Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-01-13
THE OPENING ADDRESS
Delivered By Rev. Charles RYAN at
College Chapel
TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 4
synopsis OF Address the Subject of Which
Was Teachers Responsibilities"

Mr.. Chairman. teachers, faculty and
students 1t gives me great pleasure
to be with YOU this morning and I
wish you all a prosperous and happy
New Year. In the daily toll of eyery
dav life we all have our responsible.
lities. l have been given the subject
Teachers RESPONSIBILITIES
In what ever sphere of life a person
be placed or in whatever station, he
has certain trust to fulfil certain
responsibility. Do any of us realize
as much as we might how great that
trust is in the teaching profession.
There are many phases of school life
and in each the teacher has direct
interest. over each he has a certain in
huence. SO varied are the branches of
the teachers responsibility that often,
IN the hurry of everyday life, some of
them are whether Willingly or un-
Willingly partly neglected. To
know d teacher full duty. then. wa
must know what he should be, what
he should direct his pupils to be
and then, how teacher and pupils
should work together to produce the
desired results. The teacher must
know himself, know his pupils. and
realize his responsibilities.
What is a teachers aim? Is it to
teach boys and girls To read and write,
Certainly it is. but much more. Is il
not rather TO teach Loys and girls
how TO advance. not only mentally
hut morally, and to make hemself
reliant, sef-inq uiri ng. and self
measuring. 10 measure his abilities.
the average student must naturally
have given standard which he Will
strive 10 reach, and in school life we
hnd that 1t is the teacher himself
whom punils wish TO initiate. How
important it is then that he be fitted
to prove an example for them. Thus
the teachers true mission is not
simply to he satisfied with the daily
rautine of school duties and tasks
properly prepared. but to mould the
character of the pupils for future life,
lead and direct them to become true
men and women. Their thoughts first
must be directed. for thought leads to
action. actions form habits. and
habits develop character. and such
characters should be framed as will
enable them to faithfully fulfil their
part in the drama of life. This is the
great work of education which alone
will elevate humanity to plane
nearer Heaven. Teachers are the
educators, and when undertaking
this great duty entrusted to them. are
directly responsible to God and their
country
The teacher first must have principle
Without proper motive and right
rule of conduct. he can do little or
nothing. He will bring his pupils to
his own level and thus risk Heavens
frc wn of displeasure on the leading
of Young minds into ways OF error and
sin. Having good principle. it ia
discern right and wrong to uphold
one and to reject the other Thus
they are made to plan for themselves
a proper.rule of action. andIuprigbtness.
q principle. which will be a good
on which to build their
future. Another essential is self-con.
troll Manv complaints are made re-
garding the teachers failure to con-
troll. so he..should exercise much will
and watchfulness to govern his own
action. that he may be able to teach
his pupils to control their actions.
A teacher who gets into a passion
over some trivial offence. or who
speaks thougthtlessly will find that bis
pupils do the same. 1t he would re-
member Burns, when he saws, ITO
see ourselves as others see us. " he
would be more careful to set good
example of selfcontrol The most
desirable thing Is cheerfulness, despon.
dency will come sometimes but must be
for nothing is so contagious
from teacher to DupIls as cheerful
hess. and nothing SO conductive To good
work. even to those who do not
like study, as bright cheer.
ful teacher ,.and pleasant attrative
school room. Nor is IL wise to be too
stern or unbendirg an element of
humor allowed ut times does much to
renew interest in lesson and is
simple and effective wav of smoothing