Gilpin observer., 1909-10-28
SCHOOL DO|NGS

Failing to receive the usual week
ly letter from the professor contain
| ing notes on the school work and
knowing the readers Of this interest
ing column would feel keenly the dis
appointment incident thereto, it was
up to the editor this week to select
something appropriate to fill this
space. Anything about the good, pat
lent and faithful school ma'am al
ways makes pleasing reading and If
the attention given this lovable per-
sonage will tend to satisfy the read
ers of school notes this week, we
can promise that henceforth the pro-
fessor will not neglect his depart
ment Of the paper.
The school ma'am Is probably
enough talked about" without any
thing more being said on the sub
ject, but in view OF the recent de-
mand for betterment in the quality
of our teachers it may not be out Of
place to say few words. The school
ma'am is good subject, anyway,
and does not receive as much con-
sideration as she deserves.
School ma a'ams are born, not made
and they are usually born about
twenty-five years earlier than their
given age.
There are two classes Of school
ma 'am-those who have sufficient
funds to enable them to secure the
education necessary to at once COM
mence teaching in the higher grades,
and those who start at the foot Of
the ladder and work up.
The foot of the ladder is the coun-
try school-which. by the way, has
turned out some of our best and
greatest citizens, due in part, at
least, to the instruction Of the coun-
try school teacher, God bless her.
The rural school ma'am is a per-
son of considerable Importance with
in her sphere of action and new
teacher is sufficient warrant for a
special meeting of the Ladies Aid in
| any
She is usually a sweet and demure
little bunch Of dimples and sunshine
OF eighteen summers-and no winters
who has acquired sufficient knowl
edge Of mathematics to be able II
t-sfirr-fe the attention of the older boys
Of the community and add to the au
m!ration of the others, and has pass
ed a graded school examination il
the balance of the studies.
For pupils she has from ten to fift.
assorted youngsters Of all ages ant
sizes, many Of whom their parents
and Sunday school teacher have beer
unable to discipline-and the little
school ma is expected to do fol
them what their parents and Go;
cannot do-and she usually does.
In addition to teaching the youn,
idea how to shoot, while hersel
dodging Cupid's arrows, she mus
treat each pupil SO as to retain thu
good will OF the parents Of each
must act as a social pivot for thu
community at large. be moral guild
and rule to faith, sometimes act a
janitor of the school and perform
various other and manifold duties
for all Of which she receives tn
munificent salary Of $50 to $40
month. payable to suit the board o
directors and contingent upon tn
condition Of the district treasury.
There's nothing more important II
our great social system than tn
school ma'am-the proxy-parent @
our children. the molder Of character
the bulwark Of American liberties
the guiding star Of the republic.
Another reason that there are no
more efficient school ma'ams is be
cause about the time school ma'ar
gets pretty well up in her work alonI
comes a real live male man and in
veigles her into doing his cooking 70
him. School ma ans make an exec
lent quality Of wives-especially tn
country variety. which is usual
more tender and edible than thos
grown In the cities.