The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1902-08-29
TEACHING AS A PROFESSION.

Editor Republican Does it pay tt
fit one's self for a teacher? Meutall,
and morally, it does, if the work il
entered into energetically and con
s~cientiuosly. Financially, it doe!
not, when compared with the amount
that one can earn at something else
This year, the teachers of Dawson
county will receive, on an average,
$50 per month. About rs per cent Of
the schools will have six months
terms; therefore, the teachers will.
receive $3.50 each for walking a lone
distance to school and building fires
in a cold schoolhouse; striving 12(
days at ST.. so per day to develop the
young minds intrusted to their care
driving from six to twenty miles
through all kinds Of weather to meet
the county superintendent who is
supposed to Ibe. a walking en-
cyclopaedia methodology, to Absorb
from him some new idea on how tc
stimulate growing chlld-mind by in
jecting subject-matter into it.; and
become the unfortunate victims
upon whom the scandalous gossipers,
| peculiar to each neighborhood, empty
their putrid iniquity without mercy
| or exhaustion: and yet the superin-
tendent who suffers his share alike
with rest, stands with both hands
raised to encourage, and cries in
Observation-Disclosures, learn to love
your profession. Does it pay?
The illustrious Garfield tried it and
after working his way to college
president, gave it up for ther
calling the immortal Mckinley, after
an infant baptism in the work, also
gave it up. Dozens Of our great
men did likewise. Many Of our own
acquaintance followed in their steps.
j. T. Morrow, general agent for the
j. l.. Case T. NJ. Co. in this city.
taught school for several years and
then gave it up for more remunera-
tive employment; Postmaster Bras
worked his way through till he reaped
his reward as county superinten-
dent and then sought a new branch
OF educational work from which he
realizes a far better income; e. S.
Johnston, editor of the Mitchell
Gazette, followed the profession for
a number of years and then gave it
up for law and editorial work: his
brother, Senator George a. Johnston,
did the same; O.. L. Branson, cashier
of the First National Bank in this
city, climed the ladder of success in
the profession till he became a pro-
fessor in one Of our normal schools
and then dropped it for a business
life. These are only a few. Many
more of our business men in Mitchell,
did likewise. If the profession pays,
why all of these changes? Supt. E.
j. Quigley is only one in many
thousands who have entered the
work, and made it their life calling. |
The superintendent would be the
last man to discourage anybody. But,
let's see. 1t takes a teacher from
two to four years. after completing
their common school course, to ere
pare themselves to work from six to
nine months a year at from $50 to
$40 per month. 1t takes an average
student only six months, at any bust
ness college, to prepare himself or
herself to do Office work which is
vastly more pleasant, furnishes en-
ployment for the entire year and.pays
from $40 to 500 per month. A con-
versation with A. A. Boynton. pro-
prietor of the Wing1ield-C Connolly
Business College in this city, shows
that within comparatively a few
months, students have entered that
school, graduated and found employ
ment as follows: Maud Smith, Lund's
Land Agcy., city; Edith McCurdy,
Atty. R. E. Rowdell. Artesian; W.
j. Schiltz, W. S. Hill of Alexandria
T. B. Till, Gregg-Zeeman Lumber
Co. Emery; F. L. WEIGH, Eureka
Land Co. Eureka: George McCaslin,
States Attorney Crandall. Bercsford
Helen Conan, Fl. Carey, Mt. Vernon;
Susie Cook, States Attorney, Wor-
Ellington, MINI. and Joe Belts with
the Truax and Belts Elevator Co.
of Mitchell. These graduates whose
education cost them less than one
third what an average teachers does,
are each working every month in
the year at from $40 to SS5 per month.
Which pays the better? These facts
are not brought forward to persuade
OF dissuade anybody, but to merely
show the public that there is a
vain OF patriotism in those who
follow the teachers profession that
should awaken universal appreciation
and not condemnation, in every
neighborhood.
Teachers are growing scarcer every
year. School clerks desks no longer