St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-05-29
Character Building in the
School ROo1lle

school is comprehensive, embracing
the whole work of the school room. If
all the definitions of education be an
alyzed and reduced, the one definition
would be, building character. There
is a truth in physics that water will
not rise higher than it's source. The
building must be born of the builder.
Any defect in the die will be shown in
the coin. Children are inquisitive,
susceptible and initiative. The stronger
invariably lmpresses itself upon the
weaker. In view of these facts, he
who would undertake the fashioning
Of the character should examine him.
self, to know if he be master work
man to turn out good work and square
work fit for the building of the temple.
That this school work depends upon
nothing to any degree SO essentially
as it depends upon the teacher, his
character, is manifest to every one
who has given the subject any study.
A system of improved methods is
naught, skillful supervision is nothing.
exceptional buildings and apparatus
are zeros without a teacher.
The influence of the teacher is upon
personal character. Hence, those re-
sponsible for the education of the
youth are obligated to be alert to Sc
cure teachers with breadth and
strength and of high purposes, and
to place them in such circumstances
as will keep them from becoming
narrow, petty, shriveled and unde-
veloped.
Every teacher knows that mysteri-
GUS magnetic atmosphere emanating
from his personality which is the Sc
cret of successful work. Every one
knows how sensitive this atmosphere
is to the slightest indication of weak
ness apparent in the teacher; how its
maintenance entails a constant drain
upon vital force which must have a
sure source of supply in some careful,
inspiring influence beyond the school.
In spite of the more important inter-
ests that are the chief concern of the
teacher, the calling does have to do
with contemplate things; with faults
too small to possess the Importance of
crime; with petty sins beneath the
notice of men of affairs; yet in our
miniature school world, possessing all
the possibilities of growth into real
vice and crime. A teacher comes into
a youthful society, where, conmingled
with the lovely characteristics Of child
hood, there are also the germs of
cruelty, tyranny, lying, thievery, con-
tempt for authority and disregard for
the rights of others. He needs to
maintain spirit SO hearty, pure and
healing that it constantly clarifies the
moral air and keeps it sweet and fresh.
1t seems obvious that teacher pre-
pairing children for life should be able
to reflect from his own life the light
of those characteristics which are SO
essential to make life success; that
shall reach beyond the confines of time
and broaden out in eternity up to Him
who is very Truth.
To fashion. my ideal character |
would seek to implant faith as one of
the most essential elements. A child
must have faith in himself, faith in
his teacher, faith in his fellows,
which is the very foundation of society.
The greatest cure that can befall
a youth is to lean, while his character
is forming, on others for support.
Those who are trained to self-reliance
are ready to go out and continue in
sternest conflicts of life and achieve
victory.
The greatest heroes of the battle
field, some of the greatest statesmen
and orators, ancient and modern, were
men who relied upon self and pluck.
The grandest fortunes ever accumu-
lated or possessed on earth were and
are the fruit of endeavor that had no
capital to begin with save energy, in
tellect and self-reliance-the will.
Those men won the most who relied
most upon themselves.
Another essential to character is
truth. The possession of truth is a
matter of great Importance. Truth,
considered in its length and breadth,
comprehends the wisdom of an om-
niscient God. All truth, in one sense,
is religious truth. It leads ultimately
to God. Wherever found it is ray of
life of the All-Holy, descending from
the Eternal City, and, apprehended,
ought to guide us up to Him. '.What
is TRUTH" Plate seems to have been
divinely guided to answer his own
question, when he cried on the day of
the Crucifxion, Behold the man. /"
Truth is the foundation of character
A man without it is practically and
morally worthless.
The condition of arriving at truth
is not severe habits of investigation,
but innocence of life and humbleness
of heart. The first gleat work is
that yourself may to yourself be true.
This is the foundation of all knowl-
edge and cement of all society. How
important it is to have the virtuous
habit of speaking the truth fixed in
the youthful character?
The Persians taught their children