The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-06-06
Notice 10 Teachers and Friends of
Education.

Education.
In Superintendent Wo.fe's tour of
the State. he stopped at Cape Girar-
deau. Several principals, county CON-
missioners. and other teachers met
him at that point. lie gave us an ex-
PLANTATION of the work, and all present,
| think, were %favorably impresse with
it. The teachers and friends TO the
teachers, have long been trying 10 get
the Legislature to give them ONE
thing which would bring about better
teachers and better schools. especially
district schools. The Legislature las
AT last given lis sometking-the Teach
| ers' Institute laW-which. if
aged and supported by every pro-
gressivc teacher, will surely result in
good, not only TO the teachers, but
good to the children in tie district
! schools. Al school, boards and patrons
ofthe country schools should be highly
in favor of this law. for il surely will
give u better grade of teachers and
thus benefit them directly.
There is nothing i'll the law that a
live progressive teacher can seriously
object to. Yet it will meet with op-
position. Supt. Wolfe says: There
will be some objections to this law,
especially from incompetent and half
Hearted teachers. l forcsaw this be-
fore championing the measure and
stalking al upon it. Let not your
hearts be troubled over this. Objcc-
tons and criticism. discussions and
agitation. mea professional life for
the teacher: and professional lite for
the teacher means Improvement Tor
the pupil. Let us not be discouraged
if IL dead teachers are diSplcascd
with this law. Our great school
system is moi run for such barnacleS.
but for Missouri'S children. The
patrons of our schools do not spend
five million dollars annually. especially
tor the purpose of pleasing a few in
competent. inexperienced. dead teach
crs. Watch the teachers who object
to this law. and in nine cases out OF
tel, you will find that they cannot
compete with their fellow teachers
in institute work. Watch the few
county commissioners who object TO
this law. and in an equal number OF
cases it VIII be fonnd, that they have
never attended Il State Teachers As
ISOLATION. do not wish to attend one.
and are afraid TO compete with COMP
ctent institute instructors. They are
professionally finished" and il would
be Il great thing for onr schools. il
they were also laid on tie shelf. \
few parents may also object To the
law. but these will USUALLY be found
10 have relatives or friends who are
school "kccFers. y school ~"Eccrrr'
is one who keeps" xii the school he
can got; keeps the children in iGnor-
ancc: keeps" complaining OF patrons,
pupils AMI hard work; keeps" from.
reading Oh education. a Journal or
book on teaching; and finally keeps"
praying for God to send Saturday.
SUNDAY. and close Of school. But Tor
the competent. enthusiastic and dc
voted school teacher" boards Of Iii
rcctors and patrons cannot do TOO
much: strew their pathway with flow.
crs."
Let me say that we have several of
Supt. WolGc's school keepers in this
and adjoining counties. both in the
district anu town schools. | have in
mind a number who read nothing cd
ucationaIly or otherwise. attend no
institutes-county district o Statc.
(orly when they want positionN(; they
hold a certificate and that is all. Yet
they can bore a school board for a day
ut a time. make them believe they can
get almost any school in the State.
furnish evidence of teaching ability.
and thus secure some of the best po-
sitioHs sometimes. How this can lie
remcGied is n question for solution.
Now. appeal to every earnest, de-
voted teacher of this county TO help
me TO hold an institute in Cape Cir
ardeau county. second TO none. II
holding Il certificate is the only III
ccn!ive to attend The institute. ours !
will be a weak affair. fer there are
now 65 certificates Issued. do hope
we have 10 or fifty teachers who will
attend because they think they ought
to, not because they have to. Have
we not that many whose hearts are in
the work? | hope so. The time of
the institute will he from July % to
August II. The place not vet settled.
Three dollars paid into the county
treasury on or before the opening OF
the institute. will cntitlc Won to n Ger
of the first. second, or third
grade, and also a months instruction
in a good institute. You 10 not have
attend the institute only long
enough TO be examined. but the true
teacher will attend the month and
improve himself. l hope to have no
10 examine before the irS.i-
tute. Pay your three dollars 10 the
treasurer and get your receipt,
md then attend the institute. Should
nv desire certificates before July %. {
will examine them at Oak Ridge OH
Junc Is. 16, II. IS and 10. If you
One at any other time than TIE above
may expect me TO use my pleas ,
Ire about il. School boards should