The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-16
BOTH SIDES.
Az Intelligent Teacher Gives Fair Presen-
tation of Her Views.

tation of Her Views.
There is an old saying that there are
always two si1cs to a question. and as
your paper is proyerbial for that rare and
nucn-to- recommends virtue, justice to
all parties would ask you to allow me
Attic space IN which to present the
o,l,er side of a question much in evidence
in the educational circles of the State just
at present.
Perhaps it may seem presumption on
the part OF u backwoods, country school
teacher TO add anything to what has al
ready been said by such educators as Miss
3 Parrish. DIR. Frazer and DR.. Kline Il
mention them in the order of their let
sers). but as have the honor Of having
been intimately associated with Miss Par
IRISH for four years, having been pupil
OF hers and a slight personal acauaint-
nnce with the two gentlemen, feel justi-
fled in presenting another phase of the
subject upon which SO much has recently
been said.
zach of the aforementioned educators
has lancnted (and must admit that
there IS a cause for lamcntation) the de-
;, iorabie condition of the country public
schools OF Virginia
sga must &C farther back tnall IN
teacher, however. l do not deny that 10
d n great extent the teachers are TO piainc.
sl,e fact that those teachers are placed III
these oositions by men who are supposed
TO he in a capacity 10 know whether
teacher is qualified to teach and govern
:, school or not. While nave peen pc.
ruliarly fortunate in having to deal Win
men cminent.y fitted for the offices "hlch
.l,cy held. yet il we are to believe The
accounts given by numbers of teachers
An other counties 1T is very different. we
are led 10 believe that it is the exception
,-.tber than the rule that school trustees
are chosen from among the educated men
Of a community. Would it not be well LOT
she trustees as well as the teachers TO
1,e required TO stand examinations IN oroer
10 he elected to their POSITIONS!
1l;,ninate ignorance and politics from
3 4bos educational boards and perhaps they
will he better able to give the people
better teachers.
Incomne.ent school officers. then. is our
first head.
second. insufficient salaries.
Parha,,s YOU have heard of the ralroao
e. like in winch all of the men on 'hc
.o,cc cxccat the japanese stopped work
1,ocanso their wsges had been cut down
~, NOR cont one day the sunerlntenueh'
,.,,.ced that all CT the shoHeis had pee'i
shortened. o., 10 ~
i..Why, what made you 90 that! nc III
INJURED Of a little Jap.
(
nj. .r.res ten per cent, / cut my shoEei
oi one inch. / get less pay, L dig less
J,erbaps this may apply to the teachers
ard their work. hut believe lhat as sa d
rnlc,1he teacher is CONSCIENTIOUS anu VIZ 80
tie best that he or she can possi"i' w
,1.der the circumstances.
lt5is hard for the teacher who mas never
caught in the country to realize what a
& country teacher has to contend Will !!
might mention numbers OF uncertain -
net disagrecable, things, such us ~
5os,Ire to all kinds of weather. Eoiiis NJ
Geld. damp school-rocms IN lhe cary
,,.orniuc. and her chief dread, her pe!e,
,.oi, the jncompatibilty of the people
,v1l, whom she is often forced to board.
trust ] may be pardoned for bringing
.u my own personal experience. but there
is no other way to get at the pialii' Piae-
teal truth.
ter a four years preparation at the
Z sinte Normal School Of Virginia., l start
g., out with bright hopes and with every
assurance that I would be 4 secohu
1sther, Melancthon, Zwngli, or perhaps
Ilaro. Now, after eleven years expert
eace. with several summer schools oil
methods. as a recreation throw in be-
tween / am alive, and not a sadder, put
/ sincerely hope a. wiser woman.
NV first school How well 1 remem-
her that first day, and all the days! l
held forth in a house that was uncom-
fcitably close and supplied with All OIL
Tho necessities OF a school-room except
:race. / had about thirty pupils, ana
1ha dimensions of the house were l2Nl6
feet We tried to work, the children ana
I but the girls had headaches ana the
bows plead for air We Ventilated inc
house by opening the windows or let1iils
them down from the top: me le s''n.s
were sore throats and colds. we We're
either always too warm or too cold. lhose
i've wears involved the happiest smiles
rnd the bitterest tears OF my NE
The next year applied for and secured
). notorious school. Men and women VINO
l,.d preceded ME told me narrowing 'aies
IF INSTRUMENTATION. ] resolved TO teach IL
or die taught it and lived. 1t was the
a,ast school j ever taught. There was no
,i,sobedience of any kind, but on the other
rand, perfect and voluntary SUBMISSION
and faithful work on the part Oh inc
nupils: and the patrons stood by me W
q man. ,;,a Gov
ANYTHING. One boy used profane language
md T sent him home to his father, VINO
was my friend. That was su1nclert'
had no more trouble. though l taught
tie same school six years. a la'her can
hurt worse than a teacher ~.
We got on beautifully together. fei-
hans ii, was a fellow-feeiing, the touch
a. nty that we felt for each other, which
made us so wondrous KIND. How we
lived through that session and haii oh
the next L can now hardly understand.
,yhe house was built of logs and ehtireiy
.oo small for the thirty or more puplis.
n had two little windows With glass
,,rolscn ont. 1t was built up off the ground
shout feet. and usually sheltered a han
dozen or more hogs. which, when they
lmcame too noisy. afforded the boy VINO
was deputized to the task infinite oeilsh,
IN chasing them away. shed supported
Nv posts resting on the ground Was IL
s,ont of the house, and was so sopins
that the front edge came down much be-
low the top OF the door. SO that the room
vas made very dark The chinking was
continually dropping out from between
the logs. and the wind whistled at ran
dom through the school. Forked sticks
were nailed to The walls on the sides,
sand In the back OF tho room on which
tic children hung their wraps and lunch
baskets. The stove was made for coal
md had to be filled with wood every few
,.tnutcs. There were only two desks in
et,lool, one for the teacher ana the o,her
"a xHrite