The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-10-06
The Teachers, their Examination, and
their Pay.


their Pay.
In another column we present an article
nom the Cincinnati Commercial, the leading
Ohio paper, on tho farce which is performed
in that State In examining teachers every
two, five, or ten gears rs the case may be. If
that paper tad been writing FOR South Caro-
lima it might nave said that such a perform
ance has taken place every year, and that
every TEACHER in the state has been as often
REQUIRED TO 60 TO the Court House OF tEe
County in which he lived and spend a
whole day in answering questions that had
about as much practical utility in teaching
children in a public school, as q knowledge OF
Sanscrit. The fact that a teacher knows the
name of the highest mountain In Europe or
the crookcdcst river in America certiiCs very
little Of the teachers ability to teach. AS far
MS VIC have observed, the questions prepared
for the teacher are mpracticable, and even If
every one of these interrogatorIcs should be
properly answered, such answers are by no
means an infalllble test OF his fitness TO take
charge or little children, and instruct them In
the rudiments OF the English language. All
practical questions concerning teaching, dis
riplinc and the management OF two dozen
children Of both sexes, of all sizes, n
various degrees OF advancement seem to be
carefully excluded, and so long as the teacher
can tell the distance from "Jcricho to Confcd-
rick Cross Roads by water" he is all right,
and receives his first grade certificate. There
seems 10 he another insuperable objection to
the present impracticable plan OF the yearly
examination OF applicants. There Is not a
man In America who can, In any reasonable
length Of time, read and give an intelligent
Nea of the proficiency Of one hundred and fit-
~ or two hundred applicants, in answering
these questions. Each applicant Is re-
Qulrcd to bring n quantity Of paper and after
writing for four or five hours. It is fair to pre-
sumo that he has scribelcd over at least from
six to ten pages of foolscap paper. To decide
exactly between the merits OF these appli-
cants in such n pill Of rubbish would be a
herculean task and one which we think would
REQUIRE a great deal Of time and labor.
The browning, error, which shows the total
luck OF practical sense in the management OF
the school teachers, is the presumption that
they have forgotten in the past year their
knowledge Of the ranches which they have
been teaching. Some one once said that the
only way TO know anything thoroughly, was
to teach 1t, but 1t seems that the head OF the
school system would reverse this truism by
saying those who teach are most apt to for
get.
There Is another matter which should re.
ceivc the Alteration Of our people, and espe-
cially of those having control Of the public
fund. The money collected for the schools Is
nearly onc-Goarth OF ai the taxes paid Into
the treasury by our people, and us yet, 1t
seems that the expenditure OF this fund has
received very little attention from the
officials, and 1t also appears that there are no
settled rules for spending 1t. OF ono thing,
however. we are certain. In this day OF re-
trenchment and reform, 1t is not a good time
10 Increase the salaries of teachers. We are
satisfied that teachers OF our public schools
should not draw from the treasury more than
so a month. This would give an ANIMALS sal
ury Of $50, for nine months service. Those
desiring 10 nave their children taught the
higher branches, could afford to supplement
the public fund by their individual cont-ibu-
tions. The public schools should be kept open
<or the scholastic year, AID they can be kept
open for that length Of time, If the salary is
reduced to a proper figure. The public schools
are for all classes alike, and 1t Is intended to
ptIlCllG III 81 oAiNSf WV "" ~"N s'' ~
lone II first grade teachers absorb the money
In q few months teaching the higher branch.
es to the more advanced children?
The fuct that thirty-seven teachers applied
for the vacancy occasioned in the Graded
School at this place by the resignation Of Miss
Livingston is proof conclusive that good
teachers may be had at q small salary. The
fortunate winnero Of the situation at Abbcvllle
is q graduate OF q college, has had experience
in teaching. and comes highly recommended.
The scholastic term, we believe Is ten months
and the pay S250a year or s35 a month. II the
geptleman can Afford 10 quit his business
and pay his board at q hotel, for q
salary of s5 o month, does 1t not prove the
extravagant management of our schools in
voting them $40 o month last !year. which lib
eral pay forced the Trustees to close their
schools IN q majority Of the townships in
three months or Iess-the teachers had then
received $40 for three months services, when
n majority Of them would have been glad to
have taught six months for the same money.
It is known that some OF these same teachers.
after the public money was exhausted, propos-
teaching for n salary of so a ~month-just
Tuil Tx ullouut palo Wy hO
Contractors and others work for the Gov
eminent for less pay than they do for
Srivate individuals, because OF the absc.
Mte certainty Of the pay. In like manner
Governments borrow money ut a much lower
rate Of interest than private individuals can.
At present the United States government
pays only four per cent. interest on her
bonds, and they are at q premimum, even at
this low figure. But II q private individual
wants money he has to pay a much higher
figure. On the same principle, a teacher who
will work for the patrons OF n school for SO,
and take the risk OF getting the money from
them. should work for the government for
SIS, when the money is certain. The public
school money Is not q bounty to be divided
among fortunate holders of first grade certIf.
Gates, and the Trustees Of the different town
ships should be held toa strict accountability
for any unwarranted waste Of the children's
money.