Smyrna times., 1888-04-25
For the Smyrna Times.
A Teachers Tablet.
STRAY LEAVES FROM MR.. C.'s NOTE
BOOK.

1t IS notion and that l have heard
expressed time and time again. that
we teachers have an easy time. Thev
argue that the time i'm which we are
actually employed is short. that we
are not exposed to the suns sultrv
rays, or the north winds biting blast.
receive good wages, etc Well lets see
Grant that part of their premises are
correct, must that be the conclusion ?
Our work is brain work exclusively.
| barring the occasional exercise derived
from administering necessary "bless-
ings."
From nine O'Clock until four the en-
thuslastic teacher is in motion. His
whole nervous system may be likened
10 the chords of a piano strung to their
utmost tension. Glass follows class.
silently but surely absorbing his cleo
trical energy. This is repeated dav
aIter day, and year after year perhaps.
suppose they have several diffident
pupils, or suppose there are a number
OF rude and bOisterous ones, as is
generally the case, on whom ostracism
might be excellently followed, then it
Is at times methinks had rather lie on
the Verdant luxurious earth, in some
prlmeVal glade, with the silent scintil-
Ia!lng stars above my canopy, alone
with nature and natures God. x
1t IS well for those who have never
been in the ranks to talk of the ease
Ihey may be pardOned on the ground
OF ignorance, of the duties with Our
positions. Why is it that so many are
continually leaving and studying in a
new held? Why is it that year bv
year we find the old familiar faces
that have for years graced our meet
lnSS hotlceably growing less and less
Inc answer Is very simple. The easy
lndolent life to which they had been
accustomed proved uncomfortable. How
many of Kent's teachers are there now |
VINO nave made nearly a lifetimes |
WORK OF lnstructing the young idea?
we can count them almost on our |
Two hands, Oh, yes, it is very easy m |
Tor the sensitive man or woman. .
sometimes think the average district
school teacher is about the hardest
worked mortal this side of Congress.
Ihey surely deserve more. Navbe
one OF these days the people at large
VIII discover this. 1t is a very rare
thlng to find a wealthy school-teacber
one who is actively engaged in direct
ing the " shooting of the young idea "
why Z Because the salaries received
remove forever the possibility of such
a thing.
indeed men who have been in the
years can count their riches
with three figures and not iniure the
ngures IN the least. l happen to be
acquainted with one very intimately
who can do this.
remember one of my former pre-
ceptors, who had, among many other
rules one that strictly forbade commu-
nicatiOn whatsoever. 1t was the most
Iimcult one on the whole list to en-
force. In fact it wasn't obeved. OF
course he tried his best to execute his
laws, put how many ways did we use
10 get the better Of him? | won't tell
you any, because perhaps you, who,
are now reading this may be pupil
Llttle did dream then that l should
De IN that conscientious friends profess ]
SION, and have some of the same tricks
to contend against.
l had rather my scholars whisper in
4 limited degree, as they do, than re-
sort to treachery and deceit.
L sometimes think that, we, as a rule.
10 not receive sufficient compensation ]
Tor our labor. But even to that there
are exceptions. know few, and I
am pleased to be able to say, verv /
ew, who do not exactly honor the
profession. do not say that am not
)ne OF the few,-it may be so.
wonderful things do happen in this
world don't they? People will occa
loniy get entirely beyond their sphere
you know. But sixty-fve, seventy and !
80 on up to one hundred dollars per
quarter even. is not Just remuneration
or the majority of our instructors.
w. K. CONOwAY.