St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-05-27
FOR school MA ANS
EXCELLENT ADVICE TO THOSE
WHOSE WORK is DIRECTING.
Avoid the Over-Positive Manner and
the Harsh Voice-Exquisite Neat
ness Better Than Peauty - The
Teacher of "Prunes and Prism Ira
ditions" a Thing of the Past
Teachers Should Avoid Undue Fa-
miliarity Between One Another.
BY KATE rPsoN CLARK

W1ilai1ty Between One Another.
BY KATE UPSON CLARK.
(Author of Bringing Up Boys" etc. Pres
ident of the WheatonClub New YorkO
Copyright 1905, by Joseph 3. Bowles.)
A. mother who was discussing Ter
beautiful young daughter, only recently
graduated from cole ge, remarked that
for many reasons she was sorry
Grace had selected teaching for her
| profession"
But teaching seems to me to be
the noblest work in the world" eX-
postulated the intimate friend with
whom the mother was talking.
very true,' she assented, "but
teachers get to be SO dogmatic and
| arbitrary! My son, who has studied
economics for years, and is considered
to be quite an authority in educational
| circles where he is known, was seated
at dinner last evening beside woman
teacher in certain high school. She
prcpounded the most startling theo-
ries and made the most sweeping
statements. Several men and women
present tried to protest feebly-but
she would not hear a word on the
other side. She knew There was no
use in mentioning any other views.
We have looked up some of her statis-
tics since then and have found them
to be utterly wrong-but there would
probably be no result from telling her
SO. My son remarked that there was
no profession like teaching for max
ing people dogmatic, especially
women"
THAT may be so,'' conceded the
friend, thoughtfully. ."Still, I have
met a good many people, not teach
ers, who made f1atfooted statements
and were impatient of any opposi-
ton"
But since classes have to accept
their Instruction, no matter what,
there is special danger in teach
ing. And teachers get into habit
of ordering others around and being
obeyed. So many teachers have an air
which might be described as majorly."
"A good many married women have
that" laughed the friend.
After marriage, it may not be quite |
so damaging. But there is nothing |
which initiates more against girls |
social success, short of actual moral |
obliquity. Modesty in intellectual
intercourse is almost as beautiful and
necessary as the other modesty.
detest the positiveness and curtness
which so many teachers seem to have
and even to cultivate, as they grow
older"
"Grace will never have it, suggest
ed the friend, comfortingly. 'She is
too gentle and too sensible
But you see she cannot be too
gentle in teaching-especially in the
public schools, where her career seems
to lie. And in overcoming this gen.
tleness she will Lave to acquire the
Dther manner, and that may take her
too far. You know the poet tells
about the one who lost all gentle
ness in might And then her voice!
How few teachers have pleasant
voices! They either become nasal in
he effort to obtain strength at the
east expense, or else they get a
aarshness which is even worse.
1race's delicious voice is one of her
greatest charms. 1t seems as if l
could not have it spoiled"
The friend tried to reassure the
worried mother. But hundreds of
,ther mothers have had similar appre-
tensions when their young daughters
lave entered the noble and honorable
profession of teaching. The pitfalls
which Grace's mother described are
cry real ones. Every calling has it's
'wn peculiar perils. The over-posi-
i've manner and the harsh voice are
70 doubt two of the most likely to
eset the teachers.
y .
There are others which did not oc-
ur to the mother who has been men !
oned, because her own daughter :
to be more than commonly .
and correct in her dress !,
nd manner. But many girls, espe- =
tally the more intellectual, become 8
, much carried away with the things n
the spirit that they neglect the q
erhaps less weighty, but still impor-
INT, matters of the body They may
ot endanger their health, but they
III into habit OF wearing their e.
othes to positive shabbiness, and n
ltting them on carelessly. q
There is often excuse to be made n
II them. They are not seldom over :,
orked or underpaid, or BOTH Some .,
mes they have to dress in cold a,
IONS. Sometimes they are half-sick, "
I'd if they could just take time to y,
It themselves little, they could =,
ore quickly recover, than they can f.
the incessant struggle of school n
e. ION the other hand, they NAV NJ
we better health than if they had w
ore leisure. On the whole, the
isure girl, we are told, has worse
alth than her sister who works for
1iving.) til
Still, if these girls who grow neg "
,tful of their personal appearance st
uld only realize the full duty which wi
ey owe not only to themselves, but W,
the reputation of their profession. Ia
ey would give TO it more time and ne
ought. They may not be beautiful, ST.
t exquisite neatness is a distinct of
arm in itself. 1t takes time and ha
ms, but almost anything may be
ssed over rather than that. Have
ur clothes made ever so plainly; /,
that they are loose and comfort an
e; you can't have firm health for hin
ly work, and small waist, at the wi
ne time. But see that everything mis-
1 wear shall be as well-fitting, as rel
pfy1liv adi,,Stpd no cmoothlv