The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-10-25

When maturity of mind and years is
reached, some other vocation offers
stronger inducements. and the teacher
when his faculties are strengthened, his
common sense clarified, his character
steadied, quits the profession to which
he gave his indiscretions, and enters his
manhood and his new calling simultane-
ously.
Why are changes so frequent2 Be-
cause they are necessary, actually de-
manded by existing circumstances, or
the worthy teacher gets a better place.
But it is usually the vain searching for
something better, want rarely satisfied,
or at best but temporarily relieved. Dc.
not blame school boards because :. change
of teachers is made, There is ample
justification ID almost every instance,
though there is little probability that the
change will lessen the volume of lust
complaints. Outside of the graded
schools of this county, not 10 per cept
of the teachers are employed lie TIE same
schools in which they taught last wear.
Limiting consideratior to the same
schools, not 10 Ger cent. of those who
taught IN tbs county in 1879, teach here
now. Just so transitory is the tenure.
Are those new ones who come in to fill
these vacant places, legatees of those who
drop out2 Do they inherit their exper-
fence, their knowledge of teaching gained
through toll, affection of spirit and the
infection of many wrong? Do these
teachers embody in themselves history
of the progress made in modes of teach
ing and put in practice by their prede-
cessors ? If SO, then progress is continu-
Gus, and the evils inseparable from maxi
ing teaching a stepping stone to some
thing else, are greatly lessened. If cir
cumstances make it difficult to correct
the error of making teaching term of
novitiate, the evils may at least be miti-
gated by leaving with the profession the
benefit of the experience of those about
to abandon it. But before considering
how this may be accomplished, let the
causes ever impelling teachers to seek
some other means of livelihood receive
some attention.
The leading physicians in Mantle voc
have each an annual income from their
profession, amounting to about S., 900.
The presidents of the state Normal Schools
receives each just one-half that amount.
The lawyer who does not earn $1,000
per year is looked upon by his profess
sional brethren as one who has mistaken
his calling There is but one high school
in the state that pays a salary equal 20
this. The country teachers annual wages
do not reach the Insignificant sum of
$500, There is, not dry goods clerk in
ehe city whose earnings are not greater.
The salaries paid teachers in majority
of cases, even when quite meager, are
full return for the value of the services
rendered. But the penurious policy
which concerns itself only with reduction
of wages, dishearters the tried and worthy
teacher, and acts as deterrent to the
energetic persons who have predictions
for the profession of teaching. Is not
the result inevitable? What promise
does the future hold out to the few whom
ambition, energy and ability have pushed
to the front2 What inducement is offer
ed the young people of worth who look
to see what profession most literally
rewards merit? Is it surprising that our
schools are in the hands of boys and girls
inexperienced, indifferent, unqualified in
everything pertaining to the work in
which they are engaged, except the abil-
ity to get certificate When years
bring seriousness; study, mental strength,
and observation, wisdom, there is moth
ing in the business of teaching to hold
them.
The average wages for the school year
ending June 80, 1883, is considerably
above that for the preceding year. But
not enough is paid yet to attract talent
and to warrant the continuance in the
work, of persons of mature judgment and
ripe experience. The question is not do
you pay your present teacher the full
value of his services but do you offer
enough TO secure and retain competent
persons, men and women who appreei-
ate the Importance of their task; wb~
character is fixed; with whom WV chill
dren can associate and fee hoaoetoa hn
the intercourse, wbe. examnle in NOR
l,',' ne and purpose is educating,
''es'''-D :, refning2 The intellectual and
,ral atmosphere that surrounds such
persons has a value which patrons of
the public schools should be prompt to
recognize. But such persons are too
often driven from the educational field
by pert boys and saucy girls whose dom
inant idea is social pleasure devoid of
intellectual flavor. The dance, the party,
the festival, the picnic, the church cele-
bration calls out all their energies. But
| their SCHOOLS awaken no enthusiasm;