The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-10-24

i
! be to unduly tax the resources of the
state. | can conceive Of no means by
which the coming of the new and the
better Vermont can be more effectively
FASTENED To hold to the present stand
ards is to perpetuate present evils and
to aggravate present dangerous condi-
tions to the detriment of the whole
state.
Teaching Not Merely Mechanical
1T is not alone at the lower end of
the scale, however that the quality OF
the teaching service can be improved.
Teaching is an art, one of the fine arts,
to be successfully practiced only by
those who have natural aptitude for it
and who are willing ever to strive hard
to improve their methods and to increase
their skill, No teacher is perfect, or
may ever hope TO become SO; no teacher
who cannot further augment her power
by reading or by study or by observa-
ton. The vital work of the teacher is
more than the giving of instruction in
English and arithmetic, Latin and his
tory. This merely mechanical work is
but the foundation on which the earnest
teacher strives to build living temples
of useful citizenship and upright charac-
ter.
There is need that the foundation Of
knowledge be true and lasting; there is
equal need that the habits inculcated in
school be good habits, that the ideals |
developed be high ideals, that the life |
purposes formed be worthy purposes. |
Here lies the greatest opportunity of |
our professions by strengthening the |
good instincts and inhibiting the bad, |
by taking advantage of every noble inn
pulse, by fixing ideals of good citizen
ship and of right living, SO as to guide
the mental and moral growth of the
pupil that it leads to noble manhood
or womanhood.
"To do this successfully the teacher
must have more than scholarship. Great
teachers are such more by what they
ire than by what they know. All the
human sympathy and understanding to
De derived from assoeating with men OF
syery walk in life, all the breadth of |,
tision which comes from travel all the
Inspiration afforded by music or the
lrama, all the clearness of insight and
nobility OF purpose to be gained by init
nate study of great lives in history or
things, as well as h
knowledge. the teacher should seek, not
elfshly for personal culture and enjoy +,
nent, but in order that from full
torehouse he may give more abundant !
Y. /
Vermont Needs Professional Teachers.
"To look up teaching as calling !,
rhich requires special and continuous d,
at cost OF time and labor !
nd money, never TO be satisfied with
mes ability, always to be self-critical ,
nd TO strive for greater results, this .
) the spirit that marks the profess =
ional teacher as opposed to the mere
ime- In this sense of the term,
is possible for a teacher to be
one. no matter how short
er term of service. In this sense we
lay strive to place a professional teach
r in every Vermont school. Such
,achers are the ones Vermont needs.
o induce the very best of the young
len and the young women of each gen
ration 10 consider teaching as a pro-
,ssion and thus to provide a competent
nd skilled teacher for every school.
ermont may well consider the question
the salaries paid teachers and, IL
,und necessary, take measures to in
ease their compensation. To hold in
lie profession those already successfully
aching. to retain their services for the
oys and girls of Vermont, 10 eneour-
re teachers TO grasp every opportunity
II self-improvement and TO give them
Ives unreservedly, body, mind and soul,
the work before them-to do these
lings Vermont may well consider the
Iestion of granting pensions TO those
W who devote their lives 10 the work.
TO raise the standard of the teach
g service would mean more efficient
.velopment of the states greatest re-
urce; it would mean a greater wealth
power in more intelligent
ID law-abiding citizenship II would
another step toward that better or
Of society when ignorance and
ime aud waste shall disappear and
hen each laborer shall receive his Just
ward"