The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-11-17
THE NEW TEACHER.
BY ALBERT ROCHE ORT.

CCHOOL district No. 10, over in Nc
y Comb county, had the reputation
of being very rough place for a
young teacher, and no place at all for
an old one.
Every new teacher was perfection
the first month; simply human the sec
ond and if he or she remained through
the third month, the children were in
rebellion at the instigation of their
parents, and the brains of the gossips
were busy concocting slanders which
their tongues did not hesitate to utter.
Robert Cole had just graduated will
honor from well-known college, and
by way of recruiting his health, re-
plenishing his pocketboo and getting
started in his legal studies he deter
mined, in the absence of anything bet
ter, to teach school for year.
The superintendent of schools for
McComb county was Robert Coles
friend, and to him the young man ap-
Piled.
There is only one district in this
county that has not teacher engaged
ent holidays; it pays the largest salary
in the county, and the money is sure,
for the district is rich-but then"
'But what, Mr.. Moore?" asked Rob
ert Cole, seeing that the superin-
tendent hesitated.
ut is a hard district"
''How so?"
'Well, they SANDER the female
teachers, particularly if they are pref
ty; and the big boys have fashion of
thrashing the male teachers"
II should rather like to try a school
like that" said the young man, with a
laugh.
"Oh! l am sure, Mr.. Cole, you could
manage the boys, but the parents and
older brothers interfere. Why, last
year a young man taught in No. 10;
he was powerful fellow and a fine
teacher, and he maintained order, OF
course. he did some fogging, partic-
ularly with the Docks, but a lot of the
men folk lay for him one night. and
after beating him they threw him into
the pond, and if he hadn't been an ex-
Fert swimmer he'd have drowned. As
II was he escaped, and the very next
day he resigned" said Mr.. Moore.
who are the Dcoks?"
1T is large family; they are re-
lated in some way to nearly every one
in the district and 1 believe-yes, lam
sure-two of them are trustees at this
time"
Are there no good people in the dis
trict?" asked Robert Cole, feeling a
bit discouraged, yet anxious to under
take the school for its very difficulties.
"oh, my! yes; indeed, majority of
the people mean to do right and would
change matters if they could; but they
are quiet, law-abiding folk, who
need leader and dread to act for
themselves. If you say so, can get
you the school," said Mr. Moore.
Il shall be Thankful! if you do. /
have theory of my own about manag-
ing hard boys. and should like to try
it, said Robert Cole.
The superintendent said: "Verv
well'', and within a week Robert Cole
had met the trustees and was engaged
for the ensuing school year.
Robert Coles plan was to do his
work conscientiously; to treat all
alike, and never to give an order which
he had not well considered, and which
he was not prepared to enforce. He
determined to keep his temper, and to
require prompt obedience from the
very start.
Before getting to work Robert Cole
made quiet little speech to the chill
dren, and Will. he was talking he no.
ticed a shock haired lad of II, with
iare-lip, who persisted il tickling the
ear of little boy in front of him with
straw
Robert stopped and pointing TO the
cuiprit, he asked: