Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-07-30
To Teachers, School Officers and Par.
entS.

THE IRON COUNTY TEACHERS INsTI-
TUTE is now in session at Belleview, Mo-,
and will continue until August 14th next.
About twenty-three faithful teachers have
enrolled and are doing good work. The DIS
position to make the Institute success is
universal, and all are working earnestly.
Let me say right here that this session is al
ready an assured success, and school boards
will fiud, and their attention is respectfully
called to the fact, that those teachers who at
tend the Institute will do from twenty five
to fifty per cent. better work than if they
had not received the professional training
that they are now getting. Teachers who
are staying away from the institute and
Sinking this work have nothing to gain but
everything to lose, as the Attorney General
has decided that the law is compulsory as
regards the payment Of the fee, and to pro-
cure license at any other time than during
the institute will cost four dollars and fifty
cents.
A part loaf being better than no loaf at all,
it is suggested by way of hint that all who
expect to teach In Iron county this year
would better enroll during the present ses-
sion and procure their license in the regular
way. You must pay to the support of the
institute even if you do seek private ex
animation, and private examinations will
not be rendered you on q silver platter.
You can enroll any time during the session
and will ecaive due credit for the work you
do and no more. II your work in the insti
tute is not sufficient to test your knowledge
of the branches on which you are required
to pass as well as your professional ability,
you will be examined more closely at the
the close of the session; and it is my cam
did opinion that few teachers in this coun-
ty, without the institute training, can pass
the examination required on language
work, N Engagement aud me hods, You can
take this gentle hint for what Is worth~-"A
word to the wise is sufficient" l tell you
now, and You may note the fact once for all,
the institutes of Iron County are going to be
q success; they are going to have for their
primal object the upbuilding of the public
schools OF this county and the welfare Of the
youth attending them. The prevalent idea
that any kind Of teacher is good enough
for the country schools must be eradIcated.
The masses are educated in the country
schools, and instead of anything being good
enough, there is nothing too good for our
country children. I would gladly see all
our country schools taught by home teach
ers, but il our home teachers will not avail
themselves of the means of improvement al
forded them, then we can procure teachers
who are up IN the profession and who are
still growing in professional zeal. Tax pay
ers, appeal to you, you who pay for what
you have not been receiving, you who are
entitled to a fair remuneration for your
money-and your school tar Is the least por-
ton of your school expense, when you take
into consideration the cost of books, etc.-l
appeal to you, say, if you do not think it
time that you were arousing from your leth-
argic sumbers? You are not indifferent
about other affairs of life, and why neg leGt
the welfare of those dear ones for whom you
are living and spending life Of toll and care:
They are the dearest beings on earth to you,
and are they not entitled to the very best
(instruction) the market affords? One third
of the life OF the average youth is spent I'M
under the guidance of the teacher, who NOR
ally stands in loco PARENTS; then should you
not have y care as to whom you entrust these
tender beings? You are entitled, under the
law and OF right, to thoroughly qualified
teachers-those who know methods as well
as subjects, mind as well as matter-to just
and sympathetic teachers. The teacher who
is not growing is dead. and school boards
should have no more to do with him than
the farmer has to do with q rotten stump.
A. p. VANCE, County Commissioner.