The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-03-10
GOTHAM PEDAGOGY.
THE LIFE AND DUTIES OF a Nga
YORK scHooLTEAcHeR.

LhNAN AAfAAN taken ANk0 CUfl~ffiE fgif1uft
there are few public Offices in thee a
New York which are more dt.sirablt
than those within the public schonl sys
tenn From almost every point uf viey
the life of a schoolfeacher is a dcsirabis
one IN this city. The pay l. good. lie
promotion tolerahly rapid. the wusk LII
uneruus. and the hours are better than 10
almost any other field Of labor Abouf
1000 teachers are employed IN the pub
lie school system II New York whose
salaries range from 5000 20 si, 800 a
year for women. and frum 81 .OSO 10 o.. 2
600 for men, But a.. zoo is ~ no means
the limit 20 the financial ambition Of q
New York schoolteacher. On the part a
the men there are scverEl greater prizes
within their reach II they have the prop
er qualifications and can secure the right
influence IN the board Of education. For
instance. there j. the ONCE uf assistant
superintendent Of public schools. a
which there are ten, each drawing a sal
ary of about 81. 600 year. Then there
Il the superintendent Office itself. with
its handsome pay q g.. 1000. and ia has
been the goal toward which scores %
educators in this and other cities are
constantly keeping their eyes. Both the
offices Of assistant superintendent and
superintendent are filled. absolutely hy
the board Of education The assistant
superintendent j. elected for two years,
and, as a matter Of practice, has a life
position. Then the male teachers can
look forward to a promotion 20 the City
college either rs am instructor af n sal
ary Of g.. 500. ur full fiesiged professor
at e.. 500.
There are few Of the 55 male princi-
pals in New York's public schools. how
ever. who do not get more than their
salary u 81. 900 year. Almost every
one Of them gets sumo little additional
pay, as $500 or $500 yoar-for extra
service as an instructor IN the evening
schools OF as clerks Of the ward board u
school trustees. some ~ the principals
hold both Of these little plums and make
= clear $1,000 a year out u the school
system. Tho principals u boys schools.
of course, have their pick In these choice
perquisites. but there are - many addi-
tional Offices 20 b. lilled that under male
teachers in the public schools come in
for good round share.
The fUur evening high schools alone
give employment TO 20 or 50 teachers.
each of whom gets anywhere from s. 20
81 n night for the additional work
Then there are some % boards Of school
trustees. each Of which has its clerk.
who gets pay for tho amount u wusk
done, the average mounting M 20 500
" $500 year. Nearly all these clerks
are principals " some schools
In the case Of women schoolteacherx
the chances for earning extras are very
limited. The maximum salary she can
get is 81 800. She starts into tliesystem
with a salary Of about 5000. which is
gradually raised until she becomes the
principal u a girls department of
grammar school
In order To become n schooltcaeher IN
the public schools Of New York il l. first
necessary TO get a recommendation from
a member Of the board u education.
This enables the candidate to Try pre-
limiuary examination. which. II he is
successful. entities him 20 b. placed up
ON the eligible list Of teacherS After
satisfactory work Ia this capacity for
not more than year the candidate Sc
cures n permanent license as a teacher
in New York's public schools. and a.
such Is entitled 20 teach in any part Of
the city.
This does not mean necessarily that
the teach r will Immediately find en-
ployment- That depends entirely upon
the local board ~ school trustees. The
city is divided into - school districts.
the schools IN each Of which ara con-
trolled by a school board. who are APP
pointed by the board Of education. The
boards have the selection Of all teachers
below the grade Of principal. these be-
ing appointed by the board of educa-
tion. As n rule. however. the licensed
teacher soon finds an opening aud then
l Is in the regular line of promotion
What has made the school service 30
attractive 10 many are the easy hours.
/ Nine-tenths Of the salary carners in New
/ York get 70 work at a. M. aud are
lucky IL they get away by 5 p. M. with
I half an hour for luncheon The work of
the teacher begins nc Q a. m and u over.
as n rule. by p. m. with an hour for
I luncheon. Nine-tenths Of the salary
! earners get only weeks cut Of the 81
I in the year for a vacation, and they
I work days in the week nc that. The
/ schoolteachers get a vacation Of I3
weeks in So and draw full pay during
I that time. Besides this they work Onl-
/ D days in the week and have all holi-
/ days IL has been estimated that the
schoolteachers Of New York work less
than 200 Of the 365 days in the year.
II a schOolteacher Is 70 rise in the
/ calling. however. the work does not end
with school hours Studies IN pedagogy
and advanced education must be kept up
az home. The work is not 80 Bard, how
ever, or the pay so poor rs 90 induce
many 90 resign. In fact. it has become
a saying in the system that school