The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-11

icHu our CRIMINALS because pima JUS
tice might allow her scales to be I'M
evenly balanced, and we might be
deprived OF some benefit or have some
liberty interfered with: we insist on
trained physicians to heal our Ills :
we will not license the minister until
he has taken q prescribed theological
training. lest man and the truth suf-
fer at his hands. The druggist who
prepares our medicine, the dentist who
removes our teeth. the veterinarian
who heals our horses. the undertaken
who bures us--thcse must be specially
sions before they can be permitted to
work for us. We insist that the doctor
for our mules and horses shall be
trained. but it doesn't make any differ
ence about the man or woman who
tenches our children. Why should
they be trained anyway?
Hear Mr.. Maphs further:
And yet we. who insist on these
requirements in the vocations men
toned. none by common consent rank.
ing above that of teachers. are willing
10 accept for the important and re-
sponsihle work OF fashioning in large
measure, the lives of our boys and
girls and determining their future
characters, some young, incXperienc oi.
unframed, irresponsible and ofttimes
frivolous girl OF eighteen or crud.,
young man of awkward manner and
limited knowledge and experience,
who has future in some other pro-
fession-law. theology. medicine or
poiitics-before his ambitious minds
eve and desires to be helped along to.
ward his desired goal. advancing at
their (the chiIdren's) expense"
The picture is not overdrawn The
fault must not be laid at the door Of
the teachers. 1t is at the door of the
people of the State. We refuse 10 pay
the price which will justify the teach
crs to train themselves FOR their work
and which will enable us to require
the best qualifications from them How
little incentive there is for a teacher
to endeavor to qualify herself or him
self much as possible. to keen in
touch with the latest ideas and
methods! II he or she do try TO be
better equipped, there is little chance
that there will ever be any remunera-
ton for the fulfilment of such an am
bition. Better equipment is not equiv
alent to a raise in salary Often the
SLOUGH and the scholar work side by
side at the same salary. and there is
no hope for either of them. Men and
women who would have made good
teachers make more money as stenog-
raphers or clerks The average chauf-
feur is as we'll paid in many places
as the average teacher. Teachers
salaries are too small to offer any
hope Of accumulation for old age ana
against sickness and disaster
What is the solution?
Better salaries nrst. insistence on
efficient equipment for teaching, second
These two so hand in hand. We shall
not have one without the other We
must put ourselves in position 10
demand from our teachers that they
he as we'll trained as our doctors and
lawyers-that they take up teaching
as profession and not as long
drawn out avocation. The National
Educational Association is about to
begin a nationwide campaign for
better salaries and better teachers
May it succeed! In the meantime, let
us i'll Virginia remember that from
one-horse teacher only one horse
education may be secured. An educa-
tional system is no stronger than its
weakest point; and its weakest point
is unframed teachers