The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-02-27
ICulmupicated.l |


THK ELEVATION OF The TEAcHzRs' PRo
FEssIoN.-This is a subject on which much
! has been said and written from time to time
! by teachers and others, but very little has az
! yet been accomplished. 1t is subject in
| which every teacher asd friend of popular
/ education is deeply interested. Now there
; is 10 reason why the teachers profession
should not be ss elevated as to hold a re
! sPestable rank among other professions, and
/ command the respect of the world. Is not
| ne Who assists ia developing the immortal
mind one Of the worlds greatest benefac-
tors Ought not his profession, then, hold
/ q respectable rank in the world, and be
/ made one that would maintain itself2 Cor
/ 'aiuly it should, and could, if the proper
| steps were taken in sright direction. But
on whom does this work of elevation rest
On the people 2 On the directors On the
State Department of Common Schools Or
does it rest on the teachers themselves 1t
! must certainly rest on the teachers. If the
! people, the directors, the State Department
and the teachers would put forth united
effort, the work would be comparatively
! easy one, inasnluch as they can each do a
vast amount towards accomplishing that
end. But on the teachers themselves rests
the great work. There are several prelimi-
nary steps which must be taken in order 70
insure Luccess
FIRST, The profession should be relieved
oi CuosS who are not naturally qualified for
dlacharglng the duties of this high and noble
calling. There are those in the profession
who have by their practice given unmis-
takeabie evidence that nature did not origi-
n2!iy design them for the teachers profess
sion. The sooner the profession gets rio of
them the sooner will a great and Important
l4a ha 4,,lr -, H. a.:
profession made up of ''quacks" cannot
command respect.
Secondly, The elevation Of the profession
must be preceded by the elevation of the
salaries; and from all appearances this work
devoives upon tho teachers. They should
invariably act upon the principle that it
takes TWO parties to make a bargain. Uu-
de- the present state Of affairs the bargain
making power is altogether vested in one
party, If a teacher does not feel inclined
to accept of the salary offered, his only alter
native is to let it alone, and cheaper man
takes the situation. The teacher should al
ways haze a word or two to say in regard to
the salary he is to receive. Teachers in
syery county should meet, and by common
consent, fix on the salaries which they shall
receive, and in no case allow themselves to
De employed for less amount than that
which has been agreed upon. Let the teach
ers Of each county arrange theu selves in
two or three grades, each teacher entering
lie grade to which his qualifications entitle
him to belong. y second or third class
teacher vii! not long wish to remain in q
drst class school, and first class teacher
viii have nothing to DO with d second or
third class sChcol. The teachers should
hen strictly adhere to the amount Of salary
which their grade requires. a teacher can
then demand SIS or $50 per month, and at
The same time have the assurance that no
other teacher of his grade in the county will
teach for less amount. And there can be but
oue result. The school cannot stand idle
Low salaries is and always has been one of
The greStest drawbacks to the teachers pro-
'cssion. BY most young teachers it is only
made as d Kind Of Il start in the world-a
stepping stone to something more lucrative
They enter the profession without having
The slightest notion Of making it a perma-
nent business, simply because the compen-
sation which they receive for their labors
Will not Justify them in making it a work
for life. But some have labored in the pro-
fesoion long enough to become so poor as
not TO be able to leave it. Were The wages
raised 10 standard at which men could
earn respectable livelihood, men of educa-
ton and ability would remain in the school
rom and be ornaments to the profession
Ihe very best means by which the profes-
s'on and Common School cause can be ele-
waited is to have the profession composed of
educated, able, faithful and efficient teachers
teachers who will at all times be an honor
to the profession and they can be retained
in 1t by no other means than by increasing
the salaries. When the profession IS COM
posed of efficient teachers, the confidence In
the Common School cause will be greatly
increased, and receive the support of all
classes. There would then be some induce
ments for persons to make special prepara-
ton Tor this noble calling, and it would be
esteemed an honor to belong to the grand
army Of Common School educators. The
person who then makes his living by faiths
fully imparting knowledge and instruction
to the rising generation will occupy as high
AID respectable position, at least, as he
who makes his living by the in6rmities or
dissensons of mankind. J. 1, GATES.
BEAVER VALLEY, PA.