The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-08-18


have assured us since last Wednesday
that many Of their companions at the
pool-table and the bar were wielders Of
the birch. We believe that the respect.
able teachers, who were 30 venomous in
their denunciations of the NEws.HER-
AID, agree with us in placing the stand
ard Of moral excellence very high for
their profession. We hold that
No man who frequents saloons has a
right to certificate.
No man who plays pool or shakes dice
or engages in like practices should be
allowed certificate.
No man who bets on horse races or in.
dulges in any form of gambling, should
be allowed to enter the school.room as
an instructor.
No man who obtains his certificate by
assistance from friends or books or by
other unfair means should be allowed to
teach school or should claim the honor
and dignity that attend the profession.
No man who smokes or chews is a
thoroughly proper instructor for the
young. His example teaches them to
think lightly Of bad habits, end is very
injurious.
The last two requirements meet with
frantic objections from many teachers.
We have been told that there is no harm
in obtaining assistance on examination
day. We regard cheating as an offense
scarcely more pardonable than frequent
ing saloons. The teacher who obtains
his certificate by cheating the examiners
is guilty of embezzlementand obtains his
wages by fraud. And yet, thieves and
embezzlers are not tough set? Smok-
ing is not crime but it is very i'm
proper thin for teacher to indulge in.
Charges even more definite and dam
aging than those Of the farmer may be
and have been made. One teacher as-
sures us that 100 per cent. cheat under
examination and that two-thirds of the
teachers drink. Another estimates the
number of those who cheat ut two.thirds
or three-fourths.
q At the election of officers in the II. q.
T. l., few years ago, the ballot-box was
stuffed exceedingly full, and the elect
ion had to be declared off. A great
number of votes were polled above the
number of teachers present. Next year
regular primary election was held and
a slate ticket nominated in order to pre-.
vent a recurrence OF the disgrace. A
prominent instructor who characterized
the editors Of this paper as "pack of
dogs snarling at the heels Of the profess
sion" made some some scurrilous re-
marks on another occasion about the
"set of fellows who come up to the In
stitute at the last part of the session to
run the election" That "set OF fellows"
is in the majority, or it could not run the
election.
From all quarters we have received
commendation for our course in this
matter. Even teachers have admitted
that the publication of such charges
would have good effect. Many insist
that majority of their number are not
guilty as charged, but such, when close
ly questioned, admit thot their knowledge
in that line is very limited. Men have
stopped us on the street to express their
satisfaction and to say that their obser-
vation agreed with that of the farmer in
terviewed. A teacher tells us that this
subject has been discussed at every con-
vention of teachers during the last few
years. Then, if the teachers discuss it
they must admit its existence, and why
do they object to our publication OF the
facts? Do they expect to keep the mat
ter an Institute secret?
In speech at New Petersburg Prof.
Ferguson stated that two.-hirds Of the
teachers were accused of visiting saloons.
Then why should he be so startled by an
expression not quite so strong? It
seems that it is all right for Professor
Ferguson and other teachers to use such
language, but when the News. HERALD
publishes it, there must he an indigna-
tion meeting and committee appointed
to investigate us! In speech at the
Institute referring to the ballot-box
stuffing, Professor Ferguson hoped
that he might never see snch disgraceful
proceedings again on the floor of the
Institute as his eyes had witnessed in
years gone by. And so does the News
HERALD! We want to see the profession
purged of the base material that now
forms SO large part of it. We do not
publish this simply to cast slur on the
teachers, but to set on foot reformatory
movement which the teachers them.
selves are too cowardly TO inaugurate.
Calling us dogs, liars, thieves or any
other pleasant epithet is poor way to
discredit our statements.
1t has been suggested by wag that
the question be put to vote in the In.
stitute, whether or not the NEwa. HERALD
should be requested to publish the
names Of those who visited saloons OF
were known to gamble, cheat, swear,
smoke, etc. We have been told that
the guilty cheered loudest and longest
when the resolutions were passed and
the vote suggested might be Of use tu
ascertain how much indignation arose
from sense OF conviction and feeling