The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-04-10

are turned loose upon the world at time
when they need counsel most.
Anyone can impart some information
but it requires much native skill or train
ing to do the work in way to make it
most impressive and useful. When visit
ing Girls High School, it became a
question whether a mixed school or
school for boys alone could be trained to
the same degree of attention and court
esq., This is easily settled in the affirm
alive by observation. A professor in a
boys High school suggested that boys
will rebel when overloaded or imposed
upon while a girl will work until she
drops.
| doubt whether he has had experience
enough to speak authoritatively. When
visiting a Normal Training School and
noticing that pupils seldom speak with
out permission. the thought was sug-
gested, why SO many teachers OF all
grades in this land of ours allow every
body to speak at once; and thus create a
condition leading directly to disorder, in
attention, confusion and, as western
superintendent has expressed it, ruin of
intellect and soul. Our Normal School
instructor suggested that the only trouble
with such teachers is that they were
educated in college and never saw the in
side of Normal School, All they need
is few months training in the art of
school government to become efficient
teachers. A western superintendent has
attributed the above defects to lack Of
dy to declare their position vacant,
though the thought was expressed in
significant western slang.
prof Su77allf. of Colunbio TTpivarcitv
at meeting held at the VIM. Penn High
school, advocated the necessity of teach
ers organizing to secure a system OF
appoi tment to service, "wherein the
presumption is that satisfactory service
involves continuity of employment that
cannot be broken save by dismissal for
cause" The folly of allowing nearly
one-fourth Of the teachers of the country
to leave the profession and allow their
positions to be filled by inexperienced
teachers, with the exception that about
one-tifth the vacancies each year are
filled by Normal school graduates, will
become apparent to anyone who will
take the trouble to investigate. In a
ma ority of the schools where they are
continually changing teachers about one
tenth of the pupils will show a tendency
to wear on the teachers nerves. | sup
pose every teacher has to go through
this testing process. In the schools
where the teachers position is permanent,
like that of TIE judges of the Supreme
courts, this inclination entirely disap-
pears. The teacher. freed from the
bother of hunting new position every
year, has time to perfect herself in her
calling. Meantime there are other equal
ly powerful intellects standing in line
ready to cOnsecrate themselves to the
cause of humanity whenever the position
is vacated.
When pupils have been thus trained in
High school by teachers who have
brought themselves about up to the limit
of human capacity, the responsibility as
sumed by the Normal school and college
is something stupendous. Yet they seem
to go about the task with the same calm
confidence that we see in the Baldwin
Locomotive Works. Every movement
tends to some great end. On fifteen
acres of floor space locomotives may be
seen in every stage of construction. In
many of the rooms were from 80 to 80
lathes or drills. Sometimes one man
would run several machines and go to
dinner, leaving them running. vast
number of rivots are needed The ma
chine turns it TO the required length and
size and then cuts off, needing no atten-
ton until the bar of iron is used up
| was told that some machines would run
"a hours without attention. Those mas
sive frames of cast steel must be without
a flaw. The workmen did not seem to
be afraid of breaking anything, the way
they used the sledge in putting the parts
together. Prof. Suzzallo would have
the teachers organization institute
National movement to secure the ap-
pointment of school officials without the
aid of partisan elections He would
of teachers agencies and text book pub
fishers.
A teacher of English needs a,fuller and
more varied knowledge than the teach
er of any other subject, according
to Prof. Baker of Columbia University,
N. Y. A teacher should be able to lead
conversation, not do all the talking.
Forceful, imaginative language, must be
forthcoming or the opportunity is lost.
A little knowledge or failure to compre-
bend literary merit should not cause one
to be shocked at some variation from
normal language. Concrete examples
are always more interesting than alb
stract. Efficiency in literary work is
harder to measure than in other sub jects,
as we have no universal standard. 1t is
not well to correct errors resulting from
pupils carelessness. A sense of having
something Of Importance to say will help
20 make the subject impressive.
Mae McKitrlck of Cleveland, Ohio,
said it was easier to please college supe-
riors and fellow teachers than to please
the common people. The teaching pro-
fession are in position to view the sub
ject more sympathetically. They can
better appreciate intellectual power and
spiritual growth. Subjects of composition
should be found in the pupils environment.
They must see clearly the mental picture
and portray it with clearness and def
niteness of expression. The reading of
a magazine, and giving 3-minute talk
on it before the class, is good exercise.
Prof. Judd of the Uni ersity of Chica-
go told OF some of the indirect conse-
quences Of school work, as shown in the
ability to get on in the world We may
expect to see the Boise experiment to
become national. Then the expert farm
ers or business man will receive due
credit in educational circles without re-
gard to his algebra or latin. The Provi-
dence movement to provide free lodging
and free meals may we'll become nation
al sneaker from tha TTnivoroitx, of