The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1881-02-24
A TALK WITH TEACHERS.

To tic Editor Of tie Eagle:
What can We do to interest parents and
school boards In their schools? This is q
question have asked myself OF late. believ-
ing it an essential one. We ms teachers 20
to our school rooms and teach day after day.
week after week, going through the usual
routine Of duties as We have laid them down
| In cur programme, cOnscientOusly and to
the best Of our ability. Yet what is our real
success:
The people in the district say to the ques-
ton, "Are you having a good school -
"Well, yes Mr.. or Mrs. So-and-so Is getting
along very well, l believe. She seems to
have no trouble. have never visited the
school, but they say she is doing very WE'LL"
Now. how many there are, in answer to
questions pertaining to our schools, would
talk about like that-a vague and uusatisfac-
tory description.
1t is real pleasure TO meet \ man who
speaks out boldly and says, ''Yes, sir; We
have good school, and a No. teacher. Our
people here take great interest in educa-
tional matters. and they are getting so they
cannot be very easily wheedled into the be-
lief that they are having good school when
they are not. We visit our school quite often,
and We find that it pays. Our school board
takes pride in attending promptly to the
needs Of the school, visits it Often, and the
consequence Is teacher and pupils take great
er interest, and real advancement is made"
Every teacher knows that in the majority
Of cases, if she gets along well in the man.
agement Of her school SO as to have no par
ticular trouble, why that generally satisfies
the people. But let pin get crosswise in
the cOmmunity's throat in regard to school
children, and what muss occurs. As the
case now stands, too, teacher has no incen-
tive to do good work. As long as peace is
kept in school everything is ''all right aud
the teacher is doing good work in the eyes Of
the people. But il rapid advancement is
made, there Is little if anything said.
Teachers need "incentives, as well as pu-
pills, anu think it would be AS well at teacl.-
ers' associations and nnrmas to discuss Gin
centives'' for teachers as well rs for pupils
believe school visitation by boards and
parents to be an incentive to teachers to do
better work, but the question is, how can we
secure it!
l have heard the following plan advocated /:
At stated periods, say two or four times
year, let there be school board meeting at
some centrally located place in the county, in
which all persons interested in education
teachers aid school boards especially-shall
meet and discuss topics bearing directly on
their duties as officers and patrons of schools.
A programme could be made out. and think
a very interesting and profitable time could
be had
Here is another plan: Let our county SUI
perntendent prepare a list of examination
questions. Then notify all teachers that at
mitted to their schools for examination, the
teachers and board, if desired, to conduct
the examination. and report back to the SUI.
perintendent the result Of the trial. Then
have them published in the county papers.
This plan. think, would give teachers some
thing to work for, and in turn give pupils
something for which to work.
The teacher, if she had any pride in her
success in teaching. would urge upon her
pupils the necessity of application to study
in order 10 pass the required examination,
and the pupil would also take pride in trying
to excel.
am aware Of the fact that good argument
may be used against the examination PLAN"
in that it creates q sort Of hot bed growth,
Thus endangering the life of some pupils
but notwithstanding this, apprehcnd that
nine-tenths Of the children OF the country
would not suffer very much if this plan were
adopted. The fact lie, the children in the
country do not study any too hard to hurt |
them.
think if this plan were adopted it would |
lead TO another question, and one worthy to
be considered, viz: grading Of country |
schools.
Now, fellow teachers. let Us hear from you |
On these topics. Are they worth your con-
c. +. KING.
JAMESBuRG ROLL OF HONOR.
iuy Myers. Andrew Siever.
John Roberts, Charley Sieyer,
Noah Siever, James Siever,
Martin Cook. Bell Roberts,
Slanch Dresser. Versa Cook.
Respectfully,
c. +. KING, Teacher.
Jamesburg, February 10. 1851.