The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-25
SCHOOL. TEACHER
AS A GRUNTER.
Interesting Paper Read BY Miss
Mamie Pegram.
SOME HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS.
Kindness To Pupils is the Most Ijfcc-
tive Way of Gaining Their Friend
ship aud Interesting Them
in Their Work.

Miss Mamie Pcgram wcll-known and
popular teacher in Wcst-End School, re-
Gently read at ST. James church an In"
tcrcsting paper which attracted consider
able attention among school teachers
This paper contains 4 number OF pract-
cal suggestions TO teachers and pupils
alike, and it is given in full below:
The idea of public school teachers be-
ing grunters never occurred TO me until
] was asked to write this article. what
an idea! Let me describe an average pub
lie school-room Of to-day. tLty-tWo pu-
pills. which may generally be divided into
three classes: one-thrd coming from
homes of wealth and refinement, win
plenty of the best to eat, and clean, com
Portable clothing; one-third from homes
Of ordinary circumstances, good cio'ncS'
substantial food clean faces and happy
hearts: one-thrd from homes OF poverty.
orphans, mothers working in factories
for the support of the little ones. patched
clothes. hungry and diseased oftmes.
One-half Of the 1ifty-two knowing the
meaning of mothers love and tender
care: one-half hungry for a word of sym
pathy. Some used to drunkenness, blows
and harsh words; others, not knowing
the meaning of an oath.
A girl of twenty is expected to walk
into this room, secure attention, preserve
order and teach eight or ten branches
each day.
Children, parents principal. superin-
tendent, school board, conscience, ana
above all, God to please.
Is there any wonder that public-school
teachers are classed with the Erunters?
The principal asked Jennie why it was
that the children in her room looked SO
bright and happy? She answered. My
teacher has ten pounds of pulverizcd su-
ear in her, and We can't help being
sweet and happy"
We are not all S7'unters nor cross. crab
bed old maids, as the world would prove
us. Few Of our old maids are old maids
from Choice
We sc, discouraged sometimes, but
as you have asked for personal eXper-
fences. l will give them.
CLASS STANDING NO CRITERION.
When ! have worked hard the whole
month and report day comes ] find the
per cents A. G3. 80 etc, ! ask myself
the question. Can it be that have
talked drilled and explained this whole
month for naught?' Worn out, l fall
asleep and dream. ! 4 gray-haired
old maid. l am in the State Home in old
Richmond: the Virginia Legislature is
in session: a speaker is holding all spell
bound: a bill is before the House for the
Prevention of cruelty to animals" l
catch the words: My teacher at West
End School used to say that boy or
man who would fight chickens was a
coward" l see before me Alexis per
cent, the eloquent orator of the House
dream on. / am in the crowded streets
of Philadelphia. Sunday morning. A
vast multitude thronCs the streets lead
ing to ''Grace Temple Russell Con-
we'll is to give place 10 n noted young
preacher from Old Virginia. / enter the
grand old edifice and stretch my neck
10 get glimpse of the preacher. Is it
possible? John C., my old pupil. who
could never recite a lesson unless his
hair was wet and parted in the middle.
travel to Europe in my dream. Entering
the French Academy. ] find famous paint
incs. with the name Paul c. in the cor
ner-,ny bay that often decorated my
boards with cats and dogs. drawn so GU
l'iously that our principal would beg that
write the names underneath SO as
to distinguish one from 'tother.
I return to school l teach no longer
the unruly pupils. but the famous sena-
tor, preacher and artist
Love and music can rule the school
world Dear teacher. did YOU ever have
your little pupil raise his hand and,
forgetting, say, Mamma. may l do so
and SOP" Did you realize that he had
paid you the Very highest compliment
his baby heart could pay? And really,
! feel that the public school teachers fill
z more responsible position than the
mothers of our land.
One cold night last winter 4 message
came TO me that one of my little pupils
was dying and wanted me. / went to
her, and as sat by that sick bed was
not sorry chat ] had talked 10 my class
of heaven. or that ! had prayed before
them Every day we had a message
from that home. A certain scftness
seemed to creep into every action of my
pupils. BY and by, the angel Death took
''our Elsie l never meet a pupil Of that
old class that We do not speak of the
one that Slipped away.
A COURT SCENE.
Frequently. it is necessary to have
court scene in school. 10 decide the OWL
crship OF a pencil, sponge or orange. MI
1Derous witnesses are examined. Once
this session little girl called another
poor white trash ! found it necessary
10 plead both cases and TO act judge.
rendering the following decision: '.As l
do not know the real meaning of poor
white trash, ] cannot decide which one
is right Perhaps Saliie is poor white
trash ! do not know. ! do know that
il vas very unkind of Daisy to call her
such a terrible name. Daisy must eX-
plain her language and then prove Salie
TO be guilty. They soon shook hands
and all was forgiven.
The third session ] taught my class
was. indeed a lovely one--not u bad con-
duct was given during the half-term. Our
beloved Major came to see us and
made his congratulations When the
class left me In February, / sat at my
desk and cried. Katie, Totsy and Cary
were in that class. j vowed / would not
love my new pupils. They came.
would not notice them. Three weeks
passed. One day j was monitor on the
yard. Little Stella Jolly rushed up to me
and said 20 Miss N, ] love you. please
kiss me-" ] did as she requested: in that
moment ] found it was useless for me
not TO love the children. Since then !
have wept as each class left me and
loved the new ones quickly.
Music helps great deal in the man
agement OF a school. have found large
boys in our building. who would do al
most anything for the privilege of stand
Ing near the organ and listening to few
tunes. A teacher has no right to be a
Eruntcr, A grunter has no right in
school-room.
One Of the sweetest things in :, teach-