The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-07-22
THOSE YOUNG GIRL TEACHERS.


THOSE YOUNG GIRL TEACHERS.
On Thursday morning, through the
kindness of Prof. Van Ness, we were
permitted to say few words to the
bright young people who. defying the
weather. are working hard at the
summer school to tit themselves for
added usefulness. At the risk of
repetition we wish to speak to our
readers. as we did to the students. of
the Importance of the teacher and the
peculiar qualities needed for the
work.
Scholarship, knowledge of methods.
general information, are all highly
desirable qualifications for the teach
er. but, for the teacher of the very
young especially, the prime requisites
are character. kindness, love and
sympathy
We believe in woman teachers for
the young children, because what they
chiefly need is mothering No
woman who would not make a good
mother is fit to teach school. The
teacher who does not have the indy
ing love of practically all her scholars
is failure, no matter how high her
examination average or how smart
her scholars may prove to be.
Until the child is five the home is
the boundary of his life. In good
home he has known little but love and
tenderness. His idea of God is. and
ought to be. that of great big man.
with Mama heart and Papa face.
1t is the beginning of school that cuts
the first strand of the cord that binds
him to his home.
You remember the first day when
your boy went to SCHOOL,
How eager he was. How his eyes
danced with expectation. How inn
patient he was of each tender tuck
that Mama gave to coat and tippet.
What difference there was between
them; he. anxious to be gone. to get
a first peep into his new world. to
open his oyster; she. delaying, palter-
ing. pitifully putting off the moment
when the first bell'' must make an
end of faltering and the goodby kiss
be the signal for the merry boots to
clatter down the walk.
He looks back once. the magnet of
Mothers love compells it. but the
light of battle is in his eye, the light
of hope and eagerness and preparation
for the first skirmish away from
mothers wing. And if she is half a
mother she is biting her lips to keep
back the tears until her baby is gone.
Blessed is the mother who can keep
her baby longer, who can find that he
returns to her as sweet. as pure, as
undefled. as when he wave his frs
goodbye.
If he remains thus pure and sweet
the credit must be given to the
Teacher. who now becomes the third
in the blessed Trinity of Childhood
Mama, Papa. Teacher A Trinity
that is omnipotent. Invaluable, ane
deserving of all love. 1t must bt
the teachers part to watch over the
little flock. to keep the little fee
from straying. to prevent the lutte
black lambs. for unfortunately evel
lambs may be black. from contamin
ating all.
Some of our best teachers ar,
young girls. Show us girl VIII
loves her dolly passionately. VIII
clings to her even till the teen
begin. who has gentle voice and
kindly heart and motherly way wit
her, and we will show you a goo
teacher, even though she funk i
pedgogics and say "seen" for saw.
Such teacher wilt be enshrined i
the hearts of many children. Sh
will ever be the most beautiful Q
women. and the years may come an
the years may go, but her plac
shall endure. standing with Fathe
and Mother and the other loved one
of our world, when it was young.
And to the teacher who loved he
dolly passionately. who has gentl
voice and kindly heart and
motherly way. the compensation c
the love of children shall be tn
III chest and the best reward {
service.
s.Wbara was Caswell'' seems