The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-09-02
TEACHERS GONE TO SEED.
One Prominent Reason Why the Cause OF
Education Halts.

Some teachers were grouped together
few days since, and the inquiry was
made: s'Where is X?"
"O," said one, ''he has gone to seed ="
Now X had been something of force
for a number of years; he had lectured
on education, had conducted teachers
institutes, and was well thought Of
Many looked up to him as one who
would be of real service in advancing
education. To lose him by death would
cause pang. But to have him '.go to
seed'-that was more painful.
What is going to seed?"
The case of Y was this: He had taken
charge Of school and seemed to care
as little about education as if he had
never lectured upon it-had never
pointed out to teachers at institutes the
path of true teaching. He had got as
high as he could get, and felt Interested
no longer. When plant begins to '.go
to seed it stops growing; it begins to
look shabby; its glory has departed; it
has fulfilled its destiny, and seems to
know it. So it was with X.
Thinking of Y, was reminded of Y.
He. too, assisted at institutes; being a
good singer, his voice was often heard
in leading off in school-room songs.
From $500 salary he rose to 81 900 in
country town, and then he got Prin-
cipalship in, and, as he could not
expect to get the superintendency, the
incumbent being young and healthy, Y
settled down to breathe. He now gives
ne thought to educational matters runs
his school well, and does no more. An
old friend, who had labored with him
up in the country, came to the city and
looked him up.
81 never saw such a change" said
he, sin any man. He used to be inter
ested in education. and never was so
pleased as to see the young teachers i'm
proving, but he doesn't care a cent
now"
~ had also "gone to seed"
Then there was Il. This man, too,
ran well for a season. He was so much
interested that he started an educational
paper. He (as is usually sank some
money in the enterprise. but after a
time got Principalship. He was asked
to subscribe for an educational paper,
but declined. He "was so busy with
his school that he had no time to readw
OF him superintendent remarked:
II is not Il growing man; his ideas are
all book ideas; we thought he would be
an addition to our force. but he is moi"
4 has also "gone to seed"
This is soft way of putting the mat
ter. These men are well-meaning; they
intend to do justice to their pupils and
give an equivalent for their money. But
why have they stopped the efforts they
made to influence others? Were they
really interested in educational advance
ment?
The cause of education suffers greatly
from the supineness of men in promi-
nent positions. That the teacher in the
little brown country schoolhouse should
be interested seems all right enough;
her pupils, if not enthusiastic, will not
stay in that unattractive school-room
and spell long columns of words while
nature without is so inviting. But the
teacher in the city school is apt to I'M
dervalue earnestness and enthusiasm,
he becomes mechanical, routinish. and
soon it is noticed that he tells the same
story about Andrew jackson Mt Just the
same point in each history class (said
class has been informed by the preced-
ing class of the exact time when said
story may be expected)- i'm fact, he has
begun ito 60 to seed" 1t is not a fatal
disease. Some live to good old age
with it. 1t is not so bad as softening Of
the brain or many other ills that attack
mankind, but it is bad.-SchoOL Jour
nal