The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-10-06

wall) to 5000 loss Of time lin the ratio Of
wages) $500. total st525. This is quite
percentage on a or 5 months term at 500
or S25 per month, and "boArd himself"
OF course there are some advantages
accruing TO the teacher from institute that
do not sensibly affect his school, yet ho
could forego these. The objective point
in teaching IS bread and bntter certainly
there is coupled with this motive a love
for tile profession and all that, but who
would expect any one to engage in a call
ing that would not provided the neces-
ssries? The law requires the institute;
it does not require the teachers attend
ance yet it does give to the Supt. the
power to dc-grddc his certificate i'm the
practice of teaching; it then ought TO
provide some incentive or at least imply
1t. The desire to excel and to keep up
with his fellow laborers in the "science
and art" of teaching is an incentive; the
fear of an increase in the figures and de-
crease IN the value ofNlis certificate is
another; the desire to become acquainted
with the teachers and friends of eduCatiof
in the county, and the opportunity Of
being drought out prominently" by
engaging in institute work, these ar0
strong inducements no doubt they
ought to be sufficient, but they are not;
the allowance of the time is an incentive
that has more weight than all these COM
bined with the large body ofteachers. One
reason is this when such provision is
made by the board it conveys to the teach
er's mind the idea that the board is inter-
ested in educational matters willing to
afford the teacher every advantage in it's
power and consequently expects return
of these favors from the teacher through
his school, and thus acts as a spur in
urging tic teacher on to the grasping and
application of the advantages afforded.
The question is sometimes argued in
this way that the, people can not afford to
| give tho teacher so much of the time
belonging to their children. If people
were as Jealous practically as they are
theoretically then the argument would be
one OF considerable force. Now but few
children are kept in school so closely as
they might be or ought to be; they are
often allowed to absent themselves unnec-
essarily, to go nutting, to so visiting, &C.,
&C., the inference is easily drawn. But
the school will be benefited by the insti-
tute through the teacher, if he be a good
one, and ifhe be not, better pay him for
staying away week than let him teach
week for nothing. But the strongest ar
gument against the allowance of time is
that teachers abuse the privilege when it
is given that some teachers are paid for
five days attendance atinsiitute when they
are really there only about one half the
time; that they are tardy at institute sess-
ions; that they do not take amy part in
institute work, &C., &c. There may bo
some grounds for the charges, yet they do
not affect our best teachers, and snould
the innocent suffer for the wrong of tho
gnilty? Now there is remedy for these
evils. The law requires that each county
superintendent upon the assembling of
the teachers institute of his county shall
cause 2 roll Of members to be prepared
which roll shall be called at least twice
every day duriug the session of the insti-
tute, and all absentees carefully marked, y
&c, &c.
If this requirement of the law were full
filled it would be an easy matter for the
superintendent to forward the respective
school boards of this county copy Of this
report. IN this way tardy and delinquent
teachers would be shown up. That teach
ers do not take part in institute work can
hardly be urged against the teachers of
Forest, and if it be urged we think we do
the teachers only justice TO say that it is
not generally their fault. Our older teach
ers are generally ready, and do do work /;
our younger teachers, and those,who come
new into our county are backward gener-
ally tits true. If our teachers were made
acquaieted with what the program for
institute would probably be, and reques-
ted to prepare upon some particular kind
of work we mistake tho calibre of our
teachers if there would not be II hearty
response, and sweeping refutatiOn of the
) implied Incidence of the body pedogogic
in Forest.
, Thanking you for so much space in your
valuable paper we are,
Respectfully,
"QUILLIs."
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