Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-05-29
MEN AS TEACHERS.
Reasons Why Men Are Not More
Strongly Attraced to Pedagogy.


Ossian H Lang in The Forum.-The
steady decrease of the number OF
men in the service is a matter fol-
serious consideration throughout the
country. The Massachusetts Board OF
Education has taken UP the discussion
are now twenty-siX male teachers less
in the state than last year, while the
women teachers show a gain of 46S.
This is probably typical of what is
taking place everywhere in the
country. But what is to be done?
The Massachusetts board believes
that 'the matter of inducing more
men to taken up the profession OF
teaching is well worthy of the deep
consideration Of all persons interested
in education" 1t certainly is.
But how are more men to be drawn
into the field? Greater security OF
tenure of Office and progressive
salaries keeping pace with progressive
work may do something. These are
desiderata we'll worth laboring for,
but they are not sufficient. Women,
as rule, are by nature and training
more tactful, or call it more diplo.
matte, than men. The appointive
powers are not infrequently the more
readily persuaded by a woman that
she should have the place rather than
man. Often sentiment is brought
into play in behalf of female can
didate; it goes against masculine
nature to secure position in this
manner. This suggests one reason
why male teachers are growing less
in number. Moreover, many school
systems make it too easy for man to
obtain principalship without any
teaching experience. One result is
that the men look for the better paio
principals places rather than for
schools where they may lay the
foundation Of educational success by
actual teaching. The consequence is
that the f1edgling just from college,
or wherever he may hail from, COM
monty remains after his appointment
an Indifferent sort of principal, who is
readily replaced. If every school COM
munity should insist that none but
experienced teachers could be eligible
for a principalship there would soon
be an appreciate Increase of male
teachers.
How to hold a good man in the
school field is even more important a
problem than how to get him there.
Fair salaries, progressively increasing
as the years roll on and the service
improves, will do something. But in
secure tenure Of office and the re.
examination evil have driven more
men out Of teaching than inadequate
pay. Present usage permits any
school superintendent to brush aside
with one sweep of the hand all the
past record of a candidate and to
subject him to more or less absurd
literary tests. So firmly is this
practice established that the average
school superintendent cannot even
get himself to think OF any other plan
for determining the qualifications OF
teacher. The procedure in vogue is
something like this: A principalsh1p
paying $1,000 or more becomes vacant.
The superintendent advertises the fact
far and wide to attract candidates. AS
rule, he has decided in his mind
whom he wants to appoint before the
examination is held, and the test is
shaped accordingly. Nevertheless,
without one pang Of conscience he
will put the various candidates to the
expense of coming to his examination.
Can we blame men for turning away
from teaching?
There will be no real change OF at
titude toward teaching as a life work
until teachers are afforded an op>
portunity to earn diplomas absolving
them forever more from the humiliat-
ing ordeal of denomination. A sup.
erintendent who wants a teacher
could then be compelled to look for
suitable material among the holders
of these diplomas. Instead OF calling
miscellaneous convention of can
didates, bearing the expense of their
attendance, it should be his business
to search for the teachers likely to
fill the requirements. If he then
wishes to apply special test, let him
do so; but the school system should
Invariably pay the expenses caused
the candidates by their submission to
the ordeal. This is business, and this
is right.