The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-03-31
TEACHERS WAGES.

may say viii not be thought out OF
place.
TEACHERS WAGES.
1t seems to me that in many cases,
with the hope to get cheap teachers,
directors employ those that are ex-
ceedingly dear. A good teacher at
$50 per month, is cheaper than
poor one at $50. An old sentence,
which l was once required to analyze
and parse, is, "The hardest thing to
learn is to learn to unlearn what
we've learned amiss." A poor,
cheap CD teacher is employed for .
time, and if he is succeeded by a
good one, half the time is lost in cor
recting his false teaching. My ad-
vice is that directors secure efficient
teachers, and provide for them so
literally as TO be able to retain them.
Nothing, to-day, works 80 much in
jury to our schools as this constant
change of teachers. Get good teach
ers and KEEP them.
Some townships have established .
rule which it would be we'll to cstab.
lish in every township. They dis
criminate between good and poor
teachers in the matter of salary.
They make arrangements to pay o
first class teacher $40 per month, .
second class $35, and a third class
$50. I am pleased 20 know, TOO,
that these townships usually pay $40
Paying . teacher as he is worthy is
an inducement to him to acquire
proficiency; but so long as stick in
the-mud gets as good q salary as .
systematic teacher, so long will there
be want Of good talent in the pro-
fession Of teaching.
A man wanting a plow does not
say that he will pay $12 for it, be it
good or bad, but he goes to the differ
ent shops, and, when be has found
one that suits him he pays for it.
He may pay more than $12 or he
may get it for less, but he suits him
self. 1t seems to me that directors
should not advertise for the cheapest
teachers, but for the best.
propose with the aid of the
teachers) to organize Teachers
Townships Associations, and l hope
the directors will attend the meetings
of these associations; as by so doing
they can form a very correct idea Of
the qualification Of the different
teachers.
In unity of action there is success,
and trus: we shall all work togeth-
er in this cause.
wish to say by way Of postscript,
that l can be found in my office at
the Court House every Saturday. I
shall be pleased to see any school of.
fcor or teacher on any business per.
tanning to schools. Directors wanting
teachers will please let me know of
it.
NoTEs.
Thursday, March 80, found me in 4th
Primary Room Of OFT. Pub. School.
l am aware tnat teachers can work
more effectively in graded, than in
a mixed school, and l was prepared
to see better work done than is usual
in our mixed schools. / ,cas not dis
appointed. think little less con-
cert, and more individual recitation,
wonld save much confusion, and in
sure more individual responsibility.
| wish those teachers who doubt
whether little folks can be taught to
sing by note or not, could have heard
this school sing. They would doubt
no longer. | strongly urge upon
teachers that they introduce music
into thoir schools; especially into
their primary classes. As youth is
the time to impress persons with
love for the true and the beautiful in
nature, it seems proper that they
should be taught music,-the most
refining and enlightening of the Arts.
Next week l shall give synopsis of
tho method IS practlced by the pri.
mary teachers Of the Des MOines and
Ottumwa Public schools.