Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-05-19
STRIKER VS.. Kicker.

Stryker VS.. Kicker.
Mr.. EDITOR-In last weeks GA
xETTE, there appeared, as the writer
believes, very unjust criticism of
Superintendent StrykeD, under the
head of South Hutchinson Echoes
and indeed it had the ring of back
woods" echo The writer believes Su-
periutendent Stryker was right when
he said the best teachers were leaving
the school room to follow more lucra-
tive occupations. AS the writer thinks
over the past he remembers many ex-
ceIlent teachers of fifteen, ten, FIVE and
even two years ago who have left the
"procession' never to reUarn. We do
not need however. to go back to the
past for evidence that teachers are
leaving the school because they are lily
paid, for one needs to but look around
him, observe the signs of the times, to
observe the fact that there is an unrest
an uncertainty among the teachers.
The writer knows teachers who taught
this year and for several years past
who say they are done with teaching
because they cannot gain a competency.
1t is true that wages are good for the
novice for he cannot reckon all he re-
ceives in dollars and cents because he
is gaining in knowledge, power and
efficiency, the value of which it is i'm
possible to estimate. After two, three
or four years, however, he begins to
realize that while he is vastly superior
TO what he was in the beginning, yet
when he is estimated in dollars and
cents by their employer, the people, he
is worth no more than at first. He Is
no longer a novice but he must COM
pete with NOVICE who has everything
to gain and nothing to lose. Therefore
the efficient teacher who makes teach
ing his BUSINESS that be must do one
of two things; either accept the wages
of the novice or 60 without an Occupa-
tiOn. If he accepts the wages he does
so with the mental resolution that it
will be his last term Of school. He is
like drowning man, he catches at eV-
cry straw, and at last we find him
pnI1nruirr, onrna nfhar oolian1
AS to beginners teaching just as
good schools as an experienced teacher,
the writer believes it is absurd. The
writer has been teaching six years and
never made failure of il in the COM
mon acceptatiOn of the term, but he IS
satisfied now, as he looks back upon
his work, that he has made lust six.
He cannot help but shudder when he
thinks of his first term. The only
things he had on earth to recommend
him as teacher we're a relative, a
good friend to the board, determine
tiOn to stick to it, 1.-THE school) and a
third grade certificate secured by pass.
ing "a rigid examination. By keep
ing out of mischief, making friends
and keeping good order he got the rep
utation Of having taught the best
school" they had ever had at that time.
With the teachers authority and the
backing of the school board and par
ents, anybody can keep good order;
but good order is not teaching. 1t is
only one of the favorable conditions
for teaching. Anyone can turn brakes
but it takes trained man to run To-
comotiye. So with teaching.
Superintendent Stryker sees the con-
dition of our schools and is doing all in
his power to make them better. Let
everyone help. Instead of criticising
everything he does let us weigh and
consider. NJ. ID. w.