The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-01-16
TCoMMUNICATED.1

I prologue to his scientific review OF the
Concert, entered largely into the particu-
lars of our many Improvements for the
past year; and, truely, in a public point
OF view they are encouraging; but if we
in as full delivery descant on the meas
ures of our private capacity and its re-
ward, how far short of Identical improve
ment shall we find ourselves? Those
who make types the respectives of things
real, can easily gloss their pages with the
ories and dogmas innumerable, and de
pict to delighted readers the mirrors Of
life radiant with golden images. All that
is theoretic in our existence is the spirit;
the flesh must provide for its wants by
continual labor and practice, and so on /:
none ever sit down to ascertain by the
laws Of science whether they are cold,
naked, or hungry.
Study, or the weary tolls Of scholarship
are to the entire system as salt is to the
blood an Inverse and forbidden ratio) !;
they relieve, while they weaken; they
confuse, while they instruct; aud if the
reward compensates for only half the
merit the individual is blessed "a lit
erary occupation is at the best poor
one, and none are so discouraging, aud
so miserably remunerated as school teach
ing. We all are solicitous for the proper
instruction of our children, and there js
nothing we feel so repuguant to pay for.
We might speak palmer, and affirm
that our own school teachers are the most
poorly rewarded in the land. Out Of
eighty, or more, who answered to their
names when the third call for an Insti-
tute was raised, how many could boast OF
having thirty dollars a month? But they
came forward after all, only to find a
great number as miserable as themselves,
and to still believe that small as their pit
tance was, they must be Herewith con-
tent. Many of these teachers had fami
lies to provide for, and their appearance
to make respectable, and thirty dollars a
month comes very far short of doing
either.
As we have stated above, that none as
certain BY scientific experiment whether
they are cold, naked, or hungry; but we
might suggest that the teachers arrived
this far in their Institutional exercises
when they appointed committee to con-
slider the matter of their salaries. We
should think that most Of them have been
led to reflect on the subject long before,
but it seems not: at all events the pub
lie need not fear a "strike" for some
time to come, and then eventually they
can procure class instead, and many of
our boys and girls who arc about to learn
Latin, French and German, would be
found ambitious Of the offer, should it
only bring them bread and butter: and
then they can be supported by their
friends, who, generally, are proud to af-
firm, that their little Nary, or Johnay,"
was appointed teacher, and ,cho acre
kno,cn to hare gone over t,celcc lessons a
day when they ,eere scholars themselves.
Thus far is our consolation and their
election sure. The present class Of
school teachers have only just now sat
down to consider whether their salaries
are sufficient or not, and there we leave
them; only observing that those who
think they are, have told us that their
merit is very small, aud the care taken
TO fulfill their duties with credit is still
smaller.
We must, nevertheless, allow that our
local teachers are unfairly paid; and you
may answer that we can secure them for
less. Assuredly SO; but then they are
8 little Marys, or Johnnys," who aspire
Suppose that We could procure others,
ioes it necessarily follow that our present
remuneration of teachers is upright, or
liberal? Do we, depending upon them to
appear decent and cleanly attired, pro-
ride the means for their necessity? The
,eacher with scarcely enough money to
purchase goose quills, or blot sheet, knows
clearly what you mean, and instead of
lomely wearables, he must don 81 a Gus
omary suit of solemn black % to look
grave when you address him, or look in
elligent when you request him to pay
particular attention to your child
dding that you fear the rest of the
choiars are not fit company for him.
And, lastly, if you desire good teach
RS, pay them. No qualified teacher
would, or could, offer his services for