Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-10-25
For the Gazette.
Teachers Salaries and Common Sense.

Teachers Salaries and Common Sense.
| noticed a communication in the Gazette
of the | lth instant, either aimed at the young
teachers Of Lewistown. or at the School
Board, or perhaps at both. The writer pro-
fesses to deal in Common Sense" but in
my opinion his deductions, comparisons, and
dogmas, quite as much partake of the char
aeter of " Nonsense" as they do of the sig
nature he has adopted. In introducing the
hod carrier and mason he is peculiarly unior
tunate, as the very argument he has advan-
ced against equal pay, can be turned with
tenfold force IN ITS fdcor, as l will endeavor
to show IIod carrying being neither trade
nor profession almost, not every person, for
some would be bunglers even at that can
follow it without apprenticeship and with but
little instruction. Not 50, however, with the
mason. He serves Il term Of years in order
to acquire knowledge of the mode and man
ner Of laying brick and stone, and when that
is over he is a mason and if not botch re
ceives the same pay as those who have been
maSons for many years. The same thing
may be said cf all other trades and profcs
sons where mechanical skill is required, and
there is but one goal of ambition beyond
to become master. 1t is so with the school
teacher, especially nowadays. Instead of at
once becoming teachers and acquiring knowl
edge dfter1CardS, as was the case with many
at present engaged in the business, the Young
teacher is required to appear as a mas
ter or mistress Of the elementary branches of
an English education, and undergo the orde.
al of an examination before the PapacY of
SchOOldum, without whose bcnedicial appra-
val they cannot engage in public schools at
all. Like him then who has passed his no.
vtiate, and with the Pope's approval becomes
a monk, the aspirant for learning the = young
idea how to shoot" becomes Il teacher the
moment the School Papacy mods assent. and
having been admitted into the fraternity, why
should there lie any distinction in pay? Tx
periencc enables the old to 50 through the
routine ofa schoOlroom with com laratiye ease,
while the young teachers have probably the
most difficult schools in the district (the
quite young), and suffer annoyauces and tri,
ais Of temper which the others, like good
masons, haze long since learned to avoid or
escape. All then stand in the light Of Journey
men-beyond is point which study, talent,
and good conduct may reach, l. e. n high
school where the pay is Letter, the principal
ship of an academy, or the Office of Superin-
tendent, if that be one Of the acmes of ambi.
ton. cOull refer to cases in this town
where acknowledged merit has met its re-
ward, and | should not be surprised if some
now engaged in the business, profession, art,
or Whatever may be applied to express its
definition, should some day make their mark
With the restriction imposed by law that a
teacher must be duly qualified according to
the notions a county superintendent may en-
tertain, l know Of no class wao are more
worthy TO be put on a level than all those
who are employed in the different districts in
teaching Common Schools, where rich and
poor may alike attain the elements of fair
education. MoNTEsQCIEU.
Lewistown October 18 1860.