Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-04-27
Old-FaShiOned Teacher.

easy, IaiHlidi way Will uel OOyo.
"Her class is always up to grade,
and, I have noticed, rank above the
average in the higher classes, showing
better habits of thought and study"
remarked the superintendent.
at is an important position" said
another member, "and Miss Upton's
prompt, energetic methods are, to my
mind, what that class needs
''Boys of that age," said DR..
Snow, ''are more easily controlled
by the 'old-fashioned' teacher as you
choose to call her, than by military
drill. Give that class to Miss Upton,
and half of them will drop out before
the end of the year; she controls by
fear, and her teaching is wholly from
books"
So decided was the difference of
opinion in the usually harmonious
board that it seemed advisable to
postpone further consideration of
the subject, and the meeting was adj
journed.
The two teachers whose merits had
been under discussion were ignorant
of the intention of the committee to
fill, by promotion, the vacancy in the
highest grammar grade. Miss Hook
er's faithful and efficient service en-
titled her to the higher position with
It's liberal salary, but her modesty
would have prevented her applying
for the place. 1t was but another of
her "old-fashloned" traits, this ina
billty to go from member to member
to ask increase of salary or higher
position.
Dr.. Snow had formed a favorable
opinion of Miss Hooker not only
from her work in the school-room
but from meeting her at the houses
of her pupils, where he noticed the
friendliness that existed between
teacher and pupil; and he also re-
membered the efficient aid she rem
dered in the sick room he had seen
her in the Sunday school, surrounded
by many of her own boys, and knew
that her labor and influence were not
confined to the school-room. Seeing
the prejudice that would prevent hel
appointment to the important position
she could so well fill, or that, perhaps
might result in the loss of her pres.
ent position, he determined to inves
tigate the peculiarities of this cold
fashioned teacher" and learn, if pos
sible, the reason for the disapproba
! tion expressed at the recent meeting
While thinking of this he chanced t(
meet a young acquaintance who hat
just returned for short visit to hi
native town, and remembering tina
he had been pupil of Miss Hooker
he thought it his opportunity.
"What do 1 think of Miss Hook
err" asked the young man in surprise
81 think she is a blessing to any boy
especially to motherless boy, as
was when | entered her room. Why
doctor, she cared for something be
sides our lesson; she cared for on
bodies and our souls. Learned hab
its of politeness and personal neatnes
: in her room that have been of grea
e value to me, and if her lessons i
t truth h-telling, kindness and unselfsh
ness have clung to all her pupils a
they have to me, she has done a grea
work. I remember my first visit to
q pool room, which she discovered b
n means of the odor of my first cigar
e and am glad to be able to say ths
the promise l then made to her
r still unbroken. / tell you, doctor, a
!, d-fashioned' teacher like Mis-
Hooker is a power in community.
"Why do you call her old-fast
ioned ?" asked the doctor.
!. "Because the enew-fashiened teacher
: into whose hands | afterwards fel
i cared only for marks, reports, ginger
bread performance, fnical drill, an
automaton achievements. That kin
of training doesn't make men, doctor
yet those teachers seem to be in hig
a favor with your committee men,
a "Not with me-" said the docte
s hastily; II quite agree with YOU"
1t was gratifying to DR.. Snow
d have his opinion of Miss Hooker S
: emphatically confirmed, but how
!, convince his colleagues of her wort
and secure her appointment was
n problem not easily solved. The di
IS ficulty was overcome, however, in
most unexpected manner before tt
d next meeting of the committee. F.
e several months a course of systema
, ic pilfering had been carried on in IL
!. different school buildings of the tow
N to the great annoyance of teacher
0 and pupils, and also to the perplexit
u of the police, who were unable to fin
u the least trace of the thieves. Or
!, morning two of Miss Hooker's boy
were arrested upon wholly circumstal
tial evidence, and put in the ''locl
up" Although greatly overcom
ng they at once sent for their teache
dy to whom they asserted their inn
m cenee, and begged her to inform the