The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-10-05
MY EXPERIENCE ASA PEDAG0GUE

Written Expressly for THE SUNDAY HERALD
If memory serves me Alright, it was in
the fall of 1877 when finding myself in the
far west, l decided to try my hand at
teaching young ideas how to shoot" OF
course had certain district in View and
to that end visited the school trustees to
cndeavor to contract for the term OF six
months, then about to commence. Be it
known was then some one hundred miles
west of San Antonio, and in a settlement
peculiarly singled out as being specimen
"Greaser'' community. My knowledge of
the lingo was very limited indeed, but,
remembering the immortal words of
Bulwer Lytton in his play of Cardinal
Richelieu.'' 'In the lexicon of youth,
which fate has reserved for a brighter
manhood, there is no such word as fail" l
determined 10 make the attempt. The first
move was to secure certificate and it
necessitated trip on horseback of twenty
five miles to the county seat. This was the
first of the free school system in these
parts and the methods were queer enough
as to the examination of teachers. Arriving
at the capital at once repaired to grocery
establishment, presided over by his honor,
the county Judge, who, by virtue of his Of
flee, was the man to pave the way to a
| principalsbip Three parties had been
named by the Judge as competent to ex-
amiIe into all applicants qualifications,
| but any one Of them would suffice, so | was
sent about ten miles out of town to the
| farm of an old hard shell Baptist divine,
wko was specially ordered, as per letter of
Introduction which had from the judge, to
look into my mental qualifications and re-
turn report on sams by me. 1t was near
ing evening when l arrived at the hospit-
able home of this frontier man OF God, aud
having heard of the "lenxncss'' CT his
table, made up mind to finish the business
! in hand and return by moonlight to the
county seat.
| 1t was ..hog- killing time, when l rode
up to his barn yard gate, and / received q
true southern welcome. Up to his "ears''
with the work of dressing the fine porkers,
which were suspended from their hind legs
from huge pole resting between two trees,
was fearful of delay. As it has been
thirteen years since that eventful day, my
first examination to teach, l cannot give
the conversation perbdtim, but nearly SO
"Mr.-my name is--and from this let
ter you win readily understand my bust
ness" after reading the letter, he replied
Yes, but the truth is am qnite busy and
cannot go into the fine points which
Judge IN your case, IS not necessary, vel
may ask which is the longest river in the
world,,n 1.-THE Nile, perhaps quoth l
"Well," calling TO his better half, ''show
this young man my desk and (turn
ing to me) you write frst-class
endorsement on this application, which
will duly sign" TO say did not ac
with alacrity, would be stretching the trutf
and when had given myself, q magnii
cent endorsement, the parson signed it
when paid him his fee of 81. Bidding hin
good bye, l returned to the count,
seat, when the Judge gave me
first grade certihcate intimating that h,
would be candidate for reelection, an,
to not forget him in my part of the county
A few days thereafter began my work a
an instructor OF youth, and for once in m,
life l found that the language I was t
teach was at q discount as medium o
! communication between myself and m,
pupils / finally selected a bright littl
half breed Mexican and Scotch) and use,
him as an interpreter.
The district returns showed 90 as withii
the scholastic age and was to receive 81. 8
per capita per month whether they attende.
/ or not. l was then well pleased when
/ found that the average attendance wuul
/ not exceed thirty live. I had some dis,