MEN AND THEIR PROFESSIONS.
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��and shows a decided partiality to those of their neighborhood or church ; who — but the outs are too numerous to mention. We have nothing to do with this teacher in considering the genuine, the ideal teacher.
The teacher we have in mind loves the occupation, has fitted expressly for it, is appointed ot God, is ambitious to succeed and devotes energy and all attainable knowledge to the work, is not troubled with day and night dreams of fortunes that are to be won in mercantile marts; is not disturbed by ignorant public senti- ment ; has no jealousies to avenge; no fancied wrongs to set right, and no "■axes to grind" or bosom friends to favor at the expense Of some worthier persons inal- ienable privileges. The ideal teacher has the best balanced mind in the communi- ty; never spends valuable time in dis- cussing pet ideas and isms ; never crip- ples usefulness by too great a familiarity with the affairs of town, city or parish; does not dabble or mix in politics ; is not a bigot in creed or a self-appointed theo- logian whose business it is to impress upon the youthful minds the certainty of future punishment as a cure for insignifi- cant shortcomings. The ideal teacher has a religious faith as simple as child- hood, as sweet as the rose, as fragrant as the incense from the holy Catholic altar, as pure as the ritual of the Episcopalian. as fixed as orthodoxy, that is infinitely beyond the comprehension of narrow sectarianism, that sees and recognizes God and goodness in everything, that patterns life after bright examples, and realizes that the impressions of the school- room are more enduring upon the mind of the youth than all else, and have far greater weight in molding future desti- ny-
Of what shall be taught from books, and of the precise method of teaching we have nothing to say. There has been a revolution in such matters since our time, and we are not therefore familiar with the routine of studies, or competent to express an opinion that the public is bound to respect. We have a conception, however, of what the ideal teacher should be. The ideal teacher recognizes
��the great responsibility of the calling, and is ever on guard against uneven de- portment, peevishness, impoliteness by word, look or gesture, selfishness, fash- ion-plate conceit, lawlessness, deception, theft of time for private purposes, and a thousand and one little irregularities of conduct that young people observe and magnify to the destruction of a symmet- rical character. The ideal teacher is nev- er in violent temper; can inflict great- er punisnment by kind words fitly spo- ken than with a hickory switch, can command the respect of pupils in school and out of school alike, and is the friend above all friends to whom application is made for counsel when the troubles of childhood are tormenting the mind. In short, the ideal teacher — 'My teacher !' as the pupil who is satisfied says with enthusiasm — conducts the youthful aspi- rant for the honors and emoluments of life to the great door of the world and says, practically, '••I leave you here, hav- ing done the best for you that it is possi- ble to do. You understand the beauty of piety, the necessity of honesty, the grandeur of purity, and the obstacles be- tween you and complete success. Let all the ends you aim at be honorable. You know what is expected of you. Act well your part, there all the honor lies. You have my blessing. Go and be use- ful in the world."
Let us admit that although there are but few ideal teachers, there are some who are all the fancy pictures, and we honor them. The calling of the teacher is the most important, and to our mind, the most honorable — to the individual who enters it in the right spirit and with the right motives — that is known among men. It towers above all others, it guar- antees greater peace of mind, is of more real dignity — the dignity that fathers and mothers respect — and grants greater sat- isfaction than any other profession. The affairs of the world, — except in momen- tous epochs, — its hurry, worry and con- fusion, its k ups and downs,' its price cur- rents, sensations, and the failures that bankrupt men in purse and reputation, need not enter his philosophy or vex his mind. He may live on a plain high above
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