Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-08-08
Address to Directors Of Ungraded
Schools,
BY JONATHAN HUNT.
Nezy York School 1onrnal.

Among school directors there are Iv'
men who work for the success OF the com
mon school system. All honor to such
these remarks are not intended for them
There is another class who seem to go t.
sleep as soon as they take the oath o
Office. They take deep interest in tn
best method of raising pork, or the lates
improvements in cultivator, but none II
education. Not that they value stockI
and crops more highly than they d.
children, but because they are reminded
'by hunger three times day that they
must raise something to sustain ANNA
life.
Another class, not SO numerous, are the
school killers. One is sometimes known
as the model school director. Let hin
stand ND While I address to him few
friendly words.
1 respect you, sir, because OF your
activity and your desire to be generally
useful. AS business man you are sue,
cess. for in business you use common
sense. Why do you throw aside that
commodity in discharging your official
duties?
When you wanted man to build your
house, you were careful to get the best
workman, and when You hired man to
look after your cattle, you sought faith
full Inland. But when you wanted teacher
for your children and those OF your
neighbor, you waited for dozen or score
of applications before making your choice.
BY SO doing you gave the live directors
chance to select the best teachers, and
you we're obliged to take what were left,
for every teacher, as you ought to have
known, was compelled to make twelve to
twenty applications at as manly different
places.
1t may have made you happy to have
intelligent strangers inquiring for you,
but it would have been better for your
children If you had ridden around the
county inquiring for good teacher.
You have been heard to say that you
never let any applicant know that one
teacher is preferred before another; but
when you found that Tom Jones took
such good care OF your farming interests,
you told him that you wanted him
another year, and that you would raise
his wages. My anxious friend, did it
ever occur to you that if you had required
Tom Jones to come to You and sue for his
place, you never would have had his SER
vices?
You kept him good while; You exam
ined his work often and your farm pros
pered. But, my friend, did you look into
the sehool-room occasionally to see if
if your teacher was faithful and efficient?
No, you kept away, and when your chill
dren reported what seemed to you to be
strange proceedings for teacher, you
censured her in their presence. 1t prob
ably did seem strange to you that she
should ask 80 many questions that were
not in the book, scratch straight marks
on the states, have the small children
learn to compose and write sentences, let
them make pictures ten minutes every
day, refuse to do sums for the children at
their seets, to have spelling-schools, and
to carry in wood and sweep the floor; but,
sir, if you had but taken little pains to
find out why she did thus, you would not
have dismissed her when the term was ur.
You would have known when you had a
GOOD teacher and retained her.
Presuming that you have listened pa
tiently to this exposition of your short
eomings, that you are now penitent and
wish to turn over a new leaf, submit a
few suggestions for your guidance IN the
future.
l. Fix a liberal compensation for
teachers SO as to offer an inducement to
the best; then secure the best you can for
the money, without regard to age or sex.
2. Keep a good teacher as long as You
can.
3. Acquaint yourself with the best
methods Of teaching and school manage
ment, so that you will be qualified to Judge
OF your teachers ability.
4. Be cautious in listening TO children s
complaints. Say nothing until you have
listened to both sides. Presume that the
teacher is right in the absence of proof.
s. II you are compelled to criticise the
teacher, do 80 with kindness and dEcre-
tion. but not in the hearing of the
children.
6. For gross immortality dismiss the
teacher promptly; if you have doubts.
give the accused the benefit of your
doubts.
z. If your teacher is lazy and incom-
petent to govern school, that is sufficient
cause for dismissal. If he is dead, bury
him.
g. Never shrink from defending good
teacher when, as win frequently happen
10 even the best, he is blamed for doing
right by his ignorant patrons.
8. See that your teachers have good
school apparatus; also see that school
property is carefully preserved.
10. Require every teacher to receipt