The Crittenden record. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1904-1907, 1906-08-24
Why DO | Teach School.

paysl" and he laughed as if | had just
told splendid joke. 1t took me some
time to convince him that | was II
earnest, but after somewhat heated
though short argument he let me &c
on in what he thought was obstinate
ignorance on my part.
The trouble was that he couldn't see
anything except from the standpoint
Of the almighty dollar" and while
am too much of modern American
not to see the ''money in it," also
saw something else. II isn't the right
occupation for you if you can't get
something else out of il besides the
dollars in the pay envelope.
often wonder why il is that so
many people have a tendency to look
down upon school teaching as a profess
sion, when it seems TO me that nothing
should be of more Importance TO
parents-to any one, than the man or
woman who is moulding the characters
of our future citizens. And | wonder
why il is that so many capable young
men and women show a desire TO do
anything else on earth other than
teaching. Is il altogether because Of
the small salary received?
No because know several women
and men, who have all the character
istics Of good teachers who are not re-
ceiving as much money in other profess
sions as their abilities would command
in the schoolroom. even know one
girl who taught for one term and left
her position for that Of a clerk. She
taught a good school too, the best. |
am told, that that district ever had.
! asked this girls mother the reason
her daughter had for preferring TO be
clerk rather than sehoolmistress. at
is my desire" she answered loftily,
that she should leave the schoolroom,
she's too sickly for it,
TOO sicklyw Formerly this girl
had for six months in the year stayed
in the schoolroom from eight O'Clock
till four O'Clock with an hour and thir-
~ minutes recesses. now she worked
from six O'Clock in the morning until
ten O'Clock at night, stopping only
long enough at noon to eat her lunch.
Yet because that mother had heard
that teaching was hard GA tho
nerves." that il wore out the life etc.
she compelled her daughter to give up
her own choice Of profession -one
that she liked for one that was twice
as hard on her physically.
One girl told me one day that she
was going to teach for a while It'll
something better turned up" She is
Of the type that is the sehoolroom's
bane bred to believe that teaching is
menials place, a profession 10 be
ashamed Of. il would be- better fer the
children Of our land to not attend
school than 10 attend the one she
teaches.
Every person who can procure a ces-
tifcate, should not try to teach. Only
a few out Of many are qualified for the
work. But when a young woman with
the true teacher spirit tries typewrit-
ing, elerking or anything else and
shuns the work che knows she would
like because Of the small pay she gets.
she needs to be shown her mistake.
She. II she really is a teacher. gets
lot more from her work than the
monthly payments she receives. Yes.
| know that many people think that
teaching ruins the temper" "sours
the disposition" and lot more tommy
rot, but Il there Is any other profession
that will keep you living all the virtues
you possess, keep your sympathy awak.
encd, keep you alive and up.to.da,c.
both eyes wide open and every wit at
work as teaching will have yet To oh.
serve Il. am speaking Of true teach.
ing no other kind should be allowed.
Six months spent In country school
room, surrounded by bright eyed little
ones who look to you for help that will
lead them into trucr lives. six months
spent close TO Mother Natures heart
six months spent IN trying 10 be all
that those up,urned trustful eyes be-
lieye you TO be, and you have six
months Of the most profitable work Of
your life time. Then II there i nc,dI
Of vacation, a rest period YOU have
plenty Of time for Il. You Il i trto
are not burdencd with very heavy
purse but on account OF the small
board bill and small expense You are
put 10, you have almost al much
as others who receive higher sala.
ries and who must meet greater OK.
penses.
BE that as Il may YOU have received
something that they have not. some.
thing that even money, that wonder
worker can not give you-an improved
mind and character, and a real interest
IN, and sympathy with mankind. You
with the children have lived a real
life, have come closer 10 God than she
or he who spent the same time over
dusty accounts. In a rushing business
OF. with the clicking typewriter.
am glad TO receive every one Of my
dollars I'D miss even one. but as long