The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-11-19

you are III p1SStsAlOll Vi II ttTliilcii'-
will now mention some of the items OF
contract, which yuu ought to be sure
to see 10 in contracting for a school.
There are many engaged in teaching
who engage for a stipulated sum per
term, and learn nothing about the direc-
tors and the scholars before entering
upon the discharge of their duties.
They find themselves in the midst Of Il
strange and boisterOus crew of children,
whom they havn't the first normal idea
how to manage The result is that in
nine cases out of every ten they make
an inglorious failure of their work.
You should be familiar with the school
laws in order to know what power you
possess in your vocation, and also what
power those have who employ you.
Bear in mind: o. that contract that Is
JiRding, must be reduced to writing. or
made in the presence of uHiHterested
persons; % that the power of the diree-
tor over school is almost unlimited. In
making contracts with directors it is
much better to be definite If you are
not definite, many things which ought
to be attended to will be neglected, and
their neglect will initiate much against
your efforts in teaching successfully.
1. 1 a0oUId engage by tie day. The
reason why | advise You TO engage by
the day is, that IA disalTected board may
discharge you and refuse to pay you for
the work you have done. There are
other reasons for engaging by the day,
but they are subordinate to the reason
| have given.
2. Agree as to the number of days You
will be expected to teach per week, and
the number of hours you will be expected
to work during the day. Ii is II fact,
young friends, that we work more hours
than we get credit for Ia certain loca
tions you will be Obliged to repair to the
school room nearly as early a. the far
mer turns out to his work But you
only get meager pay for six hours OF
labor Then, by all means, agree to
work six hours for day.
3. Agree as TO janitor. You will iind
it n universal rule that the teacher who
il paid the highest wages has the greatest
number of oonveniences furnished for
him Hence, if you are getting S3 or -
per day, janitor will be hired for you;
but If you get II "dollar day and board
around, " you will be expected to hiie
your own ianiror Thus, yOu see veri-
fed ''to him that hath shall be given,
AMI from him that hath not shall be
taken"
4. Agree that good .fHG snail be- pre-
parad. My young friends, yom will find,
in certain localities. that poor wood is a
great drawback to Il well organized
school You will be furnished with
green, swamp ash and linn, and proba-
bly, icicles for kimllings. Perhaps you
will he furnished with four-feet wood
for wo-feet stove.
5. Ascertain the number Of pupils yoU
may expect. In manv cas.'s, when you
engage to teach, the number Of pupils
that are mentioned to yOu will not be
more than half OF the enumeration;
then. he sure To know the enumeration,
and make arrangements and demand
wages accordingly, for if you show any
spirit or ability yOu will call out a half
more scholars than yOnr predecessor.
6. Agree as to admitting ertTa lHpis.
If you are an energetic teacher, and the
community to which you are going know
it, they will, in all probability, overrun
your school with foreign pupils, to the
manifest disadvantage of your pupils,
who ought to receive yonr whole atten-
ton.
Z. Agree as to tert JookS It is best
not to call for new kind OF text books.
You ought to have it understood that
the pupils must be furnished with books,
and if possible, n uniformity of text
books. Bear in mind that il is Il decided
imposition upon your patrons TO be call
ing for a change of text books every
time a worthless series is palmed off on
the public. have taught many terms,
and have never found it necessary 10
make a change of text books.
8. Agree as to extra branches yoH lCU
be eaDected to teach. The common
branches are the only ones provided for
in the common schools. But if you can
find time, | would advise you to teach
an extra branch. 1t will afford you an
excellent opportunity to fit yourself
for some Of the higher branches. Let it
be some branch of practical Importance
book keeping, for instance. Any one
of Won can fit yourself in short time TO
teach some of its more useful parts.
9. Induce tie Directors 10 cisit the
school room tDith you. There can be
much good gained by visiting the school
room with the Directors. They can see
for themselves what is TO be done for the
school room before il is ready for schools
to open in. Very likely the windows are
all shattered, door off the hinges, seats
broken down, walls covered with paper.
wads, cobwebs, &c, an old stove, a
blackboard, two by six. Ifyou approach
the Directors in a proper manner, all
these things can and will be seen to.
10. See TO Proridtng apparatus. This
is the most difficult point, in my estina-
ton, with which you will have to deal.
But if you are earnest about your work,
you will, no doubt, succeed in getting
blackboards, bell, chairs, globe, sc.
Plead in earnest for them. They Ger
tainly are essential. Be ready to begin
before the day to open school. If you
pass on few days. without needed
! preparations, you will be more apt to
fzzle out. Truly yours,
NJ. V. SwITzKR.