The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1907-01-05

what the primrose was to Peter Bella
yellow primrose and nothing more. But
what wealth of great thoughts there for
the teacher trained to see them, in what
the brook is and does, in its erosive ac-
ton, in its transportation of pebbles and
silt, in its deeps and shadows, in its sinu-
Gus pathway and spacious Aoodplains, in
its tributaries and springs, in its bars OF
shifting sands and what not. The St.
Lawrence. the Mississippi, the. Amazon.
the Ganges,- the rivers of the world and
the wonderful things they do, they are
all there. Thoughts of a country brook
they are germs of great river thoughts,
of mighty world thoughts, each thought
star TO which child's wagon may be
hitched. One aim in all great teaching
is connecting the child's mind with great
thoughts. And just here is the impera-
tive reason for scholarly attainments in
the teacher. If he lacks them he sees no
great thoughts in nature, only patches
and threads Of thought. There is no
star in his view to which he can hitch
his own poor little cart, to say nothing OF
the wagons of the children.
A teacher should grow continually. A
growing teacher of moderate attainments
is better than one of finished growth with
large attainments. Decay usually sets in
ksoon after growth ceases. The stimula-
ton of contact with mind that has
ceased to grow is very small. The waters
of running brook are purer and sweeter
than those of stagnant pool. He must
add fuel who would keep the bright fires
burning. Only learner can teach. 1t
is one of the blessed compensations of a
teachers calling that the incentives to
self-culture are great and constant. So
many new methods are being advocated,
our system of education is constantly be-
ing enriched by the ideas of men and
women Of thought. our literature is grow.
ing, discoveries and inventions of scien.
tific nature are of daily note, that one
cannot sit down, fold his hands, and say
II have finished my education, have re-
ceived the appointment as teacher
henceforth there is nothing for me to dc
but to hear recitationsi keep order, make
out the report, and draw my salary
The teacher must be abreast with the
times and the most advanced thought:
and methods. A spring cannot rise high
er than its fountain, so the child needs Z
greater than himself to teach him-any
thing short of this is not teaching,
i Many teachers are satisfied with sec
ond and third grade. certificates and come
up every year Or two and manage tt
squeeze through the examination mill or
low per cent although the mill has beer
set to allow large mistakes to pas!
through without being crushed by the
cogwheels of the examiners conscience
Underline present system of supplying
our schools we must have beginners, bu
l am one who believes that after teach
ing year or two, second trial for ;
teachers certificate ought to show marked
mental growth. And after few years
teaching l believe in setting the exami
nation mill to such fneness that the pro
fessional life will be ground out of thos,
who make no advancement. No teacher
can afford to neglect being a student
Shame and confusion to that class o
teachers who, once having passed tn
examiners ordeal, settle down to tn
weary round of lesson grinding, with nj
ambition or desire for further improve
ment. When teacher ceases to grow
he should cease to teach.
But not every good scholar with disci
plined powers can teach well. There
need of skill in the direct work of in
struction. Teaching is high art. Tn
teacher must be an adept in the art o
putting things, and yet more he mus
haye skill in waking up mind. Virtu
must go out of him to energize an,
quicken the minds of his pupils. To at
tain professional scholarship and train
ing should be the ambition of ever
. teacher. It is one thing to know arith
metic, it is altogether different thing t
know how to teach arithmetic; to kno,
. how the child mind thinks numbe
and number relations. Academic scho
z arship will not suffice. The teache
must also be thoroughly familia
. with the processes Of mental, ethical, an
J physical growth, with the fundaments
J principles underlying the teachers ar
! in fact, the teacher must be profession
ally educated and trained.
81 The schools should send out into tn
! world boys and girls who shall becom
: men and women, honest, trustful,. trutl
! full and virtuous. Parents expect thi
RI society expects it, the state expects