The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-04-11
PRIZE AWARDED PROF. ]. C. BeAHM
Committee Decides In His Favor in
Contest Conducted by Teachers
Association.

/ County Teachers Association to pass
upon the merits of the many excellent
papers written upon educational sub
! jects by the teachers of the county and
! published in these columns during the
past winter, completed its labors on
last Saturday and awarded the prize Of
ferred by the Association to Prof. j. C.
Beahm, principal of the Accident School,
who contributed article number eight
of the series, the author subject being
The Function Of Books"
Miss Mattaae Riley teacher at
FrienGsyille school, who resides at Sell
bysport, received second honors for her
contribution it being number six of the
series, entitled "A Field of Conquest"
The committee making the award was
composed of Revs. George c. Shaw,
rector of St. Matthew's Parish of Oak
land, and j. B. Workman, pastor of
St Paul's NJ. E. church, and Hon. u.
G. Palmer, eX-County School Superin-
tendent The labors of the committee
were of nature as to require thought
full and painstaking discrimination as
in nearly every paper submitted there
were many thoughts advanced by the
respective writers and new ideas brought
to the surface not heretofore advanced
by educators.
Prof. Beahm's paper, by request of
! praciInp+ Dn+bI,,r e ba Ta,nla,.-'
Association, is reproduced herewith it
being deemed well worthy second
reading by the puplic generally:
School text books should be servants;
to the teachers of Garrett county they
are too often masters. 1t is lamenta-
bic fact that pupils, and sometimes
teachers, are so tied to books during
recitations that only very low degree
| of success is attained in many schools.
We teachers must realize we are trav-
cling beaten road; then we should face
about to direct the propelling powers of
the vehicle and thus lift the wheels
from the ruts which have so long re-
tarded. our progress. Though the path
be old it may become one of great de-
light. if we pull out of the beaten track,
for then we snail find new flowers, and
even the old ones will present new beau
ties and bring US joys.
May briefly present two pictures?
The one shall be of a school in a-rut,
the other of a school which has pulled
out of the beaten tracks.
eff the teacher spends her evenings
reading poor, though fascinating litera-
ture, or entertain some friend, or at
tend a neighborhood party, then retires
at late hour, she will get up late, get
to school late, call up her classes late,
then follows a pathetic scene-a dull
teacher, with dull look, before dull
class, all of which conspires to make a
dull recitation. Should she fall upon a
proper question to some pupil, who is
servant to the text book, he will turn
to the book, and answer satisfactorily,
of course, though only to be forgotten
the next minute. If less tactful stu
dent lis called upon, he will likely be
prompted by his kind neighbor. Such
conditions are lamentable indeed, and
mark the point at which school life is a
positive evil.
I'm the second picture we see a
teacher who loves her work and is not
satisfied until she has the consciousness
that the pupils are making hearty, solid
progress in the formation of habit and
character. She rapidly, though intelli-
emily, reviews her next days lessons
each evening The next morning she
has great physical strength and mental
are at once, though in an unconscious
way transmitted to the school, The
classes are called promptly, and the
scene is at once joyous! The teacher
has nothing in her hand expect perhaps,
a pencil, surely not book. The pupils
just as free handed, each telling what
he can in his own way, showing that he
has used the book at the proper time
for using books-before recitation.
Thus the teacher guides the pupil in
developing mental strength and skill
rather than looking specifically for
facts. Such conditions are scenes over
which angels might rejoice!
"Now fellow teachers, the first pic
ture presents teacher who does not
care for her school; the second one, a
teacher who loves her work. The first
is drifting down stream; the second is
propelling the boat against the tide
1T will require some effort to break
away from using books during recita-
tons, lbut you try it. Of course there
are exceptions, but your rule should by
to stand before your class without a
book. Look at your pupils and have
them look at you; soon there will be a
system Of wireless telegraphy an ex-
change of thought and spirit and the
busy life becomes the panacea of many
schoolroom ills"