Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-24
THE SCHOOL rEAcHEn,s Lot.
It is Not Always Happy one; Some
of the Drawbacks.

1t is Not Always q Happy one; Some
of the Drawbacks.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch.
heartily sympathize with the teacher
from Stauntcn who complained, recently,
of irregularity of attendance in the pub
lie schools. But she must remember
there are always two sides to every story.
l am a graduate of a public school and
have been a teacher for many years in
city and country. I prefer the country
schools because can come closer to the
children. BY this I mean can visit
them in their homes, talk with their
parents, and know their surroundings.
Being in close sympathy with the schol-.
ars consider one of the principle means
of a teachers success.
It Is, of course, necessary for a teacher
to be prompt and punctnal in attendance.
For this reason, if the home is not near
a boarding place is secured as near as;
possible The teacher has but faint idea
Of the depth of the mud or of its adhesive
and slippery qualities during the winter.
Many OF the children live a mile or more
from the school-house. It is not al.
ways convenient for them to have horse
so they must walk to and fro. In s1eety,
icy weather there is often danger for the
younger children who have no older
are kept at home during such weather
I know Of a teacher whose school does
not make the average daily attendance
for many days, and she says, in no very
gentle tone or manner, that she would
like to see the mothers of those children.
she would give them talking to-" Why
don't she go to see those mothers? But
it would be to her self-interest to re-
member that those mothers can a. ak,
&c ho I Of mother Sc1Onl
in which there is a full daily attendance,
the roads and distances being about the
same as in the other school. In this
there is discipline and order, and, per
consequence, Improvement. a child will
follow, obey, and study under a teacher
who is interested in her work 1t, pro-
badly never occurs to some teachers that
their work would be better and their
schools fuller If they would think more
OF their own fitness for their work. It
is a pleasure to ia good teacher to have
the superintendent visit the school some
times. If he would do this and. judging
the teachers ability from the results that
he sees, would weed out Incompetent
and unsuccessful teachers. leaving those
who give good work and have full
schools, the patrons would corporate
With these teachers, there would be no
APATHY" and they would contribute to-
wards having the school term extend
beyond the five or six months allowed
from the public funds.
I am in favor OF the compulsory educa-
ton law, for there are many too indI fer
ent TO appreciate education have
known parents to keep at home. on trI-
vial excuse, a child who cried to 90 TO
school, Such people must be forced to
do right
The teacher who worries, will become
nervous and noisy. two detriments to dis
cipline. Instead Of worrying about the
doings Of the scholars the thoughts
should be turned inward when It will be
found that the nisdoings Of the scholars
are due to some misdoing of the teacher.
In conclusion I would ask why the
country schools in Virginia cannot adopt
the plan so popular and useful in some
Of the northern States. Consolidate sew
era1 Of the small schools. and hire a
reliable driver and comfortable vehicle
to carry to and fro those pupils living at
distance The consolidated funds would
build a good school-house. allow a salary
that could be accepted by a good teach
er, and also pay for the conveyance
e. S. FuRLoNG.