Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-28


the merits of their prize cattle, and pre-
pare proper stalls for them, who are not
at all solicitous as to the character of the
school buildings into which their children
are crowded. They will pay high salaries
to the men whom they select to train their
race horses, but thinking that anyone can
teach the immortal minds of their SONS
and daughters they not unfrequently let
out that job to the lowest bidder.
Our discussions reported in the newspa-
pers are circulated over this and adjoin
ing states, cannot fail to give to such read
ers many new ideas concerning education.
These meetings tend to raise the digni-
ty of our profession, if we may call it by
that name, for it certainly does not yet
rank with the law, medicine and theology,
and never will until great changes have
been effected in it. The ministers have
their Monday conferences, the physicians
their county and state organizations, and
the lawyers theirs. AS class we are
too retiring; we fail to mingle with
the busy world as we should, but stick to
our school rooms and studies.
HERE WE HAVE A CHANCE,
at least once year, to emerge from our
seclusion and let the world know of our
existence. We need not be ashamed of
our work. 1t is noble one and yields in
Importance to none. The physician heals
only physical disorders, the minister is
mostly occupied in trying to reclaim the
maturer slnners, the lawyer in Furnishing
criminals, but the teacher works at the
springs of life and can give that ounce of
prevention, physical and moral, that is
| better than many pounds of cure.
Children are yeritable hero-wor-
| shippers. and though teachers may be very
poer heroes, We have greater influence
| on their plastic minds than we realize.
A mere word of encouragement or even a
look from US may determine the earthly,
if not the heavenly, destiny of an immor-
tal mind. We need them to guard we'll
our walk and conversation" 1t is relat-
ed of Busby, one Of the early head mas
ters of Westminster school, England, that
On reception given TO King Charles II
10 excused himself for not walking bare
headed before the king on the ground that
his authority over his boys would be
gone if they could suppose that
there was q greater man in
the kingdom than himself.
There is enthusiasm in numbers, We are
only children of larger growth, and like
school boys and school girls, We are jol-
lier in crowd whether expecting
| REWARD Oh PUNISHMENT.
1t does us good, now and then, to crawl
out of cur shells, shake hands With each
other, and Gem Pare notes. Interchange of
| experience creates sympathy with each
others trials. Every hssinsss has its I'm.
plssseE features, and teachers trials are
preyerbially numerous. As Josh Billings
puts it, every pupil is separate boil re-
curing different treatment to bring
it to head" In trying to
satisfy school authorities, parents
and pupils we confess that wo are not al
ways successful. Sympathy leads to CO.
operation-in my judgment the greatest
need of the profession.
Every other vocation has its unions and
societies for mutual aid, and why not ours
Ths experienced and superior teachers
| should be more closely united. There
should be more esprit de corps, more re-
spsot and consideration for each others
reputation. The prizes of the profession
should be kept within our own ranks and
out of the hands of proving adventures.
Such an organization could do something
towards preventing uaseemly rush for po-
sitions, and consequent underbid-
iding. Several years ago some
of us thought it might
be expedisnt to divide the association into
sections. The committee appointed to in
vsssigate the matter reported that in states
in which this division had been made, the
result was detrimental TO the general meet
ing, and in fact in sens states the sections
exist only on the programmes, merely
giving opportunity to distribafe more Of
| fetal positions. But If We could have q
Teachers union, separate from this asso-
| citation, without dstrimsnt to it, composed
Of oaly professional teachers, holding
| moro frequent meetings, more private and
| social in their character, believe it would
be coed thing. If our profession is ever
to be raised to its proper dignity we
Gsd helps him that helps hin.
| self. I think we should have a stanai ng
legislative committee to assist the state
| superintendent of public instruction to &C.
cure the snactmsns of proper school laws
| We need state teeohers' certificates. A chair
of education should by all means be erect
ed In the State university. If there are
| funds for chair of Scandinavian litera-
| ture, there must certainly be some for the
training of superior teachers. It would
be we'll if every university graduate took
a part of such special course,
for many of them super
intend our schools, and will need
the knowledge to direct educational work
in their own neighborhoods, to cay moth
ing of their prospective responsibilities as
fathers and mothers.
Michigan has set Minnesota an example
in tais respect that our university regents
should make haste to follow. We have
GOOD EDUCATIONAL MONTHLY,
But in new country like Minnesota the
patronage, of necessity, is too snail TO
allow the expenditure of much time or
talent upon it. The only state paper on
substantial, permanent basis is the
Pennsylvania School Journal which
is subsidized by the state.
Should not our Legislators, as do those of
Pennsylvania, allow boards of education
to subscribe for a limited number Of
copies, to be paid for out of the school
funds? Besides his own state Journal,
every teacher should, of coarse, take one
or more of the publications of our good
friend, DR.. Bickneu, who is to be congrat-
ulsted upon issuing the best in the world.
In conclusion, desire to thank you for