The teacher should not neglect those who are worthy, but poor. Among them he may find his best associates and friends. He should not seek to escape the responsibilities that will accompany his dealings with the less desirable elements of society; he should look down upon and ignore none; he should touch elbows with those who are his intellectual superiors and surpass him in strength of character; he should not lower himself by stooping to that which is below the moral standard, but in association with the masses he must elevate them, and lead them forward, ever remembering, that as he points to a standard moral code as a sign board, he himself must lead the way.
[4]. Principles of Character Making, p. 297. Lippincott.
Idleness
“Idleness leads to vice,” is a truth that the teacher should ponder who spends his Saturdays and Sundays, and his summer vacations in idleness, spending what he has earned during the winter. Work is honorable. It is commendable for a teacher to labor during the summer vacation. He may go to the Summer School, but if he does not do so, he should find other work. The so-called rest at summer resorts and the seaside may mean only idleness and evil. The teacher whose life is worth while will have no time to waste on Saturdays.
Three of the most disputed social activities are dancing, card playing and pool, including billiards. Much has been said as to the rightness and wrongness of these actions and still doubt exists. The very fact that doubt exists should satisfy the teacher that he cannot indulge in them, and still do the greatest amount of good in his community. It may not be that dancing in itself is wrong, but the past unmistakably gives evidence of the fact that evil attends the dance. The modern dance is disgusting to say nothing about its evil influence. The author is a promoter of æsthetic dancing. Such recreation properly supervised possesses great value. Dancing as a part of physical education, under a competent director, is quite another thing from the social or public dance to which hundreds of young people go, not for physical education, to be sure, but for worse than idle pastime. The teacher must carefully discriminate here. He should shun the social and public dance.
Perhaps less dispute attends card playing as an evil. It is conceded as such by all right thinking persons. Every one knows how easily gambling results from card playing. There are numbers of cases on record of lives wasted and crimes committed over the card table as well as in pool and billiard rooms. Cards, pool and billiards are tools of indolence; they are evil and spread ruin in their wake. No teacher who cares for the boys and girls under his instruction and guidance will dance, play cards, pool or billiards. He, too, will not play to excess checkers, chess, dice, or kindred games. There are too many good books to read from which the teacher can gain inspiration and knowledge to waste time playing either of the above or any similar games. A word must be added relative to gambling or betting. Both are evils and have a bad influence upon the lives of the young. The wise teacher will refrain from them.
Intemperance
Reference has been made to intoxication which is intemperance, but intemperance is a much broader term and implies much more than getting drunk. It is well not to think of intemperance as belonging only to the use of intoxicating beverages. Every pleasurable activity is liable to be carried to excess. Teachers often need relaxation from the wearisome routine of school-room duty. When seeking rest and relief in legitimate recreation care must be taken to avoid excess.
Even in matters of food and drink, dress and social pleasures this caution is needed. The teacher with common sense knows where to draw the line. One can be intemperate in many things, always to his own harm. In passing, the definition of intemperance will indicate just where the thoughtful teacher must stop not to become intemperate. Intemperance is a want of moderation or self-restraint; indulging of any appetite or passion to excess.