Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1876 — Good Examples from Teachers. [ARTICLE]

Good Examples from Teachers.

The teacher to a aort of model for the miniature world arownd him, and the boy or Rirl who to reproved for anjr fault at home to well sattofled when he can quote the teacher's example to sustain him. For instance, a few weeks ago little Alice made use of a popular slang phrase*, and when I told her that 1 disliked to hear such expressions, she said, “ Why, surname, oar teacher uses that nearly every day.” I took no further notice of it at the time, far I would not willingly do anything to lower my child’s opinion of her teacher ; but next time 1 visited the school I told Miss Barlow what Alice had said, and she frankly owned that she was too much addicted to the use of slang, but that it had never before occurred to her that the children were acquiring the habit (torn her Children are very quick to detect the slightest approach to dishonesty, selfishness, or cowardice In- their teachers; and he who would hare his pupils possess those rase virtues, courage and honor, must set them the example. The moat common deviation from the truth among teachers is the failure to carry out throats; and there to nothing that children more quickly detect. The teacher reproves little Johnny for tel .ing something that is not so, and. Johnny, very qjuiekJy retorts (or thinks it to himself u he dare not say it aloud), “ You told a lie this-morning; you said you/d. whip me if I talked again, and I talked lots of times and yon never let on.” The best way to remedy this is never to make threats. Tell the children what to do or what not to do r and then punish them for sins of omission or commission as you think best, but do not threaten.

Not long since I attended & meeting of teachers where a majority of those In attendance were gentlemen, and I was surprised and* displeased to’ see so many of. them addicted to the use of tobacco. Many carried in their breaths the odor of smoke, and more than a few not only chewed, but actually spat oni the floor. We had thought that Americana were making some improvement in cleanliness since the days when Dickens wrote his famous “ Notes,” but how can expectoration in public places, such ae halls aud rail-cars, become one of the lost arts, until our teachers set a better example in this respect? It would be a satisfaction to many mothers if our boys could only grow to. be men without keeping up a oonstant ohewiug, like so many cows working at their cuds, or an intesmittent smoking, like poor chimneys on. windy days.. And,, on behalf of our boys,. I appeal to those teachers who are ki the practice of using tobacco, to reflect seriously upon all the consoqncnces attendant on. such a. habit. Aside-from the fact that the money squandered upon, the weed might be much, more profitably invested, in books and periodicals, a teacher cannot afford to indulge in any practice that makes him. leas clean and less pure—which makes him, in fact,less a man and a gentleman. ( hold, the teacher’s profession, indeed „ second to not eveft the minister’s, fee the teacher has in. his especial chaige the little lambs of our Savior Is fold, and kohas great need to pray far strength to resist temptation,, if he would not lead these little lambs away from the green pastures and still waters.— Cor. D«ylsttown (Pto.)> lnUUiuencer.