The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-12
TEACHERS OF ST. Paul SCHOOLS
The Financial Side OF Training the Young
of This Country

SCnOOI teaching is Ill., Dut peCduSe VI
the far greater benefit that might re-
suit to the community if it received it's
just deserts. AS it is now, teaching is
luinous to the health and spirits of a
large number of those who are engag-
ed in it. Their inceSsant and arduouS
labOrs without opportunities for needed
relaxation and even the ordinary COM
forts of life, keep them in worn and
nervous condition which has already
become SO characteristic of the Amer
lean public schoolmistress that 1t is
said to be possible to tell her wherever
you see her. AS class they are
known to be a plain folk, exceedingly
modest in dress, too much SO, indeed,
to enter polite society; and the cause
is evident-that the returns from their
labors will not permit eXpensiveness of
any kind, in dress, food, entertainment,
or any Of the things that bring relaxa-
ton and restfulness. When gather
ing of public school teachers takes
place in a town or city of considerable
size, there is sometimes much merri-
ment on the part of the citizens at
the expense of the plain. commonplace
appearance of the "wielders of the
rod as the newspapers put it.
The effect of this discrimination is
most unwholesome upon pupils, for
they are obliged to associate, for six
hours of the day and nine months Of
the year. with a teacher, who, in far
too many instances, is not a fit COM
panion at all for childhood, because
she has lost that cheerfulness and
spontaneity which hard, unremitting
labor with many cares and anXieties
have been accountable for There is
apt also to be that severity and impa-
thence in the classroom which comes
from the worn condition of the teacher;
and surely no influence could be more
harmful to the child whose disposition
and character are in a large way form
ed by the things his eyes and ears
feed upon during his educable years.
1t must be apparent that these con-
ditions seriously. retard the true devel-
opment of our commonwealth. because
they encourage those who are lacking
in qualities that would win them sue
cess in other fields to enter the profess
sion Of teaching. One must be blind
who does not see that the principal
criterion of worth and work in our
times is the amount Of money that
services can command; and it may not
be expected that those with superior
endowments will remain where, if they
continue, conditions will deprive them
early of the use Of their powers be-
cause of the righteousness of their du-
ties, while, at the same time, they
will be more poorly rewarded than in
enter. Thus it has come about that,
in way. the less able and qualified
persons in any community fall into the
teaching profession because the most
capable do not care to enter; and in
many cases those in the profession
who possess natural abilities leave it
as soon as an opportunity offers itself,
feeling that they might keep better
company elsewhere. as we'll as have
a mora rom fort a hja and cotiSfaotorv
life.
CAUSES OUTLINED.
1t is not necessary to search for the
causes that have brought about this
condition of affairs In the first place,
vast amount of public money has
been and is now appropriated for edu-
! cational purposes; and there is a con-
viction among statesmen and public Of
f1cials that a due proportion of the
peoples funds. considering other pub
lie interests, is already devoted to the
cause of education. But a serious diff
fcIlty lies in the fact that there are
more persons engaged in teaching than
in all other matters of public concern
combined; and, when it is remembered
- ! piaciiC:.iiy every adult IN our
country has passed from six to twelve
years in a public school, the great mag
nitUde Of this business as compared
with any other under public control
can be appreciated
1t is in way a remarkable fact that
every one connected with the law,
either in it's making, it's Interpretation.
or its execution, receives great rewards
for his services; and all of the build
lngS and other equipment necessary for
the administration Of law are always Of
the most elaborate and expensive kind
This may be accounted for partially by
the fact that those who make the laws
are In many cases engaged also in their
Interpretation and execution, and it is
but natural that they should have first
thought of themselves and their poster
ity; and this sort of thing is going on
in every community at the present time.
But in addition to this, however, there
has always been a peculiar reverence
for law and lawyers in our land, and
IN the times when every lawyer was a
statesman perhaps this reverence was
we'll placed: but in our own day it is
probable that men who are not es-
pecially worthy or have responsibilities
beyond what most other individuals of
the community sustain are profiting by
the favor which custom has always
shown their species.
How, now, may matters be improved
so that teaching will be rated higher in
public estimation and receive due fl
nancial rewards? The answer seems
simple, that legislators must recognize
the Importance of the teacher in de-
termining the safety and well-being of
the community. However, much may
be professed by those in places Of au-
thority in regard to the education Of
the people being the safeguard Of the
nation yet in practice, they often fail
to show the practice Of their belief The
truth probably is, however, that legis-
lators and statesmen have the cause OF
public education upon their minds less
than they really think they do, or at
least avow they do; and that those
other matters of public interest,
THE ADMINISTRATOR OF LAW.
improvements in various kinds of BUSH
ness enterprises, and so on, have alb
sorbed most of their thoughts and SYM
pathies, and so have profited best at
their hands But there is no factor in
American life which is now, and must
ever continue to be, so influential in
determining the course Of national de-
velopment as the public education of
the people; and as worth and efficiency
In any calling are secured only by ade-
quate rewards it is evident that public
school teaching will never attain the
position 1t should take until the present
discrimination against it in financial
matters, at least, ceases to exist.
1t is not alone legislators who fail to
behold education in its true relation to
other interests of public concern, but
the people at large must themselves
answer to the charge Of short-sighted-
ness in placing teaching in the posi-
ton that 1t occupies in most communi-
ties. 1t is not unjust to say that in q
large proportion of public school posi-
lions the cheapness Of the teacher is a
more important element in securing her