River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-04-26
THE STANDARD OF TEACHERS.

THE STANDARD OF TEACHERS.
In reading articles in our educational
journals and in conversation with most
people upon educational topics, we find
the drift is often in the direction of rails
ing the standard of teachers. 1t Is held
that many of the teachers of the present
day are not competent to have in charge
the training of the youth of our land, and
better qualification is necessary. Moth
ing however, seems to be said about rals-
ing the salary of the teacher, infeTing, |
suppose, that he needs no remuneration,
being able to live ON an editors diet.
Teaching is as much an occupation,
which a person may follow to gain his
livelihood, as that of the mechanic, the
clergyman or the farmer. To be able to
reach the present standard of teachers re-
quires the expenditure of considerable
time and money for which the person
realizes no benefit if he were not to
follow the profession. i admit that the
position Of the teacher is a responsible
and noble one, and every teacher who
has the welfare of his school at heart
should be crowned with Immortality and
placed upon His right hand. But who
is there in this whole array of instructors
that can afford to spend bis time in the
work for the mere honor? Then, schools
are in session only part of the year and
| the teacher is compelled to remain idle
1 Of ,a Canly
other employment. This last he is not
| allowed by some educators to do, as they
claim the time should be employed in
preparing for the next terms work.
During all this time the teacher is re-
| quired to follow course of state reading,
be subscriber to several educational
papers, attend institutes and associations,
and be on the alert for every new method
that may be invented. Nor would /
have him detract from one of his require
ments, but when this is fulfilled, "render
unto him the things that are his" Do
not ask him to enter a school-room with
neither maps, charts, globe or dictionary
and expect him to expend part of his
salary in furnishing substitutes for all
these. If you do, then by adding the ex-
pense of building fires, which most dis
tricts require, his salary will be so dimin-
ished that he viii not need to call in any
of his fellow teachers to assist him in
counting his money. 1t is argued by
some that the expense of securing an ed
ucation is not to be considered in estab-
llshing the salaries of teachers, that there
is a consolation in being the possessor of
such vast stock of knowledge. With
few exceptions outside of teaching, what
business requires the knowledge of math-
ematics above the practical arithmetics,
or of grammar, except ability to frame a
fair business letter? What apprentice at
any other business does not receive, say
$50, for the first year, 800, for the second
year and $780, for the third years work,
making the outlay for him nothing, eX-
cept his time? Even Uncle Sam allows
all his students at West Point, a sum suf-
ficient to defray all expenses, besides
furnishing employment after completing
the course. Raise the standard of teach
ers as high as necessary and as an induce
ment to reaching it, raise the salaries &C
cordingly. FRANK ALEXANDER.