Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-09-06
WHO SHALL TEACH?

There has been deal said and writ
ten. at one time and another, as to
whether or not women should enter the
pu pit A far more practical question,
in my estimation, is, Shall our girls
be encouraged to teachP" This may.
at first thought, seem senseless ques-
ton, since teaching has been and is the
great intellectual field for wcmen. And
to any girl or woman who enters upon
the work with the sincere feeling that
1t is her vocation, who would not bid
her God-speed? But every earnest,
high-school teacher must know that
very many Of our girls think Of teach
ing, only as the most respectable occu-
patton by which to earn a certain sala-
~. Is it not true that dozens OF girls
choose teaching as a means of support
simply and solely because they are
ashamed to enter into any Of the purely
manuaI-Iabor cmpioymcnts9
And yet is teaching not the most sa-
cred calling possible for man or wo-
man, not even excepting the ministry
For since the teachers influence is con.
centrated upon youth alone, has not
she, alter the parents, a paramount in
huence over the tone and character OF
the coming generation, and through it
OF generations yet unborn?
One hears daughters of people in
very moderate circumstances, when
about to leave the high school and de-
Dating as to further course of study,
say: 81 don't know that shall ever
teach, but would like to 90 TO the
normal school so rs to be prepared to
teach if should ever have to earn nv
own living" What girls would not
have to earn their own living, if girls
were expected to be anything but de-
pendent and purposeless? Nob!esse
oJt'ge.
80 many of our girls are really indo-
lent-lazy. our grandmothcrs would
rightly have said-that we must first
make sure that they really want to
work at all, in advising with them
about what they are to do after leaving
schooL Teaching is not play. Our
dainty-iingered girls must not be allow
ed to think of it merely as "lady-
Ike genteel employment that will be
comparatively easy.
10 insure good teaching, both phys-
zeal strength and willingness to work
hard must be added to that patient
love OF children that makes it a pleas
ure to train and develop their minds.
teachers OF the upper graIes are con-
stantly called upon to advise with girls
concerning what they shall do after
graduating; and will every conscien-
tIous member of the profession not dis
courage any idea Of entering this great
held that is not based upon that decid-
ed taste for the work Of instruction
without which no one can become
successful teacher?
A normal school should have for pu-
pills only those who deeply feel the sa-
credness and SERIOUSNESS OF the work
Tor which they are preparing. II one
has what our Methodist friends know
as "a CALI to teach, let her make ev-
cry effort to tit herself thoroughly for
that special department for which she
has Ahe greatest taste or ability.
1t is often said that the market is
overstocked with teachers. This ! do
not believe, II one use the word teacher
IN any justifiable sense. ! think that
there is plenty of room for good teach
ers, for men and women who are fitted
both by nature and education to train
children Alright. But we do not need
Eere salaried workers, who have no
more heart or hope in their work than
so many machines.-F d. Bergen, in
Journal Of Eaucation