The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-03-15
EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT
]. j. ZUCCARELLO, EDITOR.
WHAT ARE OUR TEACHERS DOING!
CONTINUED from last weekly

Last week we endeavOred to show
to our readers the great good and
noble work that is being done by
our broad-souled, conscientious,
enthusiastic, professional teachers.
This week we will endeavor to pre-
sent the other side Of the question,
What are our teachers doing2 may
be asked again, and answered as
follows:
Many of the so-called teachers ID
our state are not In love with the
profession, and of course we can
not expect much from them, for en-
thusiasm and a love for the work in
which we are engaged are the grand
essentials to success. How often
do we hear public sentiment ex
pressing itself in regard to certain
class of teachers, saying that such
and such a lacy or gentleman Is
merely teaching for the money and
as a matter of convenience to ena-
bic them to pursue another course
in life. Miss A. is teaching to gel
money to defray her wedding ex
penses, or Mr.. B. is teaching to ge,
money to pay his expenses at the
lectures, etc. Is this not otter
really the case? Are there not boys
and girls filling teachers places in
many of our country schools ant
teaching simply for the money
with no love for the lofty profes
sion that they nearly If not quite
disgrace2 Of course none of Ii:
would teach without the money
but that must not be the paramount
motive in the teachers profession
Many of these teachers, or rather
lessons heard, do not improve them
selves as they should. They sci
dom if ever read a book on peda
gogy or an educational Journal, bu
spend their leisure time 10 idleness
instead of endeavoring to find the
best methods of school government
and of conducting their recitations
Such teachers are generally sats-.
fed With a second grade certificate
and seem to have no higher aspira
ton than to be able to hear thu
recitations of the primary grades
under their care. Reader, hops
| am not describing you. If this
be the case with you, l would sug
gest that you either go to work il
earnest or quit the profession.
Teaching should be considered s
distinct profession, ard not an av
enue through which many pass tt
reach other professions in life
Teaching is enough for any one''
work, and, reader, if you have
not chosen if for yours, and all
teaching for little spare cash only
try something else.
Let US stop here and endeavor t.
ascertain the cause of this negli-
gence and incompetency on the par
of this class of teachers. 1t is sim
ply fault of our public school sys.
ten. In many Of the districts tn,
school term is SO short, the school,
so numerous and the wages SO low
that professional teachers will no
teach them and consequently an
other class Of teachers must be EN-
| ployed. 1.-THE counties we're prop
erly laid off in school districts will
a graded school at the center o
each, and funds enough to rul
them Eat least six months in tn
year, a few years would brinl
about a class of real professional
teachers.
The following are the NOTICE
for the week:
No. IL. Every great and com
handing .movemen in the annal
of the world is the triumph of en-
thusiasm.
IL. If a teacher does not respec
his pupils, they will not respec
him. Confidence is necessary o.
the part of 10th teacher and pupils
IA. To stop for difficulties in GU
way is to walt for misfortune t.
catch up.
IA. Ignorance and evil is tn
night of the soul: how great i
that darkness.
| 10. Intelligence is grand and lu
minous: It's light shines for U
from afar,