The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-09-25
A FAIR QUESTION.

You, reader, will be asked good many
questions by your superior officiai-some
about number, some about geography.
Perhaps he may ask you if you know
something about the child, the nature
and law Of its growth. Possibly he may
venture to ask you some questions about
the discoveries of other observers of chill
dren. 1t is getting to be.quite the thing
to do this, and teachers must expect it.
In fact, one man at the New York Teach
er's Association, while deprecating the
study of pedagogy, candidly admitted sit
was the fashion"
We have question to ask you. 1t is
this: "What educational progress have
you made during the past year," We
think it fair question for you to think
over. This does not mean, "Do you know
more about. Africa or the nature of mar
cotics, or can you say the multiplication
table more perfectly, than you did year
ago?" It means, "Do you know more
about the science of education than you
did one year ago2 And it means also,
"Do you know better how to apply the
science in your teaching than you did one
year ago"
You get your living by teaching; you
are kept from the almhouse by your skill
in teaching. Now can you lean. down
heavily on the knowledge you have Of
teaching? Can you say to yourself, II
am not 8. profound student in chemistry,
history, or any of the branches ofknowl-
edge, but do understand the art of teach.
ing perfectly?'" You must bear in mind
that the teacher, metaphorically speak
ing, has got up and busted his coat, got
bis grip-sack in his hand, and, putting
on fixed and serious countenance, has
said, ~ am going to move onWard," and
not only so, but he is actually moving.
He has begun at last to study the science
by which be earns his daily bread.
A good deal has been done in the. past
year good many bony skeletons in
school houses are beginning to move.
They have turned out to summer schools,
they have got hold Of a work on educa.
ton, they have begun to read a school
journal, they have begun to teach and
think about teaching at the same time.
Now in all this movement, what part
have you taken? Perhaps you are wait
ing for the tide to subside. Are you wise
in so doing? Read this aud see. A city
training school had determined to have q
teacher to give instruction in pedagogy
but who should it be-? An agency said,
"Only one--a capital one-on our books"
She had anticipated the time, and while
earning 5000 studied the business by
which she got living. "What salary do
You want 2" was asked. ISL ,2O0."
''Won't you take $1,OO0?" "No, sir"
You see she could ask her own price, as
the supply was small. They hired her.
A good many have made beginning;
good many are saying to themselves, II
shall not teach long it will not be worth
while" will it not be worth while to
teach better this year if it is to- be your
last?
We have predicted this movement. We
have urged the teachers to get ready for
it. The old style of teaching is passing
away. Will the teachers wait until the
school officers say to them, "You are be.
hind the times and must give place to
those who understand education" Ifyou
must leave teaching, be sure the people
regret that they actually lost good
teacher Teachers Institute. :