Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-02-09
About Teachers.
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never liked children - said a teacher
OF our district school.
Then why do You teach 2" said |.
Because | need the money | shall get at
the close Of the term. You know our family
are not wealthy, and we must do for our
selves what our hands find 10 do. Teaching
ia most respectable aud not hard work only
six hours of the day for my employers, aud
the rest Of the time to amuse myself. IL is
so nice 10 be fixed up and be lady boarder
and only ones self TO keep in order. And it
is not an unpleasant feature 10 be the envy
of those girls who have no education. on ac.
count OF ones superior abilities. Then to
have all the little urchins gazing at yeu with
wide, open eyes and mouth, every time YOU
put on a fresh dress, new ribbon, or a set
Of bright jewelry, is equal TO going to fair.
Again. there is q better chance TO get ac-
quainted with all the nice beaux If one
teaches school. ! really think it is a sort of
charmed, humming-bird life, fitting from
one district 10 another-a summer here aud
winter there. Aud oh, such hosts OF
friends as one makes, too !" And the bright
young butterfly, with a china doll face,
clasped her hands in ecstacy at thoughts Of
the gaieties she enjoyed.
!, too, had made teaching profession for
half a score of years. But with what diff
ferent view had | commenced my life work
had never taught simply for the monetary
reward. From my earliest remembrance !
had hoped to have the honor of teaching the
youth of our land. Indeed, have never
been quite sure that my cogtations while in
the little pine cradle, with my thumb in my
mouth, were not something in regard TO
4. 4 n. Al.
etc Certain it is | had not found my third
birthday ere ! had commenced studying.
Aud in less than year had declared my
intention and had marked out my life work
I must teach. There was no thought of
any reward other than imparting knowle edge
had obtained to Others
When had reached my sixteenth birth
day and had placed in my hand teachers
certificate il added nothing to my dignity
as had taught more or less for the last ten
years merely for the sake of helping others.
should still continue my work for no other
purpose. To be sure | should receive a sal
ary; but that would only help me to extend
my labors of love to those more needy than
myself How much was to be spent for dress
aud gay ribbons, was a second consideration,
if considered at all
My life in the school-room was always a
busy one. There was so much to b. ac-
complished, morally as well as intellectually;
for was not assisting to train the future
teachers, ministers and statesmen of our
grand Western home Though so young !
felt all the responsibility of my station. !
desired TO see our ship of state manned by
powerful oarsmen. The time was not TO be
frittered away in planning only for gayeties
OF life. There was work for muscle and
brain there were vacant places for all strong,
able men and women And some of them
would sooner or later be filled with the little
tyros before me. Early and late worked
with and for them, only wishing | could
make them feel the necessity of Improving
the minutes as felt it for them.
Love them 2--if they had been part of my
very self, they could hardly have been dearer
to me. And | never hear a teacher say she
has no love for children that | do not feel
like telling her to keep out of the school
room and choose some less responsible avo-
cation. II she, or he, has no love for the
the little ones, think you such a teacher will
take the pains TO make the schoo-room of
all places in the world the most interesting
When children must be urged and driven
to school, be sure the teacher is more OF less
at fault. IL the text books are dry, let the
lessons be made interesting by some extra
effort on the teachers part. There is such
thing as drawing the pupils into the school
room in such way that only the command
of parents and guardians will keep them
from their accustomed seats. 1t is only in
being thoroughly interested that progress is
made. What wonder that we find children
attending school year after year, and yet
making no advancement, when the teachers
are only interested in getting pin money for
a bright ribbon with which to entrap the
beaux Tor a gilded watch and chain to fas
cinate some fair damsel who has not yet
learned to distinguish the difference between
fire-git and pure gold