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

In casting about for theme have
kept in mind every teacher in the state,
and therefore have chosen for subject
one the discussion of which may be OF
value to the teachers engaged in all
kinds of school work from the first pri-
mary teachers to the college and univer-
sity presidents.
The chief factor in public education is
the teacher. As the teacher, so the
school: No matter how costly the build
ings, the furniture and the apparatus,
and little matter how excellent the text
books, and how wisely arranged the
courses of study the schools will be just
what the teachers make them. Good
teachers make good schools and poor
teachers make poor schools, under almost
any circumstances. Some one has we'll
said that the Socratic method is worth
very little without Socrates in the chair.
Mr.. Emerson replying to his daughters
inquiries as to what studies she should
take, said: II care little what studies
you pursue; am far more concerned to
know with whom you study" These ut
terances point in the same direction.
Among all the agencies for promoting
popular education, the teacher stands
pre-eminent. The most direct and effec-
tive way to improve public education is
to secure higher order Of teaching tai
ent. The want of we'll qualified teachers
is the weak place in our system of educa-
tion. Too many teachers are doing busi-
ness with insufficient capital, and they
are ever on the verge of bankruptcy. The
one great need of our schools is better
prepared and better paid teachers. Less
money invested in brick and mortar and
more in brains would be to the credit of
our intelligence and greatly to the ad-
vantage of the rising generation. Many
communities display commendable liber,
ality in provision for ;the externals of
education, but much Of it is waste be-
cause Of niggardliness in that which is
more essential. So little value do give
to the mere selection of studies, and so
great value do place upon the proper
choice of teachers that would sacrifice
that study which is of the greatest i'm
portance for that which is of least i'm
portance, if this were necessary to bring
face to face with every pupil live teach
er-one full of power and enthusiasm,
with proper love for the children and
the subjects to be taught. Above all
textbooks and courses of study stands
the teacher, the greatest factor in the
school.
An essential part. of the teachers
equipment is scholarship. | use the
term rather with reference to quality than
extent. Whatever the extent its quality
should be good. 1t should be clear, &C.
curate and thorough. A scholar is a
learner. A good scholar is one who has
learned enough in mastery way to be-
get in him scholarly tastes and habits
He knows some things we'll and has the
ability and disposition to learn more
Greater demands are made of teachers
today than ever before, and one of these
is better scholarship. AS long as ninety
per cent of the applicants at teachers
examination fail when the examinations
are no more rigid than they are at pres
ent, it is safe to say that higher ordel
of scholarship on the part of the teacher:
is one of the pressing needs in NORTH
Dakota eNucation.
The teacher should not only be strong
in form subjects but also in thought sub
jects. We need to distinguish between
the tools of an education and the educa
ton itself, between what may be called
tool material and what may be called
culture material. Here are two worker.
in metal, equally skilled in handling thu
tools of their trade, one uses his tools il
government employ. in furnishing de
signs, the other uses his tools in secrecy
in counterfeiting coins. If we do no
look beyond their skill in using thei
tools we say they are equally well educa
ted. Are they? I need not press th'
question. "You taught me language,
said Caliban to Prospero, "And my prof
ont is know how to curse" Shall w
call Caljban an educated man becaus.
he knew language or decline to do SO be
cause he used it vilely7 1t is not, then
merely the tools Of ones trade. but th'
world about one, and the great Thoughts
Of the world, that must be taught Thi
teaching can only be done by men ant
women Of great scholarship.
Hitch your wagon to a star," say
Emerson. That is, get the child $ min'
to hook onto some great principle, som
comprehensive thought Of Gods. Her
is . country brook, 10 many teache