Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1872-06-27
Few Remarks.

No teacher should be selected for any
school unless thoroughly qualified for it.
We can endure poor laborers upon the
farm, in the shop and mill, support poor
lawyers, and endure poor preaching. but
cannot afford to have poor teachers. We
are sharp and shrewd to employ only the
best in all other callings. regardless of
cost, but in our teaching force the result
is often reversed, and We seek the cheapest,
regardless of quality. Perhaps this is
wise possibly it may be bat We do not
see it in that light. How shall we secure
good teachers? In, several ways COM
bined. Offer good pay set the standard
high; require good work ; see that it is
performed retain the good teacher term
after term hire early choose Jour best
men for agents, me who will conscien-
tiously perform their duty.
Teachers are often accepted, because
they offer to teach for low wages, without
reference to their qualifications. Small
districts have but little money, and there
fore look for cheap teachers, regarding
quantity of more weight than quality.
They overlook the great fact that one
week of good schooling is better han four
of such as theyaoften get. Ifgood teach
ers are neededsanywhere it is in small,
backward schools; and here is just where
we seldom find them. Fhe good teacher
cannot and will not teach for the same
pay for which poor slipshod one can be
had. This principle holds good in our
teaching force. as in our laboring. indus
trial, Of professional force.
There is "a great want of competent
teachers. and those who really prove to be
irst-class should be retained, even by pay
ing very high wages. Time is money with
us all. 1t is really more economical to
pay good teachers high wages, than to
accept poor ones for nothing,-yea, even
than to receive pay from them as privi-
lege money for teaching, or rather keeting
schooL,-for the time saved, the better
progress made, and the better quality Of
the work will be found t. pay. Does
some one say. II suppose if we could So
cure a normal school scholar for teacher
in our school it would. be better" Per-
haps but how soon may we expect, with
present prospects, normal graduates
enough for teachers to all our public
schools? Not this year, nor the next,
certainly. And when We remember that
not all who pass through these training
schools will be irst-class teachers.-in
fact are not the range of possibility of SO
being.-we may well look for some other
source of supply to meet present wants
and future contingencies. Normal schools
are aiding US largely. but they can not
accomplish everything.
The employment of young and often
poor teachers tends to lower the general
standard of qualification and also the
general standing of the schools. The idea
is prevalent in many places, that if the
teacher knows a lite more than the schol-
airs, he will do. So he will do-do moth
ing and poor schools result. And,
again, poor teachers are brought to bear
upon us through favoritism. Somebody's
wlfe's thirty-third neice or twelfth cousin
wants a school, and through. door-yard
kin OF political combination she, he, or it,
is secured and installed. When we can
lift our schools above these influences,
raise the standard 20 as to exclude these
vampires, then We shall have accomplish
ed a truly berculean task. 1t can be
done.
Low wages at home are constantly
driving our best teachers to other States
or other caillngs, where better induce
ments are offered.
Small districts. by this. are often left
to the choice of 10 schools. or poor teach
EA