Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-06-30

a palpable mistake. Tie JOUR-
NAL has not criticised IL competent
teacher. 1t is the squeezing out OF
the competent and the employment
OF the lncompetent-the policy of
depressing our working ability to a
level lower than II certain official
standard that We have attacked.
But what do the teachers em-
ployers think of them? How do
they rate teaching services? DO they
pay salaries in the competent ratio
DO they allow teachers any say in
the matter pay: When they want
to build Il schoolhouse in some "cool,
sequestercd spot do they ask per-
mission Of the teachers to lay the
burden on their shoulders
Let the few competent teachers in
the county study this matter mo-
ment and determine how far their
option is consulted in matters very
close to them and their families.
Let many incompetents look back
and recall how easy their efforts to
crawl into place over influential
shoulders. Let many others of equal
demerit, but without ''infoonce," re-
member how vainly they labored to
the same end.
Among competent teachers there
are grades. Some are low: others
are higher; others are highest. But
their standing in the sight of the
Board is not the true figure. The
more Independent the teacher the
lower his rating, and it has occurred
that IL teacher, superior to the exam
lner, has been accorded i grade be-
low one who never stood II public
examination at all
Edgar Allan Poe in his merciless
criticism Of Rufus Dawes said:
The laudation of the unworthy is to the
worthy the most gricvous of all wrongs.
Among incompetent teachers there
are no grades, neither indeed can be
1t is to be doubted, in fact, whether
the term. "mconpetent teacher" is
not paradox.
Now, If teachers of both classes,
teachers and those who profess to
teach, We're honest. there would be
little or no question concerning the
JOURNALS attitude toward them.
The JOURNAL is for Hc pupil dirccf-
W; for the teacher Indirectly
through the pupil. The surest road
to the parents heart is through the
child. SO the most certain route to
the teachers welfare lies along the
pathway of his pupils advancement.
All such tutors (may their tribe null
tiply y enjoy their greatest reward
IN the outSpoken appreciation of the
people they serve.
But so many essay to do work
above their capacity so many assume
labor which taxes their love of leisure,
and so many undertake it while pro-
fessedly studying for admission to
some other vOcation--all backed by
that invisible but invincible power
called "intloonce"- many of the
evils OF the system react directly upon
a profession which does not deal hon-
estly with itself.
1t is therefore believed that, as il
rule, those aspirants to the command
of schools who have worked up un-
aided, who have enjoyed no "boost-
ing" and who are generally cleft
when the "divvy' is made, are the
most meritorious and capable.
This leads to two sugges;ions-the
object Of this article.
To teachers we would sav-do not
employ or seek any aid whatever 70
obtain place. Stand upon your
requirements, competency and merit
alone, but to the whole extent of
these demand all your rights.
TO the school acknowledgements
no man or woman who has IL "back
er," especially II political "backer.'
For it is certain as the night follows
day that claims that must be supple
mented by influences which have
nothing III common, or in interest,
or in sympathy with the system and
object Of public education, are un-
worthy of qualification.
The gentleman who is doing the
editorial for the Cumberland Times
must get very warm at his work these
rare June days. A suit of clothes
made of mosquito bar might remedy
his morbid thirst ior "proofs," but il
| Woull not do to UO to churob IN