The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-11-16

WUktulok$S III luo SCuOOi-IOOms LILO gu
perintendent is bound by the record and
] is not allowed to exercise his discretion
| and treat such knowledge as rubbish,
what it is in fact. He must gather up
the fragments and treat them in their
fractional capacity with the same regard
that lucid, complete and satisfactory an
swers would receive. The knowledge
which the teacher acquires by hasty
memorizing of facts during the few days
preceding the examination is absolutely
worthless in his capacity of teacher. The
work donefor any considerable time with
direct reference to examination is rather
burdening the mind than melting it to
healthy activity. When education is
limited in its application to the degree OF
proficiency requisite to obtaining the
lowest kind of certificate which the law
recognizes, the outlook for our schools
is unpromising. The ambition of many
of our young ladies DESTROYS to become
instructors of youth, does not rise above
permission from competent authority to
be such. Their comprehension of a
teachers duties includes nothing more
than what will secure for them federation,
and that degree of industry needed to
secure a school. As there is nothing
laudable in their ambition, there is moth
ing creditable in their work and they just
meet the requirements of those districts
| whose only concern is to maintain school
| five months so as to secure state aid
Those persons whose ideas of the teach
ers' calling embodies no higher purpose
than what the emoluments cover, are
persistent in s'trying their luck" and
when they fail either ''luck is against
them" or they are the victims of unjust
discrimination.
To throw the public schools open to
this class would be to encourage super
ficiality and gather into the business of
teaching those purposeless, needless per-
sons who have no capacity for serious
thoughts or for sense of responsibility.
1t would be to give public notice that
school work may be subordinated to all
he frivolities, all the so-calied ''claims"
OF society which consume the time and
exhaust the energies of giddy girls. And
still the policy adopted by many of the
school districts of this county in carrying
economy to the verge of parsimony has a
tendency to place our schoolsin the hands
of such persons. That policy is indeed
suicidal which would make it possible to
bring the class above described, into
successful competition with the many
earnest young women now engaged in
teaching in this county to whose merit it
is pleasure to bear testimony and whose
success entities them to the respect of
all and the special consideration of
school boards.
Scarcity of teachers, so sensibly felt in
this county, is a common complaint
throughout the state. The people are
largely responsible for this. The deter
mination to lower wages has driven a
large number into other employments,
and has developed well defined purpose
on the part of many at present engaged
in teaching, to change occupations when
opportunity offers. While deploring this
fact we must justify the teacher in his
determination to seek something more
permanent and remunerative. The rem
edy is in the hands of the people and
they should apply it Immediately and
stop this exodus so injurious to the pub
lie schools. Due consideration should
be given to the fact that the teacher
spends considerable portion of the year
unemployed, and mat his expenses con-
tinue without salary to meet them
There is no pursuit which offers less in
ducements to the ambitious. and less
promise for the acquisition of wealth.
And there are few whose demands are
more arbitrary, or give rise to more
anxiety. The compensation should be
commensurate with the arduousness of
duties, and the enforced inaction and in
security of position should receive con-
sideration in determining the salary to be
paid.
So much has been said on the subject
of discriminating in favor of these teach
ers holding the better grade of certificates
that refer to it now with hesitancy.-
But its Importance makes frequent refer
ence to it proper. School boards are now
much more critical in their examination
of certificates than was their custom
But they are hampered by the economy
observed by the annual school meeting in
levying taxes for teachers wages, and
while their judgment dictates otherwise,
the board are constrained to make the
means at their disposal measure of the
qualifications of the teacher they employ.
A number of our best teachers have Sc
cured schools in other counties where
salaries are better. If our annual meet
ings were guided by more liberal spirit
our county would continue to profit by
the services of these teachers and tax
payers would suffer no hardship,
John NAeLE,
County Superintendent.
November Is, 1882.
THE "COMET."