Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-04-25
.CORRESPON DENCE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

the large employment of female teach
ers, contained in q JOURNAL editorial
OF last week, entitled "Disproportion-
ed"
! shall traverse seriatim the points
set forth in the JOURNAL.
Commenting upon the fact that the
percentage of teachers in this county
is "a females to &c males, the JOURNAL
says:
We cannot conceive superior state Of eff
ticiency in management where the weaker
force predominates.
To assert that women are the weak
or force" is what the old logicians used
to call a petitio principle, that is, an as
sumption of the very point at issue.
In teaching, women are in one sense
weaker force, i'll another they are not.
1t goes without saying that the aver
age female teacher is not as competent
to rule single-handed noisy, tur-
bulent school in half civilized COM
munity as q man. On the other hand,
it is admitted by leading educators,
that she makes a better assistant
teacher than 4 man. There are more
than fifty lady teachers in Allegany
county who are merely assistants, the
fountain Of power and the reserved
muscularity, If you please, resting 10
a man. They have little to do with
the government of the school they
teach. The real governing power of
the schools of our county is after all
in the hands of men. Thus the facts
of the ease do not justify tho JOUR
NAILS structures, even admitting its as
sertion that women are the weaker
force.
The JOURNAL once more:
| 1t is to be feared that the school system is
every year drifting farther from its original
| purpose to cieemosynary uses
The writer admits this in part. But
the eleemosynary evil is ono that sat
arates human affairs from top to bot
tom. The world is full of it. 1t has
been my experience in life that six
times out of ten when you confront
men in high places, you confront asses,
put there by eleemosynary influences.
The school system has some of it too,
but not more, | think, than is found
everywhere. 1t is but duo to our pres
ent school board to say that a plan
has already been partially formulated
for making appointments of teachers
in the order Of merit.
The JOURNAL again:
The evil has gone on until even the con-
vcniences and economies of board and lodg-
ing at home have to be considered and adj
justed to meet the circumstances and the
wishes other friends.
Why not9 If two teachers are
equally good, why should tho ono re-
siding in Frostburg be sont to Cum.
berland, and tho Cumberland teacher
to Frostburg There would be Ar
evil in this, if either place lost by the
employment of home talent. | know
that prophet hath honor everywhere
save IN his own country, and it is por-
Laps sometimes injudicious to have
teachers placed over their recent play
mates and companions. Still much
depends on the teacher. Innate dig
NIFTY, force Of character, supremeness
are little dependent upon surround,
ings. | am ready to admit the Jour
NAL rather strikes the nail head here,
though think the board is not incog-
infant Of the considerations it presses,
and tries to do what is best and at the
same time practicable. In the affairs
OF everyday life it is not always pos
slble to realize the ideal. The nature
OF things will not permit it. But this
is platitude. Ono thing | must say,
however, even if it be sort of di-
erosion. In my opinion the schools
OF Allegany county, making due al
lowance for all drawbacks, arc to-day
unquestionably the best in the
State. The Baltimore city schools
that should DO the best are so crippled
by the lingering of greasy ward pol
ltlclans us to amount to little.
The journal once moro
The effective, successful teacher of the
young is essentially an autocrat. Dealing
with crude, unframed masses his must be Il
supremacy unquestoned. Comparatively
few women are fitted by natural strength and
endowmenta to administer such rule, and
those few are masculine in appearance, walk,
habit and conversation.
The school, begging the JOURNALS
gracious pardon, is not i'm autocracy.
1t is rather what the greatest of
modern educators called it, kinder
gartcn'--a place for the unfolding Of
childrcn's minds by influences as be-
nign rs sunlight. The day of the
bludseon- welding pedagogue has pass
ed to the limbo of exploded humbug'
BY creating an atmosphere of dis
cipline, by evoking tho highest motives
for right doing, by the careful study
OF character, by love, patience, tact,
the modern teacher is able to control