The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-03-19
For The AgiS and Latelligencer.
The Importance of the Public School
Teacher

This is a subject which educators touch upon
in articles in school journals, but one which the
public is not so ready to accept. The general
idea OF teacher is that of person engaged in
giving instruction for the purpose of making
living, and while his employment is considered
respectable, yeti true position that the teach
er bears to society does not appear to the ordi-
nary mind, as in granting schools to applicants,
the idea is that of favoring friends; but the
opinion that the teacher is benefactor of man
kind, equal III Importance TO any profession save
the ministry OF the gospel, is not so general
One reason why the teacher is elassed with the
laborer rather than with the professional man
may be because our public school system is
comparatively new, the memory still resting
upon The old log school house, occupied by a
farmer of the neighborhood as an Instructor,
while the college professor, the preacher the
doctor and the lawyer, has each been recogniZ-
cd as an honorable parsonage in society for cen
turtles ; and while we agree that the profession
al man should be highly honored, yet we regard
tia mark of ingratitude to overlook the seryi-
ces of those who have charge of the most pre-
ci"us jewels the nation owns the class recog-
nized by our Saviour as the best earthly exam
pies of the celestial inhabitants; the JOY and
pride of the household and the hope of the ma
ton. Are we not, then, willing to admit that
our public instructors are the persons In whom
we should be the most deeply interested and
who should be models of pure character, sound
judgment and high literary attachments The
next thought that suggests itself is what i'm
provement can be made, One thing which we
have noticed is that the smallest number of
teachers make teaching their life work, while
the greatest number only teach for few wears
using the schoolroom as q stepping-sto to
something higher, and while in this way the
school may be honored with some bright intel
lects, yet we doubt the wisdom of the plan,
Men are apt to give their best efforts to the
pursuit that they intend to follow in life, but
when we consider the mcagre salary, the in
gratitude, the annoyance ofdisobedient children
and unreasonable parents, we do not wonder
employment where they can do themselves more
credit. We wish to see our teachers more
thoroughly educated and properly compensat-
ed We lament the loss OF those fully qualified
for the work and deeply interested in 1t who
leave not because they are avaricious but be-
cause they feel that in justice to themselves and
TO those for whom they have to provide, that
they must seek more lucrative employment.
We are in favor Of making distinction between
those who are preparing themselves for teachers
aud those who are teaching to prepare them
selves for something else We believe that the
true teacher can never finish his education, but
that his vacations should be spent in gathering
fresh supplies acknowledge, for which he should
be encouraged by allowing him gradual in
crease of salary commensurate with his increase
of usefulness, by which the teacher is not only
gratitied and stimulated but the public is bene-
fitted by furnishing the means of higher educa-
ton for rich and poor, without making 1t neces-
sary to send pupils away from parental restraint
TO pursue their studies, where they often form
ruinouS habits.
FRIEND OF EDUCATION.