The Worthington advance., 1882-08-10
EDUCATIONAL Department.
SCHOOL MATTERS.
NJ. A. DoANE, Editor.


Regarding the schools and teachers oi
the county, have found them general
ly intent upon getting and giving the
greatest possible good. There seems
to have been general lack of training
for the profession, except with a very
few. This may lie because thorough
ness was not required; however that
may be, now teachers generally seem
not only willing, but anxious to ''post
up" and become members worthy the
profession. The general ability to re-
ceive and apply ideas, has been well
shown by the aptitude with which,
many have applied what was gathered
at the Teachers Institute last April.
Even while knowing Ey experience
the value OF such institutes, have been
agreeably surprised to find so mucl,
good resulting from this in actual use.
1t speaks we'll for the natural ability of
a teacher to find him using the good
learned from any source and remOdeliRg
to suit his individual school. Honest
effort will succeed.
A number Of school officers have re-
marked to me that they had raised the
wages of teachers, and "now if you
don't give us better teachers we'll in
vite you to step out" This sounds like
good solid sense. and since l have re-
peatedly asked for better wages for our
teachers feel bound to comply. Our
home teachers will be preferred when
as we'll educated and generally intelli.
gent rs those applying from abroad.
One very serious complaint have to
make, and that is the almost entire
ignorance of the present dolngs of the
civilized world. n few, Il very few,
can tell anything about the "Chinese
question:" while not one in dozen can
tell Arab Bey from Molammed. 1t
is this, think, which has caused men
to receive generally higher wages as
teachers, than women. Men are more
likely to read the newspapers.
In the examinations for the future
this will be accounted for or against all
applicants, and reading the general
news will be considered in a degree evi-
dence of intelligence, and vice versa.
For methods and matters Of mind, an
educational journal is perhaps the best,
but that gives the school room only
while we wish to teach the tc|t0le world
and the rhole human.
AS to the government Of the schools,
l feel compelled to say that it is bad.
Not but what l find rules enough
more than enough-against noise, ETC.,
but they are of no effect. Strict rules
that keep the lhouse still, so that you
might hear the proverhial pin drop; yet
thav arr. ahSo},,ta f,i1uroS hocarco of
the commotion going on in the minds
gopher" says little fellow. Have
you any ''rnle'' to reach that?
Another point; decidedly object to
the method of having pupils report at
closing how many times they have
whispered or otherwise broken rules
during the day. Possibly some of us
have read somewhere, this: lead lis
not into temptation.' Why should
we place the temptation before the
little ones, when so many Of our own
ranks have fallen before Il like tempta-
tion, viz: to swindle the County Super
intendendent out Of his Office, by beat
ing around in a rather contemplate
manner, to dodge full examination.
or to ''teacl, any way" when they have
failed. One inch Of good straight hon
esty will last longer than Il mile of
fraud. Learn what our country de-
mands of us, self government, and
then teach it. Ignorance of what the
law requires in our profession will an
null the certificate Of any teacher in the
county. In another place I give list.
SO far rs know it, Of districts having
unlicensed teachers.