Morris tribune., 1905-06-24
S|HOOL OFFICERS MEET
Heful Discussions of Vital Interest to the
Country Schools.

and is such prominent factor in the
moulding of our citizens and the up.
building Of the nation, it seems to
me that it is inconsistent in US to be
satisfied with anything but the very
best instructors, teachers who are
Especially strong in the common
branches, the branches that they are
to give instruction in.
I'VE must constantly bear in
mind that the instruction which is, or
should be, impaired from our schools,
is something which becomes in its
self a living part of every pupil in
the school, something which he
uses in his every day transactions and
which becomes an absolute necessity
to him. Now this is not in every
sense of the word true of all Of the
knowledge disseminated by our high
schools, colleges, academies, and
universities. While perhaps there is
nothing taught therein bat that
which is very nice to know and which
it is absolutely necessary for the
student to know who is preparing
for certain lines of work or the follow
ing of special professions but there
is no student who can make practical
use of all of the subjects taken up
therein. While on the other hand
there is nothing whatever taught in
our common schools which the
student can get along without in his
every day transactions.
care our higher institutions of
learning satisfied with poor, week,
and unqualified instructors? That
is question which you can best
answer for yourselves, when you
know the circumsta noes.
"We have 81 schools IN the county
employing for the coming year SO
teachers. Taking out 26 teachers
for the graded schools it leaves a
balance of So teachers for the rural
schools and of these 63 teachers
there are only 81 qualified with state
certificates and the balance are teach
ing upon third grade permits
"How are you going to answer the
question with nearly SO per cent of
our teachers not strong enough in the
common branches to pass the state
examinations and still you keep
hiring them year after year.
''Are we satisfied with poor, weak,
unqualified instructors? Answer it
No, we are not. l know you agree
with me when say we are not.
Moreover the worthy, energetic,
ambitious teacher, who is inspired
with love of her profession and the
lebleness of her calling is no more
satisfied with the present existing
state of affairs than we are. She is
not only willing but is ready and
waiting to step boldly forward and
publicly proclaim her dissatisfaction
even ifshe may have been one of the
unfor tuhate ones at the recent ex-
animation and have proven weak in
a few subjects. She will exert her
self, overcome the few remaining OBJ
stacles impeding her progress, and
come smiiingly to the front with a
complete state certificate this fall,
completely armed for her work, and |
the following Of her profession. Such |
teacher is a credit to herself and |
the entire school system of the county |
She will take care of her end of the
work and can always be depended |
upon. 1t will be your delight in
years to come to point back to her
and her school work and say, ad-
miringly say that you are proud of
the noble, manly, ahd ladylik4 young
men and young women, whom she
by her untiring energy instruction
and sheer force of character has
helped to mould. But it is not of
such teachers as this that I wish to
speak.
'This teacher will take care of her-I