The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-10-07
SCHOOL TEACHERS
THEIR DUTIES AND RESPONSE.
EIIITIEs ARE GREAT.
Sons Patrons stin Believe That
Teachers Should Keep School
From Sun to Sun.

From Sun to sun.
News and Notions says there is
doubtless no other profession sol
commonly used as stepping stone to
enable many to enter a profession
usually considered more remuner-
tive and exalted than teaching.
Perhaps society itself IS partly re-
sponsible Cor permitting this in
trusion, but the intrusion IS being
made, whether fostered by society
or not. What common occurrence
it Is to see young man keep
school" law or medicine, or q young
lady keep school, to earn money for
her wedding trouseau. Society, pat
rons and often trustees are unable
to distinguish between the teacher
who scientifically trains and devel-
opes all the God-given physical and
mental powers Of the cnlld
III rank, teaching should be class
ed as a profession next to lne minis
try, or perhaps coordinate with IT.;
for the teacher details with the n1nd
while it is in plastic condition and
very capable Of being nodded Then
too, the teacher, by means OF daily
association and personal contact with
! the child, is able, in a manner, TO
guide and assist the mind Of the child
in character-bullding He helps the
child's mind to do right-thinking and
right-actilg.
Many people have erroneous ideas
about teaching, yet almost every
| patron knows just precisely what II
Dehcoves the teacher to do at all
times. How common its the idea
that the teacher sits In an easy-chalr
in the shade for a few hours in the
7av and coins money with very little
effort. Really, the true teacher Is
and must always be, the most diligen1
pupil in the school, regardless Of his
preparation for an experience IN
teaching. The teachers work Is not
confined to a few hours in the day
br. begins with the opening OF school
and ends with the closing. Just as
the body hungers and thirsts daily
for the various food substances, sc
necessary to sustain life, so the mino
hungers and thirsts daily for the
food necessary :or mental gro"ts
and development. This mental fooc
must be supplied daily by the teach
er if we proceed in accordance Will
the laws Of nature.
Some patrons still beieTe taa'
teachers should keep children II
school from sun 20 sun. They FORGE
that there Is a difference between
manual labor and mental labor
Keeping q child in school from sur
to sun chains his body to seat; ou'
it fails to keep his mind at Work
Though his body is in school, hi:
mind is most likely elsewhere. The
mind receives instruction only Will;
in receptive attitude. Teachers
Imay rush children mechanical!
through books, but they cannot rusf
or force the contents OF any boob
through the child's minu.
Perhaps the Greeks realized the I'M
mense responsibility Of the teache!
better than many others; for the!
employed pedagogues to attend thu
children to and from school and very
carefully direct and guide the chile
in Understanding and virtuou:
living. This Lett the teacher free t.
impart what we term book learn
ing" for want OF better term. Thi
modern teacher has the work o!
teacher and pedagogue. Still his
profession. is regarded as trivia
one by many; when skillful expert
enced teachers look into the faces o;
old pupils Of theirs and see their OWE
thoughts, ideas and habits reflected
as it were, in mirror, we think they
have just cause to think Of Sinking
iuty and shudderiag at the erroneous
amount of responsibility.
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