The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-04-30
EDUCATIONAL.
For the Jeffersoniau.
Hiring a Teacher. c. -.

o.
al - For the yeffersoniau u.
I'd Hiring Teacher.
ne "SoI understand.you're wantin' I
teach our school this Winter, eh Pr
- "Yes, sir; l was informed that yo
desired a teacher, and have called
= make the application. If we ca
= agree upon the price shall be hap
i Ply to engage your school,
IS every good; you're in plent,
: time. Have.y you ever taught school ?
= mo, sir, but l have devoted time
and study TO the subject of teaching
q and think that understand. the mat
5 ter. or at least the theory. A tern
of practice will greatly improve me-
"IIow old are you?,' ,.-
"Nearly seventeen
: "What! only seventeen, an(
, wsntin' to teach school,? Never i(
in the world. You had better go tc
school awhile yet, my friend.
couldn't think of hiring a boy to
teach our school. You're too young,
too young, entirely"
"But my certificate shall speak for
my qualifications look at it, 1
"'Two years. That's good, but
you're too young. You
"Here, too, is recommend from
Prof. NJ, and another from my
last teacher"
"Can't help it; yo~re too young
If you'd bring me recommend from
Com. Vanderbilt, and another from
Bill Astor, 1 wouldn't hire you"
Aud thus there are hundreds Of
Ilads-call them lads, If you please
dismissed, who, we have good rea-
sons to believe, would become earn
est, sympathizing, God-fearing In
structors.
There is an almost universal preju-
dice, especially in the rural districts.
against young teachers. 1t is re-
garded almost a crime to be young
or slender. And, in q majority OF
instances, the moment your age IS
mentioned-if under seyenteen--yOur
doom is pronounced No matter
what your qualifications may be. No
matter were you Harvard Profes-
sor, if your years number no more
than seventeen, your prospects OF
:'school-keeping" are decidedly DIM.
This might possibly have heen
passable away back in our grand
fathers days, but in the present
enlightened, educating, go-ahead
nineteeth century, it is certainly
preposterous, Time was when a.
teachers capacity was measured by
the circumference of his arms and
the general solidity of his back
This was when our friends, the stu
dents, believed most decidedly in an
active, muscular education, and when,
backed up by their worthy sires, they !
gave the teacher sundry free airlngs /
around the school house at regularly
stated intervals, in case the accus-
toned 'treat' was not forthcoming.
But these times are past, let US hope,
never to return. The battle that is
now being fought is one ofmind,
one of spirit, and he should receive
the crown who achieves the victory
the only one worth achieving here
the victory of intellect. The sum
and substance of education is to
draw out, to expand the faculties of
the mind, and he who can best adapt
the means to the end should be Sc
lected, whatever be his age or con-
ditiOe. The destiny of our country
Is bound Up in the education of her
sons. Hence it is OF the most vital
Importance that those into whose
hands is committed the task of FORM
ing these minds be of the highest
order. 1t matters not about their
age. The real question is, or should
be, "Have you the true teaching
p
When young maa comes to you
for situation as book-keeper, what
questions do you ask him? Do you
inquire as to his age, where he last
lived, what the condition of the State
from whence he came, whether he
weighs one or three hundred ? Per-
haps you do: I rather opine, however,
that you do not. You say to him
"Sir, you want money, and want
book keeper. What do you know
about the science of bookkeeping p
And if he gives you evidence that he
understands his business, you engage
him at once. 4 .-a a.E' i' ~ II
You should exercise the same
practical common sense in hiring a
teacher. When you want to test
coin, you flip. it upon the counter and
sound it; would you know genuine
teacher, you must sound him. Do
not discharge him until you are sits
fed that he is not capable of teaching; |
then, the sooner it is done the bet
Ter. What We need, what the age
demands, is q higher grade of teach |
ers, fully imbued with a real spirit
for their calling. 1t shall rest with
our common school employers ito
decide whether or no We shall have
them. You can have good teachers,
if YOU chose--or bad ones. Make 1t
a point to examine. your instructors.
They will only think the more of you
for it.. No true teacher viii refuse
to be examined Place your stand
ard high, and have it understood
that it must be fought up 700. Be
assured, that in proportion as your