The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-23
THE SCH0OL-TEACHER.
Duties Imposed on Her which Parents
Should Assume.
Ichmnnd nndl Ifern

Richmond Qnd.) Item.
We know of no life more responsible.
fuller of responsibilities, than that of
school teacher. She sits on the mount OF
learning and gives out the sermons on
character to the little multitude at her
feet; the hand of the school teacher in
conjunction with the hand that rocks the
cradle, rules the world. The worst part
OF it is that in this day and age the de-
termination of character is left more to
the school teacher. The work which should
be done at home by the mother and father
Is being shOuldered on to the long suffer-
ing and patient teacher Her function is
no longer limited TO teaching the funda-
mental studies. but she must also teach
the girls how TO sew and the boys how to
work-things which the home training
should do. And the more the school teach
ers do the more is expected of them Par
ents are gradually drifting into the idea
that their duty towards their children ends
with furnishing clothes and food and place
10 sleep. The incubation OF self-controI. the
teaching of the value of industry, is all
left to the school teacher. in addition to
her work. Where is there better place
to learn the duties of housekeeping than
Mace? Where is there a better place
TO learn the habits OF industry. the use
OF tools and the practical side OF life than
at home? Yet every year we see growth
in the fad of manual labor, for It is fad
every year we see more crowded upon the
school teacher, greater usurpauon or the
parental duties, and, "a necessary Sc
quence. weakening OF home influences,
q deterioration in the family ueS-Wlth
all its attendant evils.
This work is being crowded upon the
school teachers, not by the ordinary cltl-
zen. bur the professional educator. lie
IS inspired by good motives. He sees in
the large cities the need of such things
being introduced in the school system be-
cause of the large percentage of ignorant
or INDECENT or Indifferent parents, making
IL necessary TO train the children In all
the arts of living at the school, IL they
are 10 be trained at all But the mistake
Is in drawing general conclusions for spe-
cific or local instances. What is good and
wholesome and essential in the tenant dis
tricts OF our large cities is neither good
nor wholesome nor essential in the other
districts OF our large cities or in any dis
tTict of our smaller cities and in the coun-
try But the system of education, like
any other system, is ruled by capriceS and
fads. and whatever the style is that must
be done. whether il is good or bad for the
student. whether il is good or bad for the
teacher. Aye. there is the rubi The teach
er. Is IL any wonder that the president
OF the Indiana Normal is complaining be-
cause of the lack of good teachers? Every
year witnesses more WOrk CROWDED upon
her, more demands upon her time, her
strength, her money, with no more compen-
sation. She must be able TO teach all the
ordinary studies. and in addition drawing,
make balloons and fly kites and attend lee
lures, and nobody knows what else. And.
like any other profession. she must keep
abreast with the times in her field of work.
which entails the taking and reading Of
considerable literature and going away
every two or three summers TO some normal
or course of lectures, or, better still, to
some university. This means the expendi-
ture OF more money and the consumption
of her well-earned vacation in mad race
10 hold her position. And she is paid more
Well not IL this city is a criterionl In
stead, she is put on the factory system.
She is locked in her pay for every minute
she loses; no account Is taken of her
every evening spent in marking compost
tion papers and planning the work for the
next day, and Of Saturdays spent in a gen.
eral roundup OF the weeks work. The
Item knows these things 10 be occurring
here in our local schools. and knows that
AZ Is weakening our school system and dis
heartening the teachers. What With the
added burdens put on them by Indifferent
parents and professional educators, and a
Tightening OF their privileges and picayune-
ism IN their pay by the authorities the
school teachers life Is certainly anything
but q rosy path. Yet in her hands Is
placed the formation OF the character OF
the rising generation, and II she falter
Erest " tho outcrE