Mexico Missouri message., 1911-05-04
Teacher. Qualify Yourself.

the county. also graduation of
pupils to the sth grade, giving
names of teachers who expected to
attend the Normal school to quail
ify themselves better for the work
of teaching which is Of great in
tcrc>t to the pupils.
The public favor will follow the
teacher who is trying to qualify
himself or herself for the work Of
teaching. Besides, Mr.. Editor,
fact, show that the possession OF
knowledge does not imply ability
TO impart it. while | agree that one
person can not impart to another
what he does not know himself.
But | contend here that good
scholars DO not always succeed in
becoming good teachers.
II is the teacher S duty TO train
and instruct the child, and he can
have no intelligent method Of do
ing this without making special
preparation. Attend the Normal
School if you are a teacher. and
then you will understand how to
conduct the operation.
Again, skill in teaching, by
school room experience, without
special instruction before hand is
often much loss to the pupils. No
ones mistakes are less easily rem
edied than the teachers. IN our
common schools, even ~ today
we lack thoroughncss. Pupils
make swift speed toward their
journeys end without noticing
the road along which they travel.
Who is in fault? We believe
many teachers tell too much.
Communicate to the pupil cold
facts .answer questions, solve prob
lens. and it is received in blank
wonder or Indifference. Know
ledge with such teaching is re
ceived like corn in a crib or grain
into a granary. We believe the
teacher should guide his pupils or
direct his work without perform
ing it.
Again, | will say of today that
our progress is measured too often
by the quantity of the work
looked at rather than the quality
of the work done; by many quota.
tions pupils are made to seem to
know that'of which in reality they
are ignorant, and while they ar,
transported along can either 81
or sleep.
Suggestive methods are laugh
in our Normal Schools. Their,
you are taught how to create III
terest in study, incite curiosity
giving hints and when to max,
suggestions and to tempt pupils OF
to try their strength, or, may W,
say. test their skill.
. Attend the Normal. There yo,
will learn how TO manage and gov
ern a school Then you will hav
1 no set Of rules for every child t
q comply with and your government
will be in accord with the temper
I nent and disposition Of you
t pupils. No two children, even 0
the same family. are alike in di:
% position Then is il not necessar
to study the character and dispO'
u ition of the child, and govern az
r cordingly'
1t is discipline that gives powe
in the schoolroom as we'll as o
e the battlefield. Attend the No
~ NAL School, as you promise
through the Message, and max
3 teaching a permanent bushes
Then will our schools prosper.
\ great many teach who nevC
intend to become permanel
Il teachers, but who teach merely
e replenish exhausted funds, TO el
n JOY a time for self Improvement {
to put in time waiting to engaG
in some other business. (Or, il ma
Ie be TO get married.) Now a we
$ taught school by any of these pc
Is sons must be an exception to Il
rules, and the public must reco
nize the truth that teachers r
! quire special preparation, asic
ii from education on the best met
r DDS of instrcution. Then and n
until then will communities
freed from at least some intruder
BY the way while in the Norm
. Schools Whnrever II may