Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1883 — God Helps them who help themselves. [ARTICLE]

God Helps them who help themselves.

The Republican of January 25, contained an abusive article on the teacher’s profession, written lam sorry to say, by one of our own number. From the manner in which she abuses ye pedagogue, she seems to be one “born of the purpose.” The profession, instead of a drudge, is a grand work, a work in which our best men have forever been engaged. Is it not written that He took the little children in his arms, and that lie went about teaching and doing good? Surely we, the humble followers of the great Teacher, have nothing to contend with of which we should complain. There is a dark side to every question but the. bright side shines with intensity and “Blessed is he that helpeth the little ones.” Duty compels no one to sacrifice himself for the benefit of another. It is not necessary that a teacher should be on his feet more than half the time, because work just as effective can be given from the chair. I cannot say with the Editor, “sib behind your desk all day,” for there are too many of us doing our beat, yet not earning all we get, even though it be but a “mere pittance.” • Again, one must not expect to pass through life without trials, and as to a “troubled conscience,” that is a creature of one’s own creation. If we have '; a conscience that troubles us certainly must either gain and bear it, or, as the Editor suggests, reform; refprm not only ourselves, but the profession in which we work.

No true teacher desires to forget his work at four o’clock unless his work be finished; and if it be, by all means forget it, and invigorate the mind by reading and recreate the physical man in the repose that to the good conscience, only, is sweet. Why should the lifeof a person not disposed to teach be a more disagreeable battle than that of a teacher not disposed to feed cattle for a living? To those not “born for the purpose,” are open many other vocations just as remunerative. A. B. states it as a lamentable fact that the “contented teachers are few and seldom met.” Now I particularly glad that such is the case. -It shows a spirit of ambition. It recognizes the teacher as progressive being. It asserts that the profession is not what it should be. A contented teacher must be laid on the shelf as an obstacle in the way of energetic, ambitions, enterprising and true workers. Then, to be a teacher, in the true sense of the “word, requires a desire for something better, a good conscience and the ability to make use of existing helps. Instead of imploring help of heaven let him help himself and Heaven’s help can not be with-held. A. E.Coen.