The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02

Constitutional Conventions might meet
to the twenty-first century to devise ways
and means for lettering the schools, nut
unless the teachers recover from this ter
r,rI.. disease. now become Epidemic OF
self-sa tisfaction with the work, however
pcor it may be, wishing for no better
merit. che funds OF the State will In many
cases be wasted
There are many good teachers In the
state, vast army of them, l might
say. both in town and counlsh' h.lt
Parrish, DR.. Frazer, and others who nave
looked into it are right In saying there
are poor ones, and many OF them. 1t is
an ,noucstionable fact which seems ao-
surd to rcfute Weighed in balance OF
a high standard, there are few GOOD
teachers.
Miss Parrish and DR.. Frazer, though
they may not have visited one single
school. have had ample opportunity to
note the teachers OF Virginia me tor,
NOR has seen many of them at the School
of Methods, more intent on good time
than on the mathematical or pedagogical
lessons she is trying to instill into them.
In special instances there is an 1Sno-s
rance of school subjects which IS very
pcrccptible and ludicrous. 1t is put 100
eviCent that some teachers attend these
excellent summer schools literally pro-
vided for us more to escape the examl-
work. The majority do not. but many
assign that as their motive. and their
negligence while there corroborates the
sincerity of their statements.
Where can better opportunity OF 1udg-
ing of A. teachers work be had than at
the state Female Normal School OF VIZ
sinia. where, from time to time, every
county and CITY in the State has its rep
resentation? They have been taught by
some one or they could not enter at all,
and not only DR.. Frazer, but every mem
her of the Normal faculty have seen for
themselves and have given expression
to the fact that the majority nave not
been we'll taught. This ideal is high
one but should not ours be? They are
critical of us. but should we not be more
critical of ourselves? They are giving
their influence, their time to an effort
beng made by some Of the teachers to
elevate the standard of public school
education-nameIy, the Teachers ASso-
citation of Virginia In the county OF
Prince Edward. in which the Normal
School is located, DR.. Frazer is the hon
cred president of the Teachers Associa-
ton. Though now out of the county. he
is preferred above all others, for his
kindly interest in the teachers and cor
diaIity towards them, and also his ripe
scholarship and large experience IN
school matters causes them to wish to
retain MN 1n1c1lnileiy as tIitiF 1SduSh
and their representative.
Does the physician Of nelghborhood
change his mind with the well people
or the sick? He that is whole needs no
physician. Healthy people don't even
associate with physicians. Would teach
ers with nicely painted. comfortable
school houses be likely to have kodak
pictures taken hoping to get better
houses thereby? Why. they need no bet
80, l,,,} 11,<J <,c ~, s,,l,1 hog n q
throat or lung trouble, perhaps from an
uncomfortable room, hearing that there
Is 2. movement on foot to better improve
school buildings. would Jump at an OPP
portunity to have his or hers bettercd.
The writer would give a. good deal TO
know if one picture exhibited was OF a.
house in which she once taught. perhaps
the most unsighily and uncoD1forta BILE
in board benches with no backs and the
very best children IN the world to sit
upon them
There are many very nice school build
ings in the State. and some very poor
ones, but better ones are hoped for. and.
we can but believe that DR.. Frazer is dis
playing ugly sores but to heal, and we
not only believe, but know, that he has
the interest of the schools Of Virginia.
and its teachers at heart. and is ready
to lend a helping hand tp draw lis out Of
any slough of despond into which we may
have fallen. Let us not sink further in,
but rather give our own efforts to upliIt
ourselves, our schools. and to rise from a,
letllargy so noticeable as to be observed
by prominent educators. adj over the State.
We need not honeyed words or sugar
coated pills. but a. little tonic, 20 marie
us realize that the public school teacher
is often 9. term of reproach. Bitter words
there may he, but true; not in all cases,
but in some. Let such things no longer
be true of us, but let us use every means
for Improvement within our grasp-meet
together in associations and make means,
if we know of none. What matters If we
virginians know we are the best people
in the world. and why should we not ne
the best teachers? Let's be. and make
DR.. Frazer, DR.. Southall, Miss Parrish,
Mr. Brent and others be proud OF us. l
say, Let's: so says one Of the country
public school teachers of Virginia
"RAvENSWOOD.s
Hampton Sidney. Vat. Feb. 18th.