Evening journal., 1914-02-11
Peoples Column
ARE TFAcHERS no RLAME7
EdItor Of THE EvENINe JouRNAL.


on the fact that 70 pupils Of our High
School had withdrawn with the ending
Of the last term, can not refrain from
attempting to express what ], a parent.
think Of the matter.
1t would appear to me there must be
some underlying cause to warrant such
a condition. A cause other than that so
many at one time should be obliged 10
withdraw for one reason or another over
which they had no control.
1 feel that the matter surely is Of
sufficient Importance to demand serious
attention and thought. find myself
wondering ii the prime cause does not
lie, for the most part, in the incompe-
tency and disinterestedness of at least
some OF the teachers, and perhaps. to
some extent, in the inertia Of somebody
at the head.
/ make use Of the word incompetency
IN referring TO the teachers, not in the
sense OF lack OF the necessary learning
60 teach. but because Of 4 lack of true
interest in the work; an interest in chill
dren in general and Of the lack of human
sympathy and patience. These are requi-
sites which 10 a school teacher are in.
dispensable; necessary absolutely. in
order to have success Ia the work. The
absence Of them meias failure.
Tho thing paramount for success in
teaching children is TO interest them ia
their studies md IN attending school.
This can be done only BY the teacher
herself being interested Ia the pupil and
IN the work. Ii she is not going TO put
forth her best effort it cpnnot be ex-
pected OF the pupil TO do go.
An understanding OF the temperament
Of each individual child and study
made of its aptncss i'm certain directions.
and that aptness nurtnred and quick
cned, are especially necessary Then and
not until then is the teacher prepared
TO work inteligently With the child.
The task of building in children's
minds the foundation OF IN education
which is 20 ft them for lifcs battles
and make Of them good and useful citi-
9cns. is q delicate though bic one. It
should be characterized with all the
kndliness and sympathy a mother has
for the welfare Of her own child.
IL is n pity that so momentous a mat
ter should be left in the hands of per-
sons possessing not these qualifications.
Search the conditions as they exist,
and it will be found that the modern
manner Of teaching the young Is one OF
cold, matter-of- f-fact unfeelinpness which
does not appeal to them Ii the child,
fretting under the restraint of ever
threatening discipline OF punishment for
some triling infnction of the rules, fails
OF receptiyeness, or in a spirit Of child
ish restveness strays slightly away
from the pathway of schoolroom decor
um, he receives therefor dark look of
disp MEASURE and is given, with feeling of
retaliation, n demerit mark. which low
ers his average and in measure pro-
duccs discouraging effect. A kindly
word OF reproof in many instances
would suffice and have q more lasting ef-
feet.
Gcntlcness and patience even more
than learning, are required in the hand
ling OF children at school II the teach
er's attitude toward tncm is tempered
with these virtues, especially in dealing
with those who may be little backward
and slow to understand, due perhaps to
some physical ailment or disability over
which they have no control, surely the
effort win not be without ts reward
Not only will the child's progress be
helped thereby, and the matter OF going
TO school be made Joy rather than an
irksome task hut the teachers work
win be immeasumbly helped. The child
viii. therefore. be urged to renewed en-
ergy in trying to please and the teacher
will find worl, pleasure rather than
bore.
Too much stress cannot be placed ON
the Importance Of teacher and pupil
working together in harmonious unison.
aIaIt. ..FIni 80 g
being kept warmed with loving under
standing between teacher and pupil ra-
dinting from the heart of one to that
of another, is frigid with AN atmosphere
at once cold and infeNible, that has
nothing To do with any particular inter
est on the part of teacher in any Of her
pupils and much less IN those who may
falier OF stumble in the process OF reel
tntion and need her assistance. The lat
ter, il lifted up at Che right moment by
a smile or a kindly word. may be saved
from perhaps utter failure and possibly
from going out into the world without
education. as many others have done. The
teacher, Il seems, either does not know
this OF does not care to know it.
On the face OF IL the matter apprars
to he with her a matter only OF broad
and butter--a business and nothing
more.
grieve to say il, hut am con-
strained to look upon too many school
teachers as being Of class of in
dividuals on parallel in the perform
ancc of their work with the man or
woman employe of an individual
or corporationwlo who gives more
attention 60 the clock, 80 vacations and
TO the pay envelope tnan 60 the employ
er's business.
/ apply the word inertia in reference
to the somebody at ihs head because
apparently there exists IN that body
not all the live int 'eA. that should be
expected there. The consequent lack of
keen supenision that must therefore OBJ
tain, leaves the teachers in n state OF
uncertainty and disorder. like unto q
shin at sea without compass.
To keep a great machine under per-
feet control in order to make il most
effective. there must be in connection
Herewith a guiding influence looking 10
every detail OF its operation that there
may be no halting or faltering So it
is in the conduct of a graded school
where there are a number OF teachers
and many pupils at work. II, therefore.
the person or persons at the head are
inert in their duty there must follow
confusion and ineificiency among the
workers.
trust il may not be thought that I
am singing ont any particulay person
or persons to make a target Of them in
this matter. Ny sole object in writing
this H. merely fo 1irpet attention a. =