The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-05-01
Is School Tea ching Retrogradiug.

At recent examination of teachers
in Manning, there were fourteen
white applicants, and nine colored, we
are told the questions asked were the
simplest ever put before teachers IN this
county, and strange to say, there was
not an applicant who made an average
which would warrant a second grade
certificate. One of the questions was,
''Who represents South Carolina, in
the United States Senate?" An APP
plicant iwhite) Answered: Louis Ap-
belt" This would be amusing were it
not a serious matter. Think OF it.
applicants for teachers certificates
not sufficiently versed in current his
tory to know who are the representa-
tives in the Senate of the naticn. The
children of the country to be taught
bv those who are sadly in neeG o.
teaching. There must be a cause for
this state of things; some body IS re-
sponsibie. Are our educational officers,
board OF education, county superln-
tendent and trustees responsible
for Incompetent teachers? Or is it the
parsimoniousness of the people, vino
think teacher is a teacher, regard
less OF Qualification. The same ques-
tions submitted to the applicants for
teachers certificates was afterwards
submitted to the tenth grade at the
Institute, this grade made an average
of over ninety per cent, and no one
would for a moment consider any OF
that class competent to teach.
The trouble is, teachers do not get
enough pay to justify competency; 1t is
poor pay, poor teacher.
A man or woman competent to I'M
part knowledge can obtain more salary
at less irksome, and less responsib BILE
work. and, therefore, the result is,
that the chiIdren's education is mould
ed by inferior and Incompetent per-
sons. The average salaries paid to
teachers is an inducement only to a
young man who is preparing for some
other profession, either law, medicine
or the ministry, and while pursuing
his studies be is content to teach for
the small salary and his board, it is
entirely temporary with him, nc
thought whatever OF making it a life
profession, and hence his heart is not
ioined with his mind in the work. He
is simply marking time and drawing
pay, and penurious people imagine
they are getting of cheap. With the
Young women, the salary paid is only
an attraction to make few dollars tc
spluree a new bonnet, and trip to the
springs in the hope of catching a hus-
band, or if she has already become en-,
gaeed, a few months teaching will give
her enough money to buy her wedding
dress: no idea whatever OF continuing
her work as teacner,-it is simply a
matter of convenience and a little casn
That class of teachers are D!ight Ic
the boys and girls of the land, they. oc
damage to the young, receptive mlno
the teacher whose heart is not IN the
work IS a criminal, because the money
received is obtained under false pre-
lenses, it is moral fraud, nothing more:
nothing less. We would not give
snap of our finger for the work OF any
teacher who does not prepare the les
sons for the next day the same as the
children they pretend to teach. The
teacher who goes in the class room
without having studied the tex
books sufficiently to instruct without
tne OoOh IN mana, is not prepared u
teach: that teacher is a recitation hear
er, and any child in the class is a:
competent for the work.
This is serious matter, parent:
should not think lightly upon this sub
/ ject, the matter lies in their own hand:
l whether or not they will submit theil
chilGren's future--their minds to b.
moulded by incompetent hands; there
should be an awakening along ohi:
line, the people must get together ant
conclude that the best only pays, aat