The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-07-23
Original Artit!c.
For The Cecil Wing
PAY OF TEACHERS.


future were indefinitely postponed, | now
resume the consideration Of the point to Which
l adrcrted respecting Teachers Salaries, and
proceed to say, that the Commissioners
doubtless intended that the professional
teachers should become inyctcratc old
bachclo rs and old maids, avd merely exercise
their vocation for the especial benefit Of the
community, and consider the boon of glorious
patriotism as ample compensation for the
privilege Of teaching the sons and daughters
OF the rising generation. This to the profess
sional teacher may be some consolation, as he
or she may behold their names occupy
splendid niche in the temple Of fame, though
privation and deStitution should for definite
period be concomitants Of their onward career
There is another class Of teachers Of the old
regime, who occupied prominent points pre-
vious to the adoption Of the present school
system, to whom fame is not SO much an
incentive to action, as the compensation of
dollars and cents, and in comparing the two
systems, the old and the new, the former has
the advantage, inasmuch as a greater proper
'"' VI wv hol'dlS anu cents went TO the
teacher, and less proportion to the public
officer who superintcnls the machinery in
matters relating to scholastic education.
This class too, who belong to the agricu lturn !
and mechanical community. with OCCASION
ally an cstray from the professions ofdivinity.
law and medicine, have their rcsources.-
lenevcr the teachers profession becomes
more lucrative than theirs, then they become
teachers. As soon as the teachers salary
becomes limited, then they resort to their
former occupations, and permit the profess
sional teacher to enjoy the pttancc which
legislative sanction has awarded him.
There are farmers and mechanics who have
except SCHOOL, who will not do SO at the
present time, because the occupation which
properly belongs to them has become more
lucrative than teaching the young idea how
to shoot.
There are those who imagine that a system
of free schools should not impose upon the
scholar the contribution of any thing like
dollars and cents.
The teacher is informed when he enters his
sahctum, that certain number Of scholars
may be obtained for that schoo,, if a certain
Judlcious plan be adopted; for instance: this
school should exhibit the average of fifty
pupils, but understand you are not to admit
any on the free list, without the Commits
sioner's sanction. The Commissioner, living
at distance, is not present when the school
a. bn. H..
discovers that there are those in attendance
who have neither pay or . iree ticket. The
teacher is responsible for all paying pupils
and he is also responsible for improperly
admitting those on the free list who have no
evidence Of their claim to the POSITION
However, he must decide and incur the
responsibility. He must exclude the pupil
or pay the entrance fee himself, for the Com
missioner will probably exact the utmost
farthing.
An obligatory contract is made in certain
school district for one month, to be extended
to three months longer, if at the expiration
of ono month circumstances Indicate the
arrangement as advisable. The teacher
out the certificate. The Commiss Toner not
having been present to decide the point. he
therefore dctcrs the decision till the expira
ton of the term. 1t is possible that he heard
that there were pupils in attendance who had
not exhibited the usual evidence that they
were entitled to the benefit Of the school,
lie, however. without visiting the school to
ascertain tho precise situation Of affairs.
engages another teacher within one week of
the time, during which the school is in opera
ton, and that other teacher to exercise his
functions at the expiration Of the first period
mentioned in tho contact. Thus the school
has been in operation one week, and the COM
munity are given to understand that at the
expiration of the current month, whether the
people are satisfied or not with the contract.
the contract terminates.
Doubtless there are those who cannot
obtain the ticket of admission at the COM
mcnccmcnt Of the term, but should the period
he prolonged for which the school is in opera
ton, may ultimately furnish all the evidence
to claim, and obtain admission. This is,
however, prccluded; for why should they
wish to be admitted for a few days only.
1t appears that some definite action should
be taken on this point, as well as to ascertain
whether twenty days actual teaching con-
stitutcs school month, and whether, if a
teacher should inadvertently teach greater
number of9ays, he should or should not be
compensated. PunoMAruEAN.