The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-11-12

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Keep out of Ruts.-It is a large
part of every teachers duty 10 look
to his own growth. This is particular
ly true of beginners. 1t is very easy
to get into ruts and go on about the
same day after day. but the habit is
a deadly one and must be fought with
vigor. Without encouragement or
self-abasement. the young teacher
should sharply critlse his every act
He should keep constantly in mind
that his teaching could be and ought
to be improved He should study new
ways of presenting knowledge so as
to make 1t more attractive, new ways
of arousing interest and keeping the
pupils in good heart
A new way 10 better than the old
IL ii takes the teacher out OF rut.
IL is well to try new methods occas-
ionally for the sake of being able to
do so. Many teachers have followed
so long the paths their fathers trod'
that il is almost impossible for them
to venture upon untried ways. Every
one should blaze some new path,
should venture into fields that, so
far as he knows, have never been ex-
plored. He should feel the exhila-
ration OF discovery. the satisfaction
of having done something that his
predecessors never did. It will id
strength to his character and in
terest TO his work.
Caution and Enthusiasm.-This
does not mean that we should be run
ming after every new fad that comes
along. There are many enthusiasts,
who for the sake OF notoriety or gain,
are urging uron. others their latest
devices or method. 1t is not wise to
bite too quickly at these bats. II
new thing commcnds itself and is
Endorsed by trustworthy people, and
is not too costly, we need not hesitate
to give it a trial But too many so
called time savers are merely money
making devices of little real value,
and it is usually better to wait and
let time determine their true stand
ing. A rule long ago laid down by a
famous rhetorician win apply in such
cases:
BE not the first by which the
new is tried, Nor yet the last to lay
the old aside"
Necessity of Daily Study.-In striv-
ing to improve our teaching, we must
not forget that daily study is ne
cessity to growth. No brilliancy of
mind, nor device, nor even exper-
jence can take the place of it. Knowl-
edge to be interesting. must be fresh.
No matter how often we have taught
a subject, unless We study it anew
each time, VIC snail fail of the best
results. Tie mind, like the body, can
not feed upon itself and grow. 1t
must have new material daily. Realiz-
ing this, we should set apart some
hours every day TO the study of our
lessons, both as to the matter Ct
them and the way in which they
should be presented The young
teacher who does this conscieDtiously
win find it the most delightful period
of the day 1t Is the time for adding
to and enrichins his stores of learn
ing, and he will have more to give
and will give it better, If he win
keep this study period sacred.
Acquiring Pedagogical Helps.-It
will not be sufficient to study the
textbooks and ways Of presenting the
lesson. The teacher must be provided
with the best literature the profession
affords. On his study table should be
the latest numbers Of two or three Of
the leading educational journals, and
these should be carefully read and
digested as soon as possible after they
arrive He should also have a few
good works on pedagogy. To acquire
these, he may write to school-book
publishing companies, asking them for
their best work on teaching. Nearly
every publishing company has at
least one excellent work of this class.
Such helps should be carefully read,
with special attention given to the
parts that seem particularly apple
able. In this way will be CLEANED
many ideas that will make the work
OF teaching more interesting and far
more helpful to the pupils, and will
keep the teacher growing.
Final Word on Self-Improvement.
Tho above are the common and
ordinary means for self-improvement.
If used diligently, they are certain
to produce satisfactory Results. II
omitted the opposite is just as GER
tain,-professional stagnation, decay