The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1913-09-12
THE SCHOOL IS TIE HOTBED OF
GOVERNMENT.
Delivered on Monday By Charles o..
Clemson, Esq, before the Carroll
County Teachers, Institute.

County Teachers Institute.
1t is we'll to choose vooa.-Jl in
life that will make good showing in
an obituary notice. Those persons
who choose the vocation of t.-..4 lg
will not easily hide their fame. The
teaching profession may point with
pride to Lincoln, Garfield, Cleveland,
Mckinley and Wilson as POSTCARD
yates from their ranks. The roster
of the House of Representatives shows
a large number of men. who. in their
younger days, were public school
teachers President Wilson has been
a school teacher all of his life and
Champ Clark, the Speaker of the
House Of Representatives, was also a
public school teacher and then presi-
dent of small college.
In the Republican form of govern
ment, such as we have IN the United
States, 1t is a natural thing for a
school teacher to become interested
In politics and to seek office in the
service of his country.
The schoolroom Is the hot bed OF
government
II 1t be granted that attendance Is
compulsory and that the law is en-
forced, then our text Is literally true.
1t must be admitted that education
shall be free and unlrammeled; that
neither partisanism, sectionalism nor
denominationiBm shall be taught In
our free, public schools. Opinions
have differed and always will differ
as to the most effective methods of
encouraging and of strengthening
isms, fads and creeda. but none OF
these have their proper place in our
system of public education.
| have said that the sehoolroOm Is
the hot bed of government. It is here
that we plant the seed and where we
nourish Its tender growth; wefoster It,
we feed II and bend and train 1t in
large part TO the vii Of the master.
This Is an ideal condition. rather than
an actual one and yet the statement is
as infallible as might be expected OF
fallible men.
We are not perfect men and women
and It can not be expected that upper
feet beings could formulate a perfect
form Of government. The standard OF
government VIII be no higher nor
lower than is the standard of conduct
of the individuals Who compose the
government. | speak Of government
meaning The State.
There is an old maxim that He
who would govern must first learn 70
obey" IL that be true then the most
obedient students should make the
best teachers and conversely, be-
lieye that statistics from the school
room would bear me out In the state
ment, that the best teachers are those
who were the best students. | might
have said the best teachers are those
who are the best students. for no man
or woman can be 4 good teacher who
is not constantly studying for himself
| have been told Of teachers who study
every lesson that they have to teach
the next day whether they feel them
selves masters OF the particular cub.
jeot or not.
The teachers plant the seed oil
learning and the resulting growth if
dependable upon many conditions
upon environment N the home. upon
heredity, upon numerous diYerting
circumstances. However we'll the
schoolroom work may be done. the
school, masters efforts my all be sci
at naught by the influences that wori
during vacation periods.
The chief regret that must come e
n student of government Is that II Il
not possible to keep men and womer
In the schoolroom as permanent pro
fession. A few men make teaching .
life profession and those become Su,
perintendents of County schools. as II
the case In Carroll county. or else
they become Presidents Of the United
States. as Is the case With Woodrow
Wilson. Teaching as permanent
profession has not held the vast ma.
jority of men and women who have
entered its ranks. certainly not In
this country, although understand
the case Is different IN Germany
There must be a reason Why the yoca-
ton OF public school teaching In q
transitory one. There has been d
reason and the school boards and this
State Legislatures have done much "a
remedy the cause b. zYglematiZing the
methods of teaching and BY increasing
the standards Of paY. Il Is hardly u
be expected that young women Will be
less likely to give up teaching fol
matrimony for these reasons alone
but, at any rate. i Is almost sure that
the present situation vii make matri
mony dearer To them. To make the
work permanent and 10 persuade this
workers TO remain IN the ranks as 6
life vocation Is one Of the most diff
cult problems that confront our Schoo
Board to-day. Not every person is III
to become teacher. certainly no.
every young person. who can pass the
necessary examinations. In thos,
counties where the standard OF ad
mission to the profession and tn,
salary for the work required have beer
made equal with the standards o
work and of pay In the commercial
pursuits of life. men and women re
main in the teaching profession anC
make 1t their life work
There Is no nobIer calling than tina
of being teacher Of men. The oppor
being a teacher Of men. The oppor
tunity is broad one. the incentive Il
faithful effort Is compelling; the re
ward is gratifying I congratulate,
YOU on having chosen this profession
as your life work. It Is labor worth,
of your best efforts.
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WILL REPAIR MONUMENTS.