New-York tribune., 1874-11-20
A WRONGED PROFESSION.

VI all the learneu prOIcSSIOno, tctChhS h"'
the least social distinction. The clergyman,
the lawyer and the doctor all have an un-
defined but very perceptible rank above a
teacher, who is neither a college president nor
professor. Once in while man OF earnest
character and rich attainment, who is by
chance at the head of preparatory school,
perhaps will conquer society by force OF those
gifts But, as a rule teachers, however ac-
complished, outside our higher institutions, do
not receive the social recognition that by virtue
of their important work at least they deserve.
So palpable and wOunding is this fact that 1t
is sometimes more than limited at in teachers
meetings and school publications.
This disesteem which seriously harms the
profession. and, reactng through the school
system, tn0se also VINO feel 1t, has its actual
foundation in-mOney. First, if least I'M
portant, among its causes, is the char
acteristic American liking for that COM
Portable possession, and equally character
istic disregard of the people who have
none. Then comes in the question of cultiva-
ton. With little or no prospect OF advance
ment in the profession and with starvation
salaries in almost every branch of it, there are
great numbers Of teachers who are not brave
enough and not strong enough to endure the
strain of reaching fine and graceful culture
They cannot rightfully be blamed for this
they are permitted to fight only for daily bread
and few clOthes-but what leisure or what
incentive have they for the winning of mOref
Speaking in the gentlest way, it must be
said that teaching in this country is
the subject of the most short-sighted
injustice 1t is outrageous that profession
which in its noble and imperative work
touches the mark with theology and medicine,
should give to its cleverest members little
more than the poor necessities of life should
offer them no hope of an old age made COM
Portable by the work of their prime. it is
the absolute truth that the salaries paid to
public school teachers are as small as in any
sort of human decency can be given. Public
money is spent lavishly on many O popular
folly, we are generous in building magnificent
school houses, but when changes are made In
the starveing salaries of teachers they are
often in q downward direction. One cOnse-
uuence is that men of lively and original
mind who happen to step into the profession
Use If merely as one round of life's ladder,
and climb out of it as soon as possible. OF
with good natural aptitude is shaped in the
struggle with constant hard times into the
prejudiced and thoroughly conservative ped
agogue who is not the least bane of our
school system. Without much leisure to use
the means of intellectual expansion, and with
out money to purchase them, he becomes a
teacher by rote; his poverty first, and then
his will consents to a routine without fresh
ness and inspiration. The faults of our sys-
tenn are many and grievous, as an almost
unanimous complaint attests; and half Of
these faults are directly traceable to the posi-
tive ignorance and indifference of teachers
Instead of severely censuring them, however
it might be as well to distribute the blame,
not leaving out niggarjly and thoughtless
school boards and. committees. We have no
possible cOmmendatiOn for incompetent teach
ers, but it must be said that they give as
much as their salaries rightly call for. In
advocating wOrthier remuneration we do not
mean to offer premiums to incOmpetency.
We want better teachers; larger and more
rigid preparation for the profession; higher
standards of admission; and, best of all, the
enthusiastic devotion of profcients. We urge
that salaries should be large enough to invite
men and women of proper capacities to the
work; and that the requirements should be so
severe as to exclude all incapables. When
these needs are met, the morale of the pro-
fession will instantly rise, and the profession
itself will take its own deserved place in
social esteem.
The text of our small sermon we have kept
to the last. 1t is announced that the incomes
of teachers in the public schools of this city
incomes already painfully small-are to be re-
duced seven per cent. If anything can exceed
the meanness of this action it is its stupidity.
1t is simply calling upon the mentally poor,
manned, halt and blind to come and prepare
for their work in life the fresh, bright, and
malleable young generations.
Tv,;,L % n man frll of fhoaa bland emOtiona which