The Republican journal., 1913-03-13
Facts by the Wayside.

RuDllS SSbOOIoS LuCy 81 oUSAA w N.-~
of our national history in the parent
land more fully than is usual. In the
study of language they have come up to
a high degree of perfection. Among
the unusually commendable features are
waiting little for pupils to make up
their minds when asked how many can
answer certain question. Not word
is spoken without permission. The
teacher evidently calls on the one least
sure of an answer, and then has first one
and then another make corrections in
accuracy, choice of thoughts, choice OF
words, emphasis, expression and every
thing that goes to make perfect
thought expressed in the most perfect
manner.
All these instructors seem to be blessed
with a scientific turn of mind and klndle
within the minds of the pupils the same
enthusiasm and love of research which
glows within their own souls. Here are
1900 High school pupils in a single build
ing. Those who never enjoyed privileges
like these miss nine-tenths of what this
human life of ours means to US. A re-
tired teacher once said what we need is
not more preachers but more and better
teachers. All teachers should be re-
quired to inspect each others work in the
school room and not depend on what they
choose to tell each other about it at In
stitutes.
A teacher accustomed to reading a
sermon every Sunday at the close OF
Sunday school is told that it will not add
anything to his popularity as teacher.
He replied that he would go ahead Il he
lost his position by it. Sure enough he
was not offered the same salary another
year. The next year the teachers en-
ployed were so Indifferent that the Sun
day school went down. These teachers
would doubtless be employed another
year had not the directors become so &C
customed to securing new teachers every
year that it would be impossible for
them to break their rule. The Bible is
never read as an opening exercise in
school and none of the pupils ever be-
come teachers in the above locality.
Habits, whether good or bad, are conta-
gious. A visitor may think it unneces-
sary to follow geometrical demonstra-
ton all through. Pupils will catch the
spirit of inactivity which might spread
over the room were not the wrong right
ed when it is easy to detect the reason
ing process going on in the brain OF every
pupil. 1t takes a very enthusiastic
teacher to overcome all tendencies to in
activity or nattention, especially in low
er grades. But it must be done, for if
allowed to get foothold, it is like
ripple on the water which will widen and
widen till it reaches the shore. In the
same way inattention will spread over a
room ana any inattentive person had
better be elsewhere. In case of any
noise like dropping a pencil or shutting
of feet it is quite sarcastic to suggest
waiting ill the Indian gets quiet, but it
is effectual if applied to the first offense.
If allowed to continue it gathers mo-
mentum with its progress till it eXhausts
the nervous system of teacher and pupil.
An institute instructor spoke of trying
to get position for a teacher well along
in years and was told that he was too
old. The instructor replied IF that man
is too old | am too Old If the COM
munity as a whole hold that sentiment,
it would require more nerve energy to
overcome the prejudice than it would
to do the ordinary school work. Teach
ing is profession in which experience,
enthusiasm and real love of the work
count for more than in any other pro-
fesslon. In medicine the practitioner may
study up the case at leisure in mis- private
office. True the bearing OF the physician
has mucn influence III producing the de-
sired effect of the medicines. But in
case OF teaching this personal influence
must act upon the plastic character I'M
aided. The person skilled in the vocation
can judge of the natural aptitude of the
beginner for the calling But no one
can cease to learn something new of the
mysteries of this art until he overtakes
the Almighty in the race for perfection.
This is the way as taught by Jesus
Walk thou in it. Everyone coming in
contact with society is in duty bound to
follow the same Christian rules as natu-
RAJ laws which the teacher follows. A
sermon at the Baptist church holes up
before the audience the lives Of the
disciples recorded in the gospels as q
mirror in which is reflected the Christ
life on earth. How many III the audience
nave carefully examined that reflected
portrait. Hav, they found the disciples
boWing down and ~orsLiping before the
Christ with whom they walked from day
to Gay" AS lie calls one and another to
follow. did he require them to profess
faith i his Messiahship, sonship or Deity
as a condition OF fellowship? Protest
antisn has fought and bled to drive all
priests from standing between the
human soul and his God. The time is
not Iar dlStant when no historian will be
allowed to stand between the soul and
Goo
In discussing the call of Abraham at
the Methodist Sunday school in the after
moor, his call was not considered any
different in nature than the call which
came to the early Puritans to settle
America and comes to every man today
to do his allotted work. 1t is said an
Arab today will speak of talking with
God. Such expression in the East means
the same as ordinary impressions of duty
in more highly civilized communities.
The threat of God to curse him that
curseth Abraham was discussed 1t was
explained to be nothing but the ordinary
result of the workings of natures laws.
WHAT can be more blighting to the soul
of man than for him to curse a good
man? Thus every man in the very
thought he cherishes creates his own
bliss or retribution according as he cher
ishes good or evil tt oughts.
Under date LIST no. Is | notice Eliza
beth Lloyd tells in Friends Intelligence
of the faithful disqualification of Chris
tian character exhibited by lighthouse
keeper who knew little or nothing of
church or Sunday school work, having
been raised in the slums of London and
received his only education in the school
for truants. About the same time
was describing in another paper some of
the creative powers of some of the