Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1869-07-15
L y i { A I @ n A l
CONDUCTED Ey
J. II. r FEW Aitr.
PRIMARY school 'aGhCs's.

We have already taken occasion 70
peak 90 tie pressing neci Of Il higher
tabiir view in relation to the quaIiti-
cation primary teachers, and sti'i feel
'hu ~. shall never reach tho degree
III perfection demanded ~ the com
uar schools, till these who pay the
r,o> demand t|ie very best scholar
hip III those " no teach the iitlc cMl
dr,n. The Milwaukee School Journal
Hltels some such true sentiments upon
,ha point that we insert them, hy
dtsl begging our readers TO ponder
Wit tie truth ut them; end thrn think
whether we have not much caUse to
tear that in too many cases il our
County, the opposite OF this has been
our custom.
"Itwe were asked the question, What
10 You consider the most important
qualification in a primary school each.
~: We should reply without hesitation,
ExrERlHScE Cntil school officers can
H.. made to understand that new aad
A,"vpcrienccd teachers must never be
j,iacrd in charge OF the little ones, and
nntil teachers themselves can be matc
SIS realize that the position OF teacher
in the primary school Is the nuhlest OF
In, we have but little expectation q
school work, such as our people have
a RIGHT to demand Whenever an in
,Nrvricnced teacher is placed i'll charge
al primary school, the school is
wronged, and the teacher himself is
wrongcd, What are the qualifications
81 one who has never taught: simply
scholastic requirements. These are
valuable Indispensable, III grammer
schools. Primary schools want these
requirements also, but they must have
III addition, knowledge and experience
on the part OF the teacher Scholastic
ability will enable a teacher to main
tain her position in grammer school
While she is acquiring that experience
uttainable only in the school rooms
The mistakes, crrcrS, that all new teach
vrS do. and always will, commit, are OF
less account, ami more readily correct
vd, in grammar schools; tor the pupils
are old enough to appreciate the teach
el's position and make allowance tor
the same II the teacher possesses the
qualities the clements, which Wlll en-
able her to become IN time living
teacher, the pupils viii be the first to
discover these qualities, and viii aid,
rather than rctard III thelr develop
mcnt Il she does not possess them,
the pupils will soon cause others iii
not the tcachcr) to comprehend the
fact and apply the remedy. There
tore, for the interest OF both school
and teacher, place the new and mex
rerienced teacher with the old pupils;
the older the better. The primary
school is the basis of our s,stem. The
work done by the teacher, effects the
whole school life Of the pupil. !! well
done, the pupils progress IN other
grades will be comparatively easy. Ii
poorly done true progress Is almost
impossible. The teacher that Is con-
scicmlious, realizes the Importance OF
her position, and strives to fulfill her
duties, does and always must perform
inorc laborious work than teachers OF
Others grades. While this is true, 1t IS
also true, that an incompetent, uniaith
1n teacher can more readily shirk the
work in their position than III any
other. The little ones can suffer, but
cannot apply the remedy, older pupils
Will not suffer long without making
known grievances.
Now the remedy is attainahle, and
.yc think will prove effective. -As the
position Of primary teacher is the most
responsible Of any, as the work is the
most laborious OF any, therefore the
Jay should be the best OF any. Pay
The primary school teacher, from fifty
TO one hundred per cent more than
you pay teacher OF any other grade,
a.l then demand age and experience
as Indispensable requisites Tor the 20
eitiuu