Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-08-03
FRIDAY MORNING. AUG. 3, 1894
ARE THE MEN GOING TO THE
REAR2


The School of Methods at Bedford City
Va, just closed, was the best yet held in
Virginia, and fully carried out the promi-
ses of MI. Carter Glass, made in his pros
pectus. The Virginia teachers that missed
it suffered serious loss, and yet many Of
them did miss it.
The fact that out Of the four hundred
teachers present, only about sixty were
males, is very significant one. 1t added
to the already existing evidence shown by
attendance at this school aud other institu-
ties. that in the educational race in Virgin
ia the women are pushing ahead. They are
thoroughly equipping themselves from every
e educational armory within their reach. II
is not only SO in our State, but in 9th
Ell Southern States. At the School of
Methods there were young women from far
off countries who had never seen Virginia
and had come to it only with the purpose
of perfecting their equipment as teachers.
This persistent effort by bright, young
women to stand at the head Of their pro
fession can have but one end-the gradual
discarding of the male teachers who fail to
do the same thing 1t is q result which
will greatly alter the respective position OF
the two sexes on the public school pay rolls.
A university diploma does not make a
teacher. 1t is fair evidence that a young
man knows many things that an uneduca-
ted man does not, but it is no evidence at
all that he is competent to teach what he
knows. Other means are proVlded-the
School of Methods for instance, among the
best of them-by which he may acquire
this art, but if he does not avail himself Of
them he must go to the rear. Teaching IN
Virginia has ceased to be house OF refuge
in which fairly educated men OIL women
may seek temporary shelter until they cal
get something better to do. 1t now occu
pies the standing of profession, and one
which to we'll qualified men and womel
pays good salaries. Like all other profes
sions iu has its share of those who have
adopted but are not fitted for it, but theil
proportion is not larger than in othel
callings. In this State in the last twenty
wears the profession has made immense
strides, and in this day one must avail
himself of every accessory to keep up will
his competitors. 1t is the failure to dc
this that becomes SO noticeable When We
see such opportunities as the School Of
Methods neglected by men and eagerly
awaited of by women. One cannot hell
thinking, as Il young teacher who returned
from thele-himself a university graduate
said to us: ''If the men don't do more
to keep up with the procession, they may
as well get ready to drop out. "
Another thought suggested by the dlspar
ity of attendance, in the two sexes, at Bed
ford City! How Can the University OF
Virginia, a State institution Of education
refuse to that portion of the people Of thu
State so eager to learn, an education whicl
it readily puts in reach of their brothers
who do not evince SO much anxiety in tina
direction. What possibilities are not aheat
of such women as those at the School O
Methods, who in their eagerness for bette
equipment as teachers gave up their vaca
ton. spent their little earnings from thei
year OF teaching and went hundreds O
miles to gain it? What sort Of educators
must it be who befogged by ancient preju
dice would guard the waters Of the Pierial
spring against such thirst as this !?