Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-11-27

their helpful friend. II he IL trou-
hiod over some unsoived, nerplexlng
problems, and feels physically ex-
hausted, he had better not Visit
of other towns. This may easily DO
done In some of our rural, village,
ana town schools.
In addition TO what ! have said
would add that to improve teachers
already la the service, give them a
chance TO grow. Give them time to
read and Investigate educational
problems. superintendent Greenwood
~ Kansas city made the statement a
few years ago that about so per cent
OF the teachers cease 10 read syste-
matically after they have once been
Installed as teachers ~ this be true.
and from my observations. ! believe
Il is. the problem Of finding the best
means and methods Of improving
teachers in the service o. an urgent
one. How can teachers be induced
90 fan into habits Of reading ana In
vestigating educational problems. IS
the problem which must be- solved.
But FOR the superintendent 81 sys-
tenn OF schools which has from nfty
20 sixty or as Il sometimes happens
more, pupils In each room, this Is not
his most serious problem. II Is low
TO get more teachers into the service
and how 10 supply more school rooms.
We can expect teachers 90 make but
little Improvement under such condi-
tions.
~ the teacher IL overloaded with
regular school work during the day.
and burdcned with examination pa
pors and reports during the evening
what can we expect hut that "sho viii
cease To strive after higher Ideals IN
self-improvoment" aud move with
an accelerated velocity down an in
tellectual inclinoP Teachers are hui
man and their supply Of nerve en-
ergy can be exhausted Her evenings
must be kept sacredly free from daily
school work. and tho drudgery 81
looking over examination papers. and
making endless, and many times need
less reports
Every teacher should be oncourag-
ed to begin early 10 accumulate such
books as are best adapted To her
needs. Discretion should be used in
choosing e book, as teacher can at
ford a. read only the best, and she
should purchase only those that viii
go 10 make up working library.
The teacher must not look upon the
book as niece of furniture or dec
GRAFTON, she must use the book and
treat Il as friend and couseilor Some
people read hooks as they would see
an art gallery or as more fortunate
people de- Europe. Ia their desire "a
see all they overlook the most inn
poriant things.
Teachers can not get In touch with
the profession unless they know what
is going on Ia the profession. This
experiences observations. analyses.
and interpretations Of others engaged
In similar wonk under like conditions
are brought TO as 10y school journals
! This being true. can o teacher AFFORD
TO do Without taeir help? Even the
! strongest IN the work may be reen-
forced and steudicd through their
freshness and help.
u Is the part of wisdom for a
teacher Go compare Der ways with
those suggested in school Journals. IN
| most instances she can find some rea-
son why her method should be
! changed here and there. HCr meth
DDS must necessarily undergo changes
| ~ she makes the little changes as
they are needed, she can nVer get be-
hind the times very far The best
cNtnt viii always De in sight and
Within the reach of those whose tend
| encles are progressive and whose
openmindedness induces them 10 mod
! ify plans so as 10 square with the
new light received.
Tho difference between the persons
who read and think and those who
do not o. tho difference ever existing
between life and death. We have
many school Journals which contain
material from cover 20 cover which
the most expert teacher can use 10
tho very best advantage. school
journals and books serve as guides Ga
teachers as teachers serve as directors
of boys and girls. a system OF educa
ton which does not have In tt pro-
Visions for the upllft aud rejuvena-
ton of les teachers Is faulty.
The teachers state reading circle
is another means by which teachers
can greatly improve their profession
al services In most Instances. the
books which have been selected by the
state reading circle board for our pro-
fessional growth and enlightenment
have been among the very best TIE
teachers who have done the work ln
the spirit OF Improvement ana loy-
atty 10 the professional machinery of
the state and school IN which THEM
have been working, have grown in
the profession TO an extent fully cor
responding TO money time, and effort
expended
Indeed, teachers need the strength,
balance, ana reflection gained by read
ing ana atudying serious books.