The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-01-08
EDUCATIONAL.
FOR the Jcllef>Otlistil.
AN APPEAL TO TEACHERS.

EDUCAllONAL.
For the JefIersonian.
AN APPEAL TO TEACHERS.
Those who understand and appre-
ciate the value of 9u education, the
quantity and quality of which tends
so much toward fitting the young
for the active duties of life and max
ing them vast powers either for good
or evil, will readily accede the prop
osition that esteachers should labor
to prepare themselves for their vOca-
tions."
The yearly increase of population,
and the present rising standard OF
mental development on the part OF
the public generally, strongly demand
a higher quality ofinstructors Men
are just awakening to the fact that
the mind needs food as well as the
body, and that in order to expand its
different functions, bring out its pc
culiar powers and fit it for higher
and nobler state of existence, this
food must be wisely chosen and
properly administered.
To you, teacher, is submitted this
important task. You mould minds
for eternity, and, however humble
you may be. WELD a mystic power,
which, though silent and almost un-
noticed, amid the clang and clatter of
political contentious, makes the ma
ton what it is.
Is it not then a question of great
moment, not only to the people, but
to you, show to prepare for the
faithful discharge Of the teachers
Office ?''
1t is humiliating fact that great
many enter the teachers profession
who never read an educational work,
and consider educational periodicals
as a useless waste of time and money.
The public demand higher grade
of teachers. They want men and
women to teach their children who
are fully alive to the interests of the
vocation. and nothing short of full
preparation will secure this.
1t may be argued, and frequently
is, when a more thorough prepara-
ton is urged upon teachers, that the
exceedingly low wages received,
render this impracticable, if not i'm
possible. All we have to say is that
there is more truth than poetry in the
argument.
The average monthly wages of
teachers in this county, during the
school year ending Aug. 3lst, 1867,
are $326l for males, and females (Ofi
course much lower) s21.44. Com
ment is unnecessary.
You toll, faithful teacher, from
morn till night, with a great load OF
responsibility, resting like sorrow
on the soul, and receive in compensa-l |
ton % fewpaltry dollars (S32, ,6l) {
per month! given, like the crumbs
to Lazarus, of Scripture memory,
grudgingly, as if it is money thrown
away! But in order to remedy this
evil, let the teachers all over the State
prepare themselves for their business
thoroughly, and then demand a proper
remuneration for their labors.
Among the means most patent for
the accomplishment of this end is
s'the Teachers Institute" 1t is
doing a noble work for the advance
ment of education, and is destined to
do more May success attend it.
But it being held yearly, and last
ing only one week, fails TO accom-
plish any great ends in this direc-
tion, ,thro' wan. of time te enter prac-
tically into the subjects discussed.
The different branches are taken up,
questions on school government are
agitated, but when We become deeply
interested therein, we find that the
week has rolled away and the session
closes.
Now in county like ours, num-
bering about 754 teachers, fail to
see why We could not have a month
ly Institute, to be held on the first
Saturday OF each month, lasting one
day.
We can if we aoiN,. thereis the sub.
stance OF it. If only one half of the
whole number attends (which is max
ing liberal deduction) we should
have 377, as many as we could ac-
commodate. {
This project, If carried out, would
be the means of producing much
good. 1t would show the parents
and Boards of Education throughout
the county that we are in earnest
about this matter; it would electrify
our weary companions IN labor, and I
breathe into them a spirit of deter /
mination for renewed effort, and I
spread abroad an influence that would
be seen and felt by all. Will not ,
our leading men see to it? h
j. d. F. s