The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-01

art and drama, only a comparative few
ever attain a fairly remunerative position;
while nine hundred and ninety-nine out Of
every thousand teachers earn all they need,
or nave the right to expect.
The average salary from primary to high
school work throughout the whole country
ranges from $500 to 1000 a year. Fifteen
hundred is q common salary for high school
teachers, who are under no greater expense
than primary ones. As the majority OF
teachers have practised reasonable economy
in order to 60 through school or college, 1t
can readily be seen that the salaries they
receive make possible more than a mere
hand to mouth existence by comparison.
There is one type OF school teacher, how
ever, who deserves sympathy. This is the
type who ia. oppressed by back educational
debts, incurred either in her W behalf or
that Of her sisters whom she has educated
for the profession. This teacher, worried,
worn out, and self sacrificing, can be ex-
cused IL she ~degenerates into the nervous
wreck type.
Every ons knows the nervous wreck.
She has generally INDUCED in a bad temper;
thrown slates and books at her pupils, boon
Jealous of every other teacher in her school.
spent her leisure In gossiping or pampering
imaginary aches and woes. instead Of seek
inq culture in healthful athletics, music or
other kinds Of. sell -improvement. She
grows more and moro unattractive every
day until at last 1t Is time to s~uperannuate
her or pension her of on half pay to get
The RI ght kind Of teacher never gets
supe ranpuated any more When John
Jasper, Jr., ex-superintendent, ofNew York,
was retired he was as clipper and full Of
ideals as a fellow Of. 20 or so just starting
clvo ipiofro tive vunrk Woman TIM 10
heading departments In every large city
who have grown majestic in the service as
the years went by. 80
They have kept abreast Of the younger
generation and at 40 or 90 are worth more
than. any girl Of the charmed twenties.
1t is because the teachers life is an easy one
that a high standard Of ~womanhood is
~attainable. The culture and attractive
ness of many OF these veterans who knew
how to profit by their light task and good
pay has led to an entirely new standard of
che school teacher to come.
Agencies have sprung up to find fit places
for the f1ttest and boom the business. The
girls just but Of college who begin to seek
experience are ~astonished to find that they
are expected to take an interest in athletics,
music and the social life Of a community.
Gan you singp What instrumental do
you play2 What field sports do you excel
fn2 What is your weight, height, health?
What church or societies do you belong to-"
These are the questions put to the new
school teacher as soon as her educational
qualifications are passed upon, She has
to be wide awake and interesting or she
will lose her place. And 1t Ia fast becoming
recognized the world over that the teacher
who exerts the beat moral influence over
the young is the one who makes herself
sweet and attractive, who plays with her
pupils as hard ns she works with them and
who cxerts over them tho magical influence
that accompanies. health, good temper and
beauty Of both mind and body.