Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-05-31
lCONNCNICATED.l


closed and the old bells will be silent
for the next five months, aud the
merry shouts Of the children will De
heard no more till fall. The teach
ers will have TO 60 home and engage
IN other pursuits may never teach
again, who can tell what we will do
i've months hence. We have q great
many teachers in the county of
Clarke and yet they msy be divided
into two classes, Regulars and Volun-
teers- The regular teacher has a vo-
cation, be makes his living by teach
ing, and is ever willing and ready to
teach, though he does not always get
school. Teaching is q profession.
or rather fast becoming one. All
who bear arms in time Of war are not
regular soldiers. So with teaching.
All who profess TO teach are not
teachers The mistake too frequent
~ made by the boards of shcool trus-
tees has been in employing these vol
unteers TO the exclusion of the regu-
lar teacher. Two teachers, A and 3.
apply for the same school. A is
regular teacher. b. q volunteer.
Both hold the same kind of cer;if-
cate A is known to be a good teach
er and fine disciplinsrian; nothing
is known Of BIS qualification as q
teacher. B Is backed by Mr.. c, q
prominent lawyer, who wishes b to
get the school for one term in order
to make money enough to go TO the
University of Virginia TO finish his
education. B gets the school through
Mr.. c. influence and 4 has to do the
best he can. have known a teacher
to 20 before the trustees with a peti-
ton signed by % per cent. of the
patrons and holding a professional
certificate and vet the trustees gave
the school to person who had never
taught a day. Another mistake
made by the trustees is in EMPLOYING
teachers from other counties. When
We have teachers enough 10 our conn
ty TO run our schools. give Clarke
county teachers the schools. mean
teachers, those who know how TO
teach, not those who go TO the school
house tn hear the children recite.
Hearing a class recite. and teaching
one, is just different as day is from
night Teaching is to give instruc-
ton, to impart knowledge. We have
too many recitation hearers all over
the State, persons who do not care
whether the little ones learn or not.
All they are after is the money. An
other mistake is made bv changing
teachers too often. If a school has
a good teacher, one who is known %
be concien tious in the discharge of
his duties, why turn him out because
aunt Sallie Gooden's second daugh-
ter, Melvina. succeeded in obtaining
a third grade certificate. have
heard persons say anyone can teach
that school, the children are little.
give it TO Miss Melvina, and she Is
appointed, and serious mistake has
again been made by putting an in
competent architect or builder in
charge of the building. If you or
were going 70 erect fine mansion in
which We were TO live, would we Sc
cure the services of botch because
his services could be obtained for a
pittance) to lay the foundation. How
often have / had to tear down the
building and lay anew the founda-
ton. Upon one accession | asked a
TEACHER, then TEACHING in this
county if h-o-u-r-s doesn't spell
"horse" what does it spell and be re-
peated tiff h-o-u-r-s doesn't spell
horse what does it spell-"you
know" he said, "h-o-u-r-s doesn't
spell anything" And another time,
| asked lady teacher what the null
tiphcation table is and she frankly
told me that she didn't know. Pretty
teachers. Let the trustees select the
best teachers they can and never lis
ten TO Mr.. c. the lawyer, or Amt
Sallie Gooden again. 4 REGULAR.