The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-01-19
In Defence of the Teachers.

For months have the county papers been glut,,,
ted with articles in defence OF the Gamers,
said articles always brstlng with Indignation
when the least restriction is limited that would
retard the development of the business, and thus
diminish the accumulation Of ne almighty dol
tics as follows Isl, 900 is the combined
amount of money handled during the pack of 50,
@0P and f s ali pgh
and thanks to the Almighty for His kind bless
ings; for it is right that we should increase our
"talent''-yea, an hundred fold. AS this business
increases the teachers salary decreases, under
the present existing law; for children are kept at
home during the canning season; to help support
themselves, and to make up the deficit in the
amount of required labor necessary for the
work.
Teachers are no more nor less than human be-
ings, endowed with the same attributes that a
"canner" is and must eat, dress and live, not
merely exist, yet we never hear word in their
defence, unless tbs from some one of their frater-
nifty who becomes indignant over his down-trod-
den brethren. Teachers in Hartford county are
held accountable for the general average of their
schools in order to get their hard-earned money,
despite rains, SHOWS, extreme heat and cold sick
ness and death. If within the bounds of King
Malaria, where hardly single pupil is Tree from
his dread power; if through some meteorological
disturbance we have great storms, when the
windows of heaven are opened the wan skele-
ton of scarlet fever or the disgusting and terrible
form OF smallpox may be near; or the less dread
but more musical whooping-cough may rage and
bad colds may abound, produced by cheap and
open schooi-houses; ali this, yea, more, bring
their forces to bear against good attendance but
the teacher is expected TO keep up his average or
lose the little pittance that is meted out to him
and when he appeals for redress be answered with
the aggravating, worn-out and thresdhare infor-
nation, that he must bring more personal iniiu-
ence to work create an interest in his school; ;
throw your whole soul into your work; try to get
your pupils 10 realize the necessity of an educa'
Gentlemen, we have tried this; we have
wrestled hard with the problem; we have not
only thrown our whole souls into the work, but
hundreds of dollars into the treasury OF Hartford
county, that was levied and collected To be given
TO the teachers, in return for their labor, but
which they have never gotten.
This is the result of defective legislation some
where and shame to the proper authorities for IT'S
continuance. In order to secure first grade
teachers" the law says, you shall receive one
hundred dollars per quarter for your labor; but
should he unluckily get u poor school, where is
the vaunted hundred dollarst If he has an aver,
age of fifteen below the required standard, land
many schools in the county will not average as
much) he has seventy dollars in his pocket, minus
for him, till the judgment day.
This is Hartford county justice; but ii is at total
variance with that equity emanating from the
great Statute Book of the Judge of Judges, and
the sooner the odious act is repealed the better
for public education. -
The common expression of all patrons is: 1.-THE
teachers do not receive enough money, for when
their expenses are paid what have they!' Moth
ing, save the knowledge gained, that they cannot
make teaching lifetime business; Every year
going in other and more lucrative work, and this
will continue as long as no better inducements
are PlNCU Oh INC scilupl VIII
a struggling condition. A greater satisfaction
would prevail without an increase OF salary, II
what is offered would be secured.
The law says, that for each pupil that is needed
to make a certain number, the teacher loses two
dollars but if he has fifty pupils more than that
certain number, he does not receive one cent
more and it is a poor rule that won't work both
ways Why make such distinction in schoOlsT-
A small school, equally with large one requires
the entire time and attention OF the teacher from
A. NJ, TO y. NJ, leaving no time for other bus
mess and il costs the former teacher just much
TO live as the latter. If a reduction was made in
salary is reduced all would exclaim, 80, wise and
upright Judge" We do not throw all this burden
upon the Board, and yet they must bear their
share, and what is meant for them is not an accu-
sation of willful neglect, but mistake on their
part but greater mistake and willful political
trick of higher authority to keep down taxation.
and thus neglect their constituents by drawing
wool over their eyes, and spending money for
stationery and incidentals and other expenses
that use up more money than would make the
much needed increase of the school fund, and of
course the taxes are no less.
School teaching is one of the highest and no.
Hest occupations of man for It's in the school
room where impressions are made that are carried
to n ncver-ending eternity, after many records
made in whatever business each may choose, be
it from the tlowery fields of song to the purity of
the pulpit, or from the lowly pursuits of life to
the impassoned debate in senatorial hallS-each
and ali acknowledge this, and many would not
hesitate to strew flowers upon the graves of the
teachers of their earlier days, who sleep the oer
nal sleep. We ask for part of these floral tributes
during life. +. L. SMITH,
Magnolia, Jan. 18th, 1883.