Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-29

night are again counted and lett IN the
principals Office.
The same care is exercised with other
things. Though a large proportion of the
every day work above the fifth grade is
being done with pen and ink, it has been
estimated by a number of principals that
the children average one pen In three
weeks, some schools using them a month
and over, the majority keeping a record, in
thoir copybooks, of the dates when they
have had new pens. This is also true OF
the other writing and drawing materials
used and of everything else, in fact, to an
extent that indicates that whatever ex-
travagance there may be in furnishing sup
plies to the schools it can only in excep-
tional cases be charged to the principals
and teachers. AS to the necessity of sup
Elementary readers, the teachers are prac-
tically united in considering them essen
tial as we'll as desirable. and as they are
in closest touch with the schools, their ex-
perience and unity onnthis subject should
have weight. In spesKinR of the supplies
one of the principals Said Surprising
they do cost a few hundred dollars, 1t is
the taxpayers children that are getting
the benefit Of 1t, and every cent Of tho
benefit, too-that is, after these materials
reach the school buildings-and we teachers
fortunately cannot be criticised for any
thing only the care of these things after
they come to us. The furnishing of ma,
terlals. means nothing TO the teacher but
additional care and trouble, so our inter-
est is not a selfish one, but, as the prin.
cipal sees this matter, the item Of books
would mean a heavy, and in many cases
impossible, expense, to many families II
they had them to furnish, while the child
would lose one Of the most valuable les,
sons of his life-the lesson of regard and
consideration Of other peoples property
and, incidentally, OF his own, for we find
that the average child comes to us with
little notion of caring for things, even the
things that are his own
It has been estimated by United States
Commissioner Of Education Harris that the
average salary OF men teachers OF the city
elementary and high schools OF the coun,
try is 1915 is while that of women teachers
is $39.17.
Walter Burwell Of Omaha writes the Bos.
ton Traveller as follows:
The changes of program at the Univer
sity OF Chicago, a representative type o
Western university. from co-education L
separate classes, which will take effec
January 1 next, marks the beginning OF
which II is to be hoped win be followed II
the public schools all over the west. Co
education In many sections has actual!
put a premium on ignorance by shutting
the door of opportunity to young men VIII,
desired TO make teaching their profession
in life. In several parts of the west it 4
Impossible for men to get positions IN
matter how well educated) in the public
schools. This state OF affairs has existei
for some time and me natural result ha
been to cause a marked decrease in tn
number OF young men who continued thei
studies through all the grades to hna
81 aduation in the high school. Take Oman,
as an example; this policy of discrimina
ton against young men who desired L
secIre an appointment In the primary o
grammar grades has been in force 70
many years. Various well defined influence
have been at work which caused this stat
of affairs. chief among them being the fol
lowing: The superintendents have geneT
ally been In politics, hence were jealous O
any male teachers becoming more popula
and supplanting him In his position. Tn
woman's club was another sinister infu
cree. And the school directors, many @
whom had female relatives in the schools
were afraid that their chances of promo
ton might be interfered with II men wer
appointed. 1t is hard TO define eXaCtl
what has led up to the present condition
but the result lis that with 400 teacher
on the pay roll there are not fifteen mel
There are two prinCipalships out Of fort
held bv men, and about a dozen are teach
ing in the high schools and grades. This
what co-education has done for one CON
munity. II Is interesting TO note in passin
that when the board ceased appointin
men TO positions I'm the grades II cut of a.
available supply Of male teachers for N
high school, and today we see the Boar
OF Education lamenting the dificIlty
securing competent men for teachers
that department. Sound CO-eduCatiOn cor
templates no such unbalanced system;
We had Il, there would be maintained
classified list for each sex, and as vacanCit
occurred appointments from each would I
made, as the United States civil serviC