The Saint Paul globe., 1904-10-28
SCHOOL INSPECTOR
FOR HOME TALENT
Supervisor of Grade Schools of
State Takes Up Famous
Topic

In every village in Minnesota the
old question whether or not to engage
''home' teachers for the graded
schools is fought out with each re-
curing year.
Those WHO have no relatives or
friends to offer on the altar Of the
teaching service are usually against
the employment of teachers whose res
idence is in the village to which they
are willing to give their abilities and
time as instructors of the youth.
The other and smaller faction either
from self4inteEest or principle, is
committed to the system of giving the
home girls a chance. 'sWe are tax
payers" they : warmly declare, "and
why mot give our girls the opportunity
to earn this money spent in teachers
salaries that they may spend it right
here home, instead of carrying it
away with them to pay for summer
dresses arrtl--@long vacation trips TO
some other town."
A W. Rankin, state inspector of
graded Schools has been one of the
most active opponents of the system of
.'home' teachers, but in his ninth an
nual report to the state high school
board, just submitted, he admits de-
cided modification of his views. Speak
ing of the arguments to be advanced
in favor of the employment Of village
girls in the schools of their own towns,
the inspector says:
--Advises Safeguards
Properly guarded the practice of select
ing home girls to teach is beneficial to
the schools. The proper safeguards are:
To insist on normal diploma from all
applicants and to hire because of fitness
to teach and not because OF relationship
to member Of the board or to a promi-
\ nent- citizen.
It certainly is a great advantage to a
| teacher to know her pupils personally. II
she understands that this girl is not
strong physically, that she is over-bur-
| dened with the care of younger children
at home, or that she has no home adyan-
tages in the way of books or papers. the
! teacher can plan much more wisely for
| the child'S work than she can If she and
| the child meet as strangers on the open
| ing of school l do not find that dis
cipline is harder for home teachers. On
the contrary. they seem to be more sue
| ceSsful in this respect.
The objection mainly urged against the
| employment of home teachers is that they
entrench themselves in politics and can
| not be. removed if found incompetent ]
| do not find this to be true. Home teach
ers can be just as easily dropped as any.
| An efficient superintendent can, inethese
sentiment is with him. The trouble is
| that too many school men are timld and
are lacking in franknesS.
The advantage in hiring home teachers,
! so far as graded schools are concerned
is that they are more easily kept year
after year. This! i count to be of great
4 importance. The trouble lies not in get
| ting rid of poor teachers, but IN keeping
/ good ones.
| A village knows its own young people
| Quite a considerable embarrassment has
/ been occasioned in many of the graded
! schools by the conduct of teachers outside
| of the school. The teacher may ally her
1 self to the wrong group. Instead OF WISE
! counsel being given, reckless gossip l.
| provoked and the teachers influence Is
gone. Home girls can be more carefully
| selected and are not SO liable to mistakes
| in social matters. If they have been away
| at a normal school for two or more years
there is no more danger of their becoming
| narrow at home than elsewhere.
Standard of Teachers Raised
/ The inspector compliments the state
high school board on it's adoption OF
the minimum wage in graded schools
/ He says that the fixing of a minimum
scale for grade teachers at $40 and
for principals at SIS per month has
I worked admirably, raising the stand
ard of the teachers employed.
The Inspector deplores the frequent
shifting of principals and teachers
| Two years is the average length OF
service in. one place by teachers in tbs
graded schools and over sixty changes
| in principals are to be made next
year. .54.sss
The system is condemned, but ne
| adequate solution of the problem pre-
| sents itself to the inspector. Mr.. Ran
kin finds that the graded school is be-
| tween two fires in the. matter of en-
! ploying grade teachers. The high
| school towns offer better wages and
1 superior. social advantages, while tbs
rural schools pay higher wages fol
| first grade teachers than do the grad
| ed schools. The result is that superior
| teachers are drawn in each direction
| from the graded schools.