Courage
To be fearless in the performance of one’s duty is no easy matter. Least of all for the teacher. Often in a community, the school is the only active institution, during the school year. Its influence reaches every home in the community through the children. Its every activity is discussed by the well-meaning, as well as by the unthoughtful and unscrupulous, the latter often criticising without the slightest assurance that they are correct in their views. The teacher must stand by with a fearless attitude. It is assumed that he has done what he believes to be right—his own life being simple and his moral standards at least no lower than those of his patrons. The teacher must possess all the requisites of the true teacher to be able to stand against every view that may become current. He must even decide to his hurt in order to maintain the right when criticism and censure become slander and falsehood. A teacher must be himself, not an imitator. His decisions must be firm, yet kind. He must constantly hold in view the final end in every action, which end is best for the welfare of the child. A teacher who is fickle, doubts his ability, hesitates between opinions, is swayed by every criticism that comes his way, seeks advice from those who are not capable of giving it and finally deviates from the right, will not succeed. He cannot be fearless.