The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-04-26
A Few Phases Of School Problems

Now that the school year for 1901
is drawing to close, it is emlnenty y tit
and proper TO touch upon few phases
of school problems which am sure need
the consideration OF every thoughtful
teacher and school officer in the State.
Let US first consider the teacher.
Teachers are anxious to do the very
best they can for themselves from a
financial point of view, other considera-
tions being more or less Of secondary
nature. In dealing with this question
i prefer to discuss it more from a con-
crete point of view than from the alb
stract and theoretical side. The end Of
the session is near at hand. Ifyou have
made good" in your position, the trus-
tees will probably offer you the position
aeain-you hesitate, and finally ask
them to give you a while to consider.
This means that you desire change:
but if YOU can't get what you regard as
better you will accept This holds the
trustees back from getting a good
teacher while they are 10 be had
Again, you finally accept, and at the
very last minute, If better position
presents itself, you tender your resigna-
tion fatty. or ask to be relieved, with as
little compunction OF conscience as if no
principles of honor were involved.
y great many teachers begin to apply
for positions as early as convenient and
keep it up throughout the vacation
period, during which time they ere
elected to several positions, finally de-
Gliding upon the one that offers the best
advantages financially, socially, etc.
This habit prevails to such great eS-
tent that trustees hardly know when
they have their schools provided for
until the day comes for school to open:
A trustee OF one OF our most successful
schools, in talking about this few days
ago, said that his board had no end OF
trouble along this line, and that he had
proposed to have their teachers-elect to
give small bond to insure them against
loss and delay Now, no one blames a
teacher for trying to do the very best
he can; but this habit Of accepting posi-
ticns 10 order to feel safe, aud then ten
dering your resignation as soon as some
thing seemingly better offers, IS not
honorable and the sooner teachers real
iZe this the sooner some of the defects
will be corrected.
If trustees were as tickle in canceling
their contracts with teachers. as teach
ers are theirs, there would be more law
suits than few. 1 have known a few
teachers to accept positions, and later
be elected TO positions carrying larger
salaries, but feeling it would not be
honorable to accept and resign the
former, have held on to those paying
the least. T call that true test OF ones
professional h.nor. What is your opin-
ion about it:
There are three grades of teachers
certificates and dozen or more differ
ent grades Of teachers. a certificate
should mean something should stand
for something. These grades are prl-
marily intended to stand for different
degrees of scholarship and fitness, but
as a matter of fact, that feature has al
most entirely lost its significance.
Trustees as rule only ascertain
whether the applicant has a certificate;
if so, anG ne is elected as the teacher OF
q school, he gets just what the schoo! IS
accustomed to pay, regardless OF grade,
mental qualification or special fitness.
Under this sort of management, holders
of second or third grade certificates
with little or no experience getas much
pay as the holder of first grade certif-
cate with years of practical experience:
No wonder. then, that so many holders
of second and third grade certificates
arc content as long as they can have
their certificates recognized to glide
along, making no effort towards higher
standard Of scholarship and greater pro-
fclencv in their profession.
It is my opinion that the county super
intendents, as a rule, are anxious to see
the standard of scholarship raised, and
are doing all they can to bring it about;
but before they can do so, they must
have the cooperation of the trustees.
Ifthe trustees throughout the State
would adopt the plan OF grading the pay
according to the grade of certificate, it
would aid us great deal admit that
there are many so.called first grade
teachers who are so in name only, and
that many second and third grade teach
ers are superior in teaching ability.
Every teacher should strive for the
highest ia scholarship and professional
knowledge. I would like to have these
as well as several other practical sub
iects thoroughly discussed in your col
umns. e. J. Browne, in Southern
School, News for April, 1911.