Year: 1861




Ftiio,e Teachers Many Of US have
closed the winter term Of our schools
Summer, the time of life and activity, will
find majority Of US minus schools Shall
We be idle during the summer? No, that
will not do; first, because few Of us have
enough Of the needful,; secondly, we are
industrious folks; thirdly, some of US some
times lecture to our pupils on the import
ance OF proper use Of time. To be con-
sstent, therefore, if from no other motive,
we should not squander it in idleness
Shall we wait for something to turn up
to give US employment? No;


The busy world -hovcs angrily aside


The man who stands with arms akmbo set,


Until occasion tells hm what 10 do.


Some Of our predecessors used to trans
form themselves into book agents, clerks,
or something similar; indeed, this is often
done yet, but it seems to me one business
Is enough for one person to pursue; if he
attempts more, his attention will be so di-
Vided that the probability is none will be
well attended to. | would therefore sug-
gest that inasmuch as many OF US can still
greatly improve on the past, we spend the
summer in selfimprovement or in attend
ing some school where we may more thor
oughly prepare ourselves fer successfully at
tending to the one business of teaching
Surely, he who essays to be teacher Of
the young cannot know too much or be too
we'll prepared for the duties Of this impor-
tant and responsible position All may
not need more schooling, but large major
ity OF Us I think will frankly admit that
we should be greatly benefited thereby


Another reason why some Of US, to be
consistent, should endeayor to improve, is
.hat we all freely acknowledge the great
responsibilities OF our position. 1t follows,
therefore, that we should be SO well prepa-
red to discharge our duty that we shall not
be guilty Of trifing with and irreparably
injuring the tender minds committed to
cur care. As the trained eye guides sure
ly to the mark, so the trained and correct
ly instructed teacher makes his mark
Alright upon those imperishable tablets
the minds Of his pupils


4 great change has been effected in the
educational condition of our country since
1854. At that time the teachers scarcely
knew each other, and very large proper
ton seemed to regard the labors of the
schoolroom as a mere dull, lifeless routine.
There seemed to be no professional spirit
among them. In year or two, however,
Q different spirit began to manifest itself.
Teachers began to show desire for i'm
provement They began to inquire for bet
ter methods of teaching the different bran
ches, and for the best systems of school
government and discipline. They met and
compared their different plans of teaching.
District teachers associations sprang up;
the county teachers association and the in
stitute, which have each been source Of
so much improvement, were organized.
With one or two exceptions, [ have been
present at every meeting Of the teachers of
our county, and | am led to firmly believe
that these meetings have done much-very
much for our mutual improvement, They
have infused into us a spirit of sociability
and progress, and desire for Improvement
that has done much to elevate the stand
ard of oar education. But these meetings
are of short duration, and, although they
subserye an excellent purpose, we cannot
depend upon them alone for improvement.
We must look to normal schools and other
means for thoroughly fitting ourselves for
the position of teachers.


.PERsEvERANTIA.