The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1958-01-09
"Our
Growing Edge"
MIRA MARTHA QLoTFELTY

When was teacher in the
public schools Of Pennsylvania, we
were required to teach a certain
course i'm handwriting. II began in
the first grade. and continued on
into the eighth.
In the fourth grade, which l
taught. the children had already
gained considerable skill in the
correct formation of letters. To
check on their progress during
the year. on the first day Of school,
each child was given a large sheet
Of folded paper on which they
wrote their name, and this SEN
tence. This is a sample Of my
writing on the first day of school,.
The folded sheets were all filed
away until the last day of school.
when they were again distributed
10 each child. still folded in way
so they could not see the original
sentence. This time they wrote the
sentence. This is a sample Oh my
writing on the last day of school"
Only then were they allowed to open
the sheet. and compare the cor
rectness and growth they had
made during the year in their
writing skills. | have always re-
membered the squeal of delight
as the children saw for themselves
the improvement they had made
during the year. There was pride
and a sense of satisfaction for
each one of them, for every single
child had made some progress.
The constant drilling in basic
Skills had taught them the proper
height for each letter, the for
ward slant, the difference between
the closing of ar and an a, and
many other skills necessary for
good writing. This continuity of
teaching brought out a handwrit-
ing more legible, more attractive,
more readable. When they reached
the eighth grade nearly all the
boys and girls were good writer's.
As l started out with this column
for a New Year, l thought how
this little incident is a symbol of
our own growth. Like the children
with their writing lessons, we are
capable Of growth, and this year,
we should have made progress in
this direction. When we honestly
Try, we too, can have sense OF
satisfaction and achievement.
As the old year closes, we could
all make a check list and see if
there has been progress on our
part during the PAST year.
We might ask ourselves questions
like these;
Have | tried TO overcome some
ugly personal habits, like gossip
ing, making trouble for others?
Have l tried to overcome a tend
ency to talk too much. be know
it-all, have all the answers? Have
l tried to develop the capacity for
listening to others. trying to help
them, to see their problems, as
well as my own?
Have | laid aside old grudges
old prejudices. old hatreds? Or
am l planning to carry them with
me into this New Year. helping
to spoil it. as it did the old?
These are just few questions
we could ask ourselves at the be-
ginning of new year.
But like the children, we need
a guide and teacher Without the
patience and understanding OF the
teacher the children could have
made no progress.
Aren't we like children too, with
GOQ dS Jul tCdCIlGl. llG Calls 10
to His perfection with love and
patience and generosity. Instead
of prejudice, He bids us have good
will and forgiveness. In place of
cur silly vanity and pride. He bids
us to be humble and teachable. BY
His Reckoning love, He shows to
US the rightness and goodness of
His Way.
Like the children needed the
teacher for their guidance in
growth of skills, so we too need
this Master Teacher every day
for our lives if we are to grow in
any upward direction. When we
honestly seek to grow. He has
promised to help US Only with
this help, can we grow in this
New Year as we should.