The Newtown bee., 1891-08-21
HUNTINGTON.
Mrs Stiles Nichols has visited her faith
er, Charles Judson.


er, Charles Judson.
HUNTINGTON SCHOOLS; PROBABLY AP-
PLICABLE TO OTHER TOWNS.
Why do not outlying districts in coun-
try towns awake to the fact that they are
not dealing fairly with their school teach
ers and that the towns are not dealing
fairly with the districts. Of the town ap-
preparations, the districts get what is left
after the villages get all they can. 1t Is
their own fault that they do not get more.
Farmers are everywhere demanding their
true social standing. Why do they not
begin at the root of the evil and demand
better schools? Country districts are CIV
en- a pittance that will average only about
sc per week. Other schoole get one third
or more extra. And this while the work
and responsibility is far in excess OF
that of the teacher in graded school.
The comparison is as great as between
clerk in a city warehouse and the propri-
etor of country store. A gentleman
teacher is about as much curiosity as
the elephant to the small boy. Hence
the question principally affects the la
dies. To them, avenues are everywhere
opening at good wages. In this age, Ia
dies of average ability will not teach
school long at Sc per week. Last year'a
we'll known teacher from an adjoining
town made application for our school
and, hearing of the meagre wages paid
here, withdrew and soon accepted
business position at double the salary
and work for 80 weeks in the year II she
wished. While we have been slngularly
fortunate in selecting teacher for
a few years past, it is no assurance that
we will be this year. If the district VIII
not pay but about Sc per week for a
teacher, ordinarily it will be $6-a-week
teacher who applies for the position.
How often have the older ones told how
the teachers used to get but 81 or 81 50
per week and aboard around" How
ridiculous to ask a teacher TO accept
those terms now? The difference! The
teacher gets now So and pays So % or 81
ner week board. It's shame to rob the
children of their opportunities of getting
a good education for the, lack of really
competent teachers. Competent teach
ers. who must have spent years to fit
themselves for the positions, find more
profit in other vocations. The board OF
education has often by example shown
its entire willingness to exceed the stin-
gy town appropriation, if only they were
&
assured that it was deserved. But dis
trict committees, as rule, never seek
teacher, but take up with the first appli-
cant and the examining board have Of
ten passed most unworthy persons, rath-
err than risk having no teacher. In fact,
far from being a matter Of fitness II this
town, it is largely aWill they teach for
the appropriations Under teacher
whose store Of knowledge does not ex-
coed the every day requirements Of her
position, the scholar will simply drift.
Ought we not to vote sufficient money to
keen proficient teachers in our common
schools; not have them leave for more
lucrative callings? Can we not pay reas-
enable wages, so that a committee need
not make the most Important question,
Twin you teach for the money r. There
are some fine teachers in this town and
this ID no reflection on them. Il Oliver Y.
Beard, Jr, Long Hill, Huntington.