The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-06-13
CHIPS FOR TEACHERS.

FRIENDS OF THE G. c.: take this opportunity
10 make general reply to the young ladies who
so CALAMITY defended themselves from the attacks
of Tie radical " and paTdonable'' Mr.. Seaman
limited time preventing individual answers.
Had / written =" the average young lady who
teaches is failure. and Immediately thereafter in
scribed my signature. its effect would have been
the same that produced by the article which
appeared, and time and space would have been
saved.
Ny article nourished no petty feelings of con.
tempt, prejudice or malice, and l therefore
request my G. G. friends, especially teachers
TO read both this and my former article
only in the broadest sense. Disregarding the
nature Of the ball" let us introduce another
and keep II arolling." / give IL a start Msun-
derstaudings are numerous, and possibly the pres
ent circumstance may reveal case. My article
did not imply that the average man was better
suited to teach the lower grades than young ladies
but that. as / will now provide older and more
experienced women were; or that there was an
immense field for Improvement of the young
school ma'ams" The remark concerning man
as a teacher was entirely foreign from the preced-
ing thought, since both were complete and bore no
relation TO each other.
as was stated in my article, "men are USUALLY
engaged in teaching the higher branches Notice
that Miss Andrus cOncurs: Just as a man can
better ill high pTOfessoFship can women bet
Ter teach the little ones just starting out life
Although young lady teachers failed not to see
that part Of my article proclaung them TO be fail
ures-not as they have conceived its meaning how
ever. but ia the broadest sense-they either over
locked or deemed that portion in which said that
er" OF small consequence. Can il be that these
young lady teachers who have the response
biliiy Of laying the foundation stones Of the ehds
education thrown upon their Misunderstanding they
have viewed my article with but one eye and that
what may be considered the essence of the article
has 90 wasted its sweetness on the desert air! -
MF. stephens has not antagonlzed, bat rather vim
dicated me. Ay, he Is even more definite, for SAYS
he, " fully one-half Of the young lady teachers in
the West are deficient in scholarship, school gov
eminent and natural ability" Exactly where Mr.
Stephens places the dividing line between the West
and East remains unknown to me, as he has not
stated. Missouri holds her own against other
States, and yet reformation Is necessary GER
tainy agree with Miss Andrews in Thinking that
woman is great in her sphere as man is in his
but that man Is so constituted to achieve the
most profound and greatest thoughts and actions
OF life; the facts confront US.
Miss Burke evidently did not understand my
mind in attempting to interpret the meaning of the
| word =" average as used. If average means ALI
then she thinks that none can excel her in ability
/ since none are exceptions all must be equal ac-
eording TO her explanation. Average, as used.
means ordinary; and still maintain that il is the
exceptions who are fitted for teachers Charming
says there is Office higher than that of teacher
OF youth; Tor there Is nothing earth so precious
the mind, soul, character of the child; and fur
/ ther remarks that generally il seems to be
thought that anybody may become teacher, and
/ that the most moderate ability is thought to be
competent TO the most important profession in So
| ciety. The true use of a school is to enable
and to dispose the pupil TO learn through life; and
who does not that the Office of teacher REQUIRES
men of enlarged and liberal minds' Such are
! Channing's sentiments, and they are well worth
| remembering.
II at school pupils are not taught TO e-rasp sub
| jects with an energy, upon their broadest base i
/ they not taught 10 deal with problems in the
most liberal, profound and just manner; if they
not taught that the highest law all subject,
is to seek the truth aad that unlimited endurance
! and study should not be spared in obtaining thu
best and most thorough knowledge of all subjects
if tie school does notteach this, what kind of men