The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-15
THE NEW TEA cher IN
/ THE TORAH SCHOOL.
Adele Risnovsky. Though a Green
horn, Makes q Hit and
Gets Ambitious.

SCtb fAAlipAttOubs
The stocl,y, heavy bearded principal Of
the Talmud- Torah (Hebrew SCHOOL, leaned
hack, stared hard and raped out:
"And you are q teaoberP'
.Yes, I'm a teacher from the creamy
faced, round shouldered, spindle shanked
applicant for employment.
The principals piercing stare slowly
took In the bowed headed melamed Gle.
brewteachsrj from the top Of his worn hat to
the solos Of his unshined shoes. Then his
revere voioe, accustomed to authority
demanded:
Have you taught before?'
1Sure, I've taught in different places,
lastly In the rig Brownsville Talmud.
1orah. ! can bring the best possible
reference" the teacher olacked out with q
promrtness which some might have thought
convincing, but which nevertheless only
| showed that he had sohooled himself TO
rattle o1 the formula.
As o matter Of fact, he had been ranging
from Talmud- Torah to Talmud -Torah
looking for employment, and everywhere
he had failed. His statement about tie
| Brownsville Tnlmud- Torab contained a
modicum Of truth, for the teachers in
| that institution had struck for higher
| wagea, and, owing to their well knit, secret
union, the superintendent was reduced to
employing any teachers he could get.
Thus thie humble teacher had taught
In the Brownsville Tslmud-T orsh for two
days. Then the strike was settled and he
again faced starvation. His chance OF
obtaining O job being rather desperate,
be did not mind improving IL by soma
slight deviation from veraoity.
Having thus delivered his studied half
true statement, he furtipoly cast an anxious
glance ct the principal, TO watch whether
no had noticed the deception. The princi-
pals visage was %forbidding, and blankly
inscrutable.
After q while the principal irrelevantly
began to intope with nasal melancholy
Bonn. bonn, bonn, Ia, la, Ia keeping time
with his thumb on the + able. The teacher
fdgeted nsrvously.
The scene was rudely broken In upon
nv the turbulent intrusion Of q mother
with q weeping ~youngstep, and her noisy
complaints that her offspring displayed
strong antipathies to going to school, and
learned nothing when he did 60, and dis
obeyod her at home. The teacher moved
to a corner, contracted himself to a minimum
and vaguely wondered what wal the mean
ing of life.
The principal called OH the Juvenile
oulprit to produce reasons, II ha could, for
his misdemeanor. The latter answered
with a burst OF ear piercing bowls. The
principal next asked whether It was his
intention to reform and be good; the offender
issued more clamorous bowls; the principal
told the mother she might go home and he
would fix the boy, whereupon the howls
became 30 80 wage that the mother had to
would ne done to him.
Exit mother, enter second mother, same
story, same conclusions.
The teacher marvelled what relation 1t all
had to him, and whether, II he secured the
toh. mothers would bring him children to
ecold and ohastise. At last there was
quiet, and the teacher remarked:
Il can show excellent recommendations,
II you want any
"Idon't give a rap for your recommended
tions. What's your namef'
ADELE Risnovsky."
And you are q teacher?' The principal
returned to his original question.
s1've given the greatest satisfaction In
the best schools; they were all sorry to lose
me. / can bring the very best recommen-
dations, II you only say the word" the
teacher rejoined more spiritedly, now that
the principal had said he did not care for
any recommendations.
Il don't think you would do at all. No,
you wouldn't do. I'm sorry, but you
wouldn't do"
The teacher was depressed and, saying
a humble good-by, to which the principal
did not reply, he heavily turned to go.
However, when he was at the door, he
heard the principal call after him. "Mr.
Risnovsky!' and he blithely returned.
mir. Risnovsky, you are single?"
"Yes sir"
'You wouldn't do for a teacher; you're
a %greenhorn, but III give you a trial. III
pay you twelve dollars a month, and you
have to teach only four hours q day, from
half past three to half past. seven. Come,
III give you your class
While following the principal, Mr.. Ris-
novsky rapidly calculated what disposition
he would make of his salary.
Three dollars a month he would spend
on lodging-that's q little too much, he
might lodge for two dollars. but since he's
earning money why grudge himself, and why
not take q separate in partnership
with another q
Well, taking three from twelve, there
remains min dollars a month. Board
would cost q dollar q week and clothing
and other expenses another dollar @ month,
30 he would still nave q dollar a week to
deposit in the savings bank. Heavens!
Every week one more dollar! And the
savings bank pays interest, too!
Threading DARK, dingy Railways, the
walls Of which were honeyoombed with
prison oells--that's what the rooms looked
like more than anything else-from which
there penetrated the roar and hullabaloo
Of hundreds Of children reciting at the top
Of their voices, according to the jewish
method Of teaching, the principal, with the
teacher at his heels, plunged into a room
where nearly a hundred eight and ten-year-
Odds were in ~internecine combat.
The principal, slapping, spanking, kick
ing, Gaming, beat the inchoate mass Of
young humanity into a semblance Of order.
Then q little kid abruptly s~queaked, New