The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-16
CARING FOR THE TEACHER

CARING FOR THE TEACHER
At rural conferences in several
states this summer the teachers
boarding place was discussed as one
Of the most perplexing Of rural school
problems, according to a bulletin is
sued by the United States bureau of
education. Too often the rural teach
er finds it almost impossible to secure
fit boarding accommodations Well
qualified teachers will not stay In .
place where boarding conditions are
poor; they will stay only until they
have attained the teaching experience
required to qualify them for village or
city school work. AS a rule, commun-
tiles which provide congenial living
conditions secure and hold good teach
ers, while those not doing so must
take the poorer teachers. with the re-
suit that their schools are inefficient
and ineffective and that the children
do not acquire the interest in the
school work that they should and
might. At this time Of the year. there
fore, county superintendents should
set the machinery in motion to see
that the best home in their district 10
obtained for a boarding place for the
teacher. In order to do her best work
and to make the school the vital fac
tor in the community that it should
be, the teacher must live in the school
district and not journey back and
forth from the neighboring town or
city either daily or on Monday morn
ing to return to the city again on
Friday afternoon.
In a certain district in one Of the
states of the middle west the teacher
engaged was unable to find a single
family that would furnish her with
board and room. She resigned and
for a school in a neighbor-
ing district, where she easily secured
a good boarding place. The school
trustees in the district where she re-
signed preferred charges against her
and asked the county superintendent
to revoke her certificate. His decision.
however. was in favor Of the teacher
and he notified the board that an
other teacher would not be sent to
their district until the best home was
opened to her as boarding place.
In a certain district in one of the
states the teacher writes
in regard to her boarding place that
she had no privacy. She had her
meals at the same table with the ia
Their and mother and eight children in
the family. and spent the evening pre-
pairing herself for her next days work
in the common living room. She did
not object particularly to this. but
added that IT do object, however. to
at night the common sleeping
room with the family of ten."-
A county superintendent at a con-
ference in one Of the southern states
reported during the past summer that
tie only place open as q boarding place
for one Of his teachers was in a homo
his second wife and the wife her Sec
ond husband. In this home were five
from the fathers first mar
riage, six from the mothers 1rst mar
rage, and five from their second mar
riage. There were more children in
this home than the teacher had In her
school. and while the parents were
In harmony, there was no
general agreement among the three
sets Of children. Tho teacher was
forced to resort to the schoolhouse for
privacy in her studies.
A New England teacher reports
her experience: She went to the COM
where she was to teach one
week before school was to open. She
Intended to spend one day in arrang-
ing for a boarding place: she spent
the week, however. The community
had many good homes, any of which
were willing to keep her for one night,
but none of which wanted the teacher
as regular boarder. By the end Of
the week she had become personally
acquainted with every family in the
but had not secured a
boarding place. She returned to her
home and notified the chairman of
the school board that she would re-
port for duty as soon as word was
from him that a boarding
place was arranged for. Word came
The teacher was unusually
successful as a teacher, undoubtedly
due in part to the fact that she had
become personally acquainted with all
Of her school patrons before school
opened.
In many instances in all sections of
the country there is another condition.:
A district where some woman of the
gossiping type wants to board the
teacher for the sake Of the informa-
ton concerning the children which 4
sharp woman of this type is apt to
get from her. No prudent teacher will
want to live under such conditions.
The question of the rural teachers
boarding place il q serious one and de-
serves serious consideration. The best
home in the district should throw its
door wide open and bid the teacher