The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1863-11-20
A hocimistrc,s Ways aud Mean


One of DR.. Hollands letters TO the
Jones' addressed to Thomas Arnold
Jones, teacher, has brought out reply
from a female relation Of his. We can.
not do better for the class of schvol
teachers, of both sexes, than to allow
Mss Mary Lyon Jones to speak for her
self:
You addressed letter on school tcnch.
ing 20 my brother, but, nasmuch as there
urc certainly six women TO one man en-
gagged in the occupation Of teaching,
wonder you did not address your cpisiic
TO me.
You find much faul, with the manner
of fitting for teaching" II seems to
me that generally the labor and expense
employed ia fitting ono for any special
service nre somcw hut in proportion TO the
value set upon that service by the COM
muniiy. Now, my services, body and
mind, In the business of TEACHING, nre
valued ut two hundred aud scvcnty-fvc
dollars per year. icnch in one of TIE
higher grades of schools. ! have many
scholars from the fret iumilics. Ia ~
spend, as ytu estimate, three times us
many hours with mc us with their pa.
rents, and twclve.lhld moro time than
with their pustor. | feel deeply the i'm
portancc aud res osponsiblity of my posi-
ton. In "litting' myself for teaching,
used all the means could afford. You
marvel that you never heard of n person
travelling in foreign parts Us preparation
for teaching. How far do you think
could afford to travel with the prospect
Of $275 year, or perhaps less, for there
nre many who get less. Four dollars
week for my board tnkcs S20S, aud leaves
S67 with which to puy my washing bill,
buy all my clothes, take the daily paper
hire seat in church, attend lectures aud
teachers conventions, draw IRON the Ii.
brUry. subscribe for the Massachusetts,
Teacher, nj d various other literary works
&c, &c, About how much do you think
| can afford for excursions over the coun.
try for Improvement IN vacation !
sam making progress by constant
culture T., "Am bringing my mind in
10 communication with other minds that
I may gain vitality aud force by the col.
lision I" sam constantly reading aud
studying :" A" Not much" Most Of my
time out of school, when am not too
much fatiguod, is employed in doing my
sewing--my salary would not possibly
warrant my hiring any of II donc-or,
sometimes, ] have taught little draw
ing, painting, or embroidery, in order TO
gain Il little extra money Tor a journey
in vacation. You say"t teachers ought to
be the strongest aud most angelic per-
sons that breathc-persons oi the pure 81
motives, noblcst enthusiasm, finest cul-
turc, broadest charities, most devoted
Christian purpose" Doubtless. But
many an educated American woman, TO
speak plainly, "works herself 10 death
for living" in the capacity Of teacher,
or is resolved into u kind of hrman sieve
from which the g9odly corn and wheat
are caught up aud dcvourcd leaving only
the bran.
And feel that om getting to be one
Of those dry characters you speak of, and
| am afraid that shall grow dryer and
dryer and dryer as times wears on
What shall | do 4! My dear sir, II you
will write u letter to me explaining what
and how, you will confer great favor,
not only on this member of the Jones
family, but on hundreds of her sisters in
the profession, but we are at present and
shall continue TO be until our condition
is bettered, but as ga candle which
lights others in consuming itselE.'