. where it was my privl'
lege to listen to a young lady, as she
taught large class of boys and girls
There was no scolding. no harshnesf
here. The teachers voice was soft
and low, SO low, In fact, that the chill
dren were obliged to keep themselves
quiet in order to hear her. and they
did so, because they we're thoroughly
| interested in what she said. Her face
was radiant with sympathy, and bel
manner in dealing with the childrel
was as gentle as any mothers nigh
have been. The whole atmosphere o1
the place was that of refinement an(
true culture. We felt that souls cOul(
lgrow heaIthfully here, as plants grow
in the sunlight.
And 1t should ever be thus. We our
tselves must be the embodiment of th'
virtues we are trying to inculcate.-
UNLESS we are continually exemplify
ing in our daily work true refinement
courtesy. self control, We may not hop
to see developing under my trainin
true gentlemen and gentlewomen. A
repelling force is worse than wastee
!, All mere mechanical teaching, witt
out the spirit of genuine sympathy,
> a mistake. Let us remember that "
must attract if we would truly guld
q and there is no magnetism like the pOV
er of love.