Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08

obedient wives, But even this is only con-
lined to the very few, for the majority Of
women in South America receive no school
education whatever. Even in Brazil, Of
which we have heard so much of late. "a
per cent OF the population are illiterates.
As stated in recent report, the number of
illIterates reported in Venezuela was 80 per
cent of the population.
But if the "Pan-Americans" were sur
prised at the exhibition OF co-education in
great university where the old theories as to
the education Of women are daily disproved
and exploded, they were stunned with the
most significant fact concerning the new
civilization, as announced by President An
gell when he said that 'the United States
recognizes no sex in intellect" Among the
new ideas with which the South American
delegates were crammed during their junk
citing expedition around the country they
doubtless have slowed away this section of
the woman question. 1t is hardly to be
wondered at that they had such desire to see
and know the women of the country. With
their recollection of the colossal mass OF
feminine ignorance at home, it would not be
surprising If they connected the backward
ness of their countries in civilization with
the fact that the education of their women
was deplorably near to the line Of the dark
ages.
But II, as the President of Ann Arbor
stated, the United States recognizes no sex
in intellect" it certainly does in education,
since even in Pennsylvania the average
salary of men teachers is much higher than
that Of women doing the same work.
THE TEACHER's SOCIAL RANK.
One thing that DR.. MeCosh deplores is
hot he ohar hao foh osol
status allowed him as the other learned pro-
fessions; but he is quite persuaded that the
time is not far distant when the teachers of
youth, lower and higher, will rank with the
lower and higher grades of the ministers and
lawyers
But this is even now claimed by the wordy
orators at the Institutes; but the claim can
hardly be sustained as a matter Of
practice. There is a sort of Ia
tent contempt in most mems minds
for the pedagogues. Although they NAV
be chock full of wisdom, toD-heavy with
learning and stopping over with profound
ideas, their opinions are rarely asked as
those having authority. The Chamber of
Commerce, composed of practical business
men, does not go to the schoolmasters for
information, or confer with them on matters
of importance, as the pagans of old held
counsel with their oracles. Although cred
tied with being profound in philosophy,
skillful in logic, mastery in argument and
burdened with brains, yet they are not con-
suited in matters of great weight and mo-
ment. The men who have risen from the
ranks through sheer force of energy,
enterprise aLd ambition to places of power
have little respect for those who plod along
taking everybody's dust on the highway of
life. Still the good doctor thinks the teach
ers may reach the social position they should
have, considering the importance of their
work, if they behave themselves, and urges
that success In this commendable enter
prise will depend upon their gentlemanlike
ana ladylike bearing" This would seem to
be rather reflection upon the manners of
the teachers, but spoken by an eminent and
distinguished one of their craft it should re-
ceive careful consideration.
But the good doctor does not hit the point
as well as he might The teachers, as a
class, do not take pride in their profession.
Men teach until they can find something
else that will pay better-women, in the
main, for the same reason. Not many find
in it their highest enjoyment, and che best
development of their talents. ONLY the
rare few feel that in teaching they are doing
the highest good of which they are capable.
To them it is pleasure, enjoyment, real hap
piness to form the tender mind, to inculcate
good principles, to implant noble thoughts.
to cultivate truth, honesty and worthy am
bition.
EFFECTS OF THE MACHINE.
Such teachers deserve to receive the great
est honors, the highest pay, and all that
goes to show real appreciation of true merit.
But by the machine" they are all leveled
down. The bright, able enthusiastic
teacher ranks with the dull, stupid creature
who has hardly two ideas to rattle together
in her head, and whose sole ambition is to
get married and get out of the business. So
little are good teachers appreciated by some
of the school boards of Pittsburg that if DR..
McCosh himself were teacher in the schools
they control he would be fired" at the /
next election in favor of some pudding
headed trickster who could secure the Sin
fooence" of the pothouse politicians.
That some radical reform is needed in this
matter cannot be denied. It is true that in
some of the wards the local boards are COM
posed of intelligent men, who can be trusted
TO elect teachers of high character and emil
nent ability, but in others teachers of such
low order of intellect and limited capacity
and deficiency of manners are placed in
position as drag down the standing of the
whole profession. Until something is done
to take the power of election out of the
hands and votes of ignorant and unscrupu-
lous men the status of the teachers of the
people will go lower rather than higher as
DR.. McCosh predicts. Until teaching can be
made something better than makeshift for
the many, and something beyond q per-
quisite to be peddled around by ward bosses,
the dignity and elevation talk of the pro,
fession will be only cant rather than truth.
It may be said, moreover, that while some
of the teachers of Pittsburg are worth
hundred times their present salaries in
money, and exert more influence for real
good than any of the pulpits, yet there are
not a few whose Yorthlessness is monstrously
overpaid at the lowest fgures-who are,
indeed, not worth their salt-and
whose incapacity is endless Iabor-saving
for the devil. If the worth and virtues Of
the former could be recognized BY increased
salaries without putting premium on in
no voice could be raised against
a large advance, but when it means pro-
noting stupidity and rewarding incapacity,
it is not wonderful that those who pay
kick. As according to the present machine
methods the profession instead of being ele-
waited is rather degraded, the excellent,
the worthy, the most talented taking rank in
many cases with the incompetent and un-
faithful. If some remedy for this manifest
injustice cannot be devised the teacher will
fail short of the honors claimed for him by
DR.. McCosh for many years to come.
BESSIE BRAMBLE,