Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-09


Increase over last year. twenty hundredths
The larger proportion of teachers are women and
their average wages per month are only thirty dol
lars and ninety-twO cents. When we consider the
care and responsibility which devolye upon the
teachers, and that comparatively few persons are
fitted for the profession when they enter it, and
that they do not intend to follow it for any great
length of time, must inevitably come to the con-
cusion that an increase of compensation is absO-
lutely necessary to the continued success of our
schools. The most costly instruction paid for is
that given by inexperienced and incompetent
teachers. The scholar suffers all his life from
contracted in his youth; and often two years at
tendance at school is of less advantage than one
would have been under a competent and faithful
teacher. A large proportion of our teachers come
from the academies of the state. They would be
much benefited by attending ''training class" be-
fore leaving school, These academies might be en-
couraged to establish such classes by small APP
preparation annually to be expended under the di-
rection of the board Of education.
The board in their last annual report, recon-
mended after careful consideration the establish
people of that city feel that they have been de-
prived in great degree, of the benefits of normal
school instruction. They claim that the normal
schools are more accessible to the people of nearly
ali the other cities of the COMMONWEALTH than TO
them; that while there are large numbers of young
persons in Worcester and vicinity who would gladly
prepare themselves to become teachers in their
public schools, they are unable to leave home and
consequently lose the advantages enjoyed by Others
The experience of the board shows that very large
portion of the pupils come from the immediate
neghborhood of the schools, and that this tendency
is increasing yearly. There is a growing demand
for teachers trained in these schools and 1t would
seem to be the dictate OF wisdom to supply this de-
mand, so far as it Is possible.
The locations of some of the normal schools are
unfortunate, but not so inconvenient us to make
their removal necessary. If they had been placed
nearer the great centers of population, much
larger number Of pupils would have attended them
for the purpose Of becoming teachers. In this
respect Worcester being the center of dense rural
population, Is very favorably situated. Several inn
portant towns In its vicinity, as well as the city,
would be accommodated, and from those towns It Is
confidently expected many pupils would be received
giving promise of a much larger school than any
now established The expense of teaching three
hundred pupils would be but little more than the
amount paid for instructing half of that number,
which is about the present size Of the normal
schools. From these considerations am induced
to cordially commend the action Of the board, and
to ask your favorable consideration OF the request of
the people Of Worcester.
we regard with the highest satisfaction the pres
ent heathful condition of our colleges, their con-
SANITY improving methods of instruction, the rising
standard of attachments required for entrance, and
the steady flow of private benecence for their i'm
provement. Most Of these institutions are now on
broad and solid foundation, the result Of wise
and faithful administration of the trusts COM
mitted by the public to their respective officers.
In the time Of their weakness the state lent them
lie efficient assistance but at present believe there