The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-04-06
EMPLOYMENT OF TEACHERS

No more important duty devolves
upon district boards than the employ
ment of a person properly qualified
to teach their school; for upon the
right or wrong choice depends, in
large measure, the future success or
failure of the school. Mind and heart
culture is an important work. 1t
requires tact, energy, decision, en-
thusiasm and, above all, good judg
naeaot. Set a person lacking these
qualities to build a steamboat, to
manage railroad, or to enact laws;
but never allow him to mold the
character Of our children. Such pol
lev is most disastrous in It's results.
1t is one great cause of the opposi-
ton TO our public schools. Accord
ing to statistics gathered by mem
Der of the State Assembly of 1871,
"More than copper cent. of our teach
ers have never received any insTuc-
ton in the theory and art of teach
ing; 40 per cent. are new and mex
peIienced, changing their places
every term, looking upon the school
room as mere make-shift for the
present" ''Need we WONDER" he
continues, "that their hearts and
souls are not with their calling, that
they are slaves to their textbooks,
and seem to believe that their whole
duty consists in hearing recita tions?''
Nor do we apprehend that the case
has materially changed since that
time. There are to-day very many
In Kenosha county seeking admis-
sion into our schools as teachers who
are poorly qualified for the sacred
trust imposed.
This being the case, it becomes in
cumbent upon boards to secure the
very best teachers that can be OBJ
tanned. With them chiefly rests the
responsibility. The mere fact that
a person holds a certificate is not
good evidence that such person is
well qualified to teach. A certif-
cate must be granted whenever
the candidate reaches the required
standard of intellectual qualifications
unless he has in the past shown lack
of ability in the actual work of the
school-room. Board must select
from the numerous applicants the
one who, in their judgment is best
fitted to teach their particular
school. Make the hiring of the
teacher a business transaction, and
use the same good sense that is en-
ployed IN other matters>ot business,
instead Of accepting the first one
who presents himself with a certif-
cate properly indorsed, and who will
teach for low wages, and much bet
ter satisfaction will result.
But when the supply exceeds the
demand, as at present, wages must
be low; nor is this particularly to be
regretted. A large class of teachers
have of late years been receiving full
returns for the work done Their
education has cost them little or
nothing. They have taken very
little pains to fit themselves for their
work and have little interest in 1t.
The great injustice lies in not dis
eliminating between this class and
those who truly love their calling
and who have spent time and money
in seeking culture and high qualifca-
tons. These labor faithfully and con
scientiously, and theirlabors are usu-
ally successful; but in too many cases
they become discouraged with want
of appreciation and the meagerness
Of their salaries, and so are either
induced to leave the work or seek
some other field of labor where the
reward is mere ample. True econo
my consists in employing good teach
ers, paying good wages and then
demanding full return for the COM
pensation given.
A p ATRoN