The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-03-27
For the Hgis and Inteiligencer.
IN DEFENCE OF GHE TEACHER.

Conceived in the Infinite mind, as old as thu
first conceptions of terrestrial creation, is thu
| law ofeducatlon, and as potent and mighty as thu
| Unreasonable embrace of gravitation. From
azoic age to "earth's remotest bound" ii sweeps
| the ocean of space, scales heights celestial ant
| plays among the stars with RUE and compass al
Familiarity as architect among his timbers. lit
work is found in the lowlier yocations Of lif'
from the farm TO the workshop, from thu
| kitchen to the parlor. From the cradle TO the
grave we are under its subtle influence, uncon
sciously at times, yet according 10 surround
| ings and influence every man receiving certain
| degrees of knowledge.
The attribute of reason and the natural law o
| improvement, or education, are what distin
/ cuisines man from his brother mammals, aDt
| the more they are encouraged and elevated liter
/ arily, scientifically, and ethicaly, the nObler
purer and more god-like the creature.
The achievements of education are proclaim
ed from the porch and forum to modern erudi
| ton and senatorial halls. 1t is seen in tn,
proves of iron nerves of the ponderous train
| and palace of the deep to the delicate sewing
| machine found in each home. 1t is heard from
| the voice of the conquered lightning 10 the itch
| of each tiny watch and from ridiculous poly
| theism to the universal proclaiming of Christ's
| preccpts and examples. Behind all this is thu
| teacher in the broadcast sense, like the CLEAN O.
| the lighthouse, silently penetrating the gloon
| of Ignorance and prejudice and revealing The
truths of nature. The teacher moulds and di
reefs the inclination, habits and principles o.
| the pupil under his care, which in the age Of
maturity developes into distinct individual
| 1t is therefore imperative that the teacher
| should possess certain qualities, as competency,
morality, fidelity TO the confidence of The parent
unyielding integrity, and experience. The re-
tention of such teachers is highly beneficial to
the public school system.
Teaching should be life work, if perfection
| is consideration, but how few enter the work
with that intention. Almost to unit they
teach because they have nothing else to do-do.
| ing the work, with the heart elsewhere. Many
OF Harford's teachers-good teachers-have left
the work. Why is this? Because they receive
the least money, and are the least protected Of
any profession. When the teacher enters his
schoolroom at the beginning of the scholastic
year he does not know that he will receive his
quarterly salary, by fifty dollars or less, and
God know at the best it is but meagre.
Let us partially review the law by which he
is controlled. The lowest certificate calls for an
average offfteen pupils to claim salary OF
sixty dollars. The CHEST certificate demands
an average of thirty-fve for salary of one hun
dred dollars per term. Now, if with the former
certificate there is an average of but ten pupils,
the teacher losing two dollars per head on each
pupil less than the required average, he loses
ten dollars per term. If with the highest certi-
cate there is an average of but ten pupils, the
teacher loses fifty dolars-placing him on par
with the lowest certificate, and with starvation
staring both in the face If the average is one
hundred, he receives no more than the required
average demands. =
With such a system is it unnatural that tea
cheers complain? Is it a just law The teach
err reports for work each day, as required and
of right deserves his hire. The law does not
allow him TO engage in other business, nor will
II give to him his honest wages, and he surely
must live-must eat, clothe himself, etc., not
only whilst teaching, but during an uncertain
vacation and more-he must earn more than
La Int1 nnfo nStd dam In,,, dc,
bank account.
These remarks are not entirely directed to the
Commissioners AID Secretary, but to the legis-
lature and the people. Teachers make mis-
tLke TO censure the county Board for all their
grievances, for they are under direct control of
the State Board, and are all executive and par
TALLY legislative body, enacting petty rules to
control local trouble True, 1.-THE salaries of
teachers of each county shall be fixed by the
Board of County School Commissioners. Yet,
if they have not the medium how can they
guarantee an augmented salary. But they can
guarantee the teacher that which they have,
by ignoring the detested average system.
The board is composed of gentlemen of the
highest integrity, and no iusinuation as
"Where does the money go? can impeach the
probity of their characters. Each dollar they
handle is honestly accounted for.
The present school law is, on the WHOLE
good one, till the teacher steps in, when it is as
arbitrary and parsimonious as the demands of u
Shylock The corps of teachers in the county
is no insignificant body, and they have an in
huence, which, in the coming political contest
let them cast for the men who have the honor
and best interest of the schools at heart and
who will pledge themselves 10 the advancement
of the teachers welfare, which is the vital en-
ergy of the system. Let this be done regard
less of aclional prejudices.
Let the fair sex in the work use their innu-
ences over father and brother, and if success is
not reached this wear, eventually il must come
Education directs the destiny of nations, and
many an humble school room can point with
pride to some tower Of intellect, whose heart
string first thrilled responsive to ambitions
magic touch within her charcoal frescoed walls.
March 1871, 1885. F. P. SMITH.