Twenty Talks to Teachers

The talks that follow are addressed to young teachers. They treat everyday problems in a homely way. I have tried to be plain and pointed. I have omitted long terms. I do not sp...

Shall teaching be my life work? This question stares the sincere young teacher squarely in the face. He must answer it sooner or later. His answer means much to himself as well...

The problem of securing a position concerns not only the young teacher, but often the experienced teacher as well. Thousands of young persons begin the work of teaching for the...

The formal examination of teachers is a necessary evil. It is one of the ways of eliminating the incompetent. Examinations are necessary. On the other hand, they sometimes licen...

Experience in the school-room counts for much. Teaching soon fastens certain personal peculiarities upon the teacher which makes him readily distinguished from other persons. Fi...

The planning and making of a course of study falls to the lot of few teachers at present. Nearly every state has either a well-planned state course or else the county is the uni...

No period of the day is so important in its influence on the day’s work or so rich in opportunities for good in after life as the first fifteen minutes after school is called in...

The more one studies the forces which combined make a successful school, the more he sees that the teacher is the all-important factor. Buildings, grounds, furniture, apparatus,...

What do you read? A look at your library will reveal much of your interest and professional zeal. Gypsies examine your hand or feel of your head to tell your fortune and predict...

Teaching has two sides. There is the school-room side and the public or community side. Each is important. You cannot be a successful teacher without mastering the first. You ca...

The life of the school is the teacher. There is less difference in pupils than in teachers. Under a weak teacher pupils will take every advantage they can. Under a strong teache...

Your school began in September. Your pupils returned to school, most of them glad vacation was over. They entered with high resolves to make this year of work the best they had...

In an institute of something over a hundred teachers, nearly all of them comparatively young in the work, I was once asked to give a ten-minutes’ talk on what makes a good schoo...

School time is precious. Each minute should count. The formation of correct habits is the greatest end of school work. Surely then the proper use of time is essential to a succe...

These talks are directed especially to young teachers. It is presumed that most of these are teachers in the grades or elementary schools. Your highest success and greatest usef...

Most of the talks in this book are on the questions of school management. Perhaps it would not be out of place to speak of the teaching of a few subjects. This and the two follo...

For generations arithmetic has held a prominent place in the school curriculum. Should you teach any one or all of the first eight years of school work the teaching of arithmeti...

Literature, History, Algebra, Civil Government--these have been favorite subjects of mine. The teaching of each has brought me pleasure. Perhaps literature in many schools is mo...

Rest. That is the proper thing to do. Rest does not mean idleness, however. Why are you tired? The merchant works twelve months in the year, six days in the week and more hours...

Of all the things that indirectly affect your teaching, as well as your own personal happiness, nothing is of such importance as your view of life. It gives coloring to your eve...