The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-12-29


the above reasoning is sound and sine
no teacher possesses the dual nature @
both father and mother then there i
but one conclusion, viz: There mus
be a reasonable time in the schooL-Iif
of every child when he should have 70
his teacher mar and a woman. Their
is another corollary to the above propo
sition. That the proper proportion Of
teachers, male and female. should be
as nearly equal as possible (half and
halO. and no County, State or NatioI
can build up and maintain a strong
normal efficient System of Education i
there is a very wide difference between
these Two classes (male and fenIale)
| What is to be done? Let us consider
the next phase of the subject, or the
Remedy. Then the solution TO this
most important subject should be,
First: In each county have an equal
number of teachers Gas TO sex). Second:
Have good sJrong man-teacher IN half
of the schools for. say. three or four
years, and a good strong womau-teacher
in the other half for the same length of
time. Then change the situation for
the next three or four years and let the
women teachers occupy The positions
taught by the men and vice versa. As
the physical soil demands a Rotation
of Crops" just so surely does the
spiritual and intellectual child need
a change of teachers. But some doubt
ing Thomases may say this is very good
in theory but in practice it is an i'm
possibility. To come TO this sort of
conclusion must be to admit that our
Public School System is a failure as far
as the rural community is concerned.
But to the far seeing, broad-visioned,
optimistic educator this plan is not only
possible but entirely probable. IL is
common sense practically applied. This
brings us to the last point, or, How
shall we apply the Remedy?
This depends principally upon the
efficiency and ability of the County
Superintendent. This is the most i'm
portant officer in the county. He holds
in his hands, together with his teachers,
the destiny of every child in his county.
He is the maker of the citizenship of his
This office should be entirely
divorced from petty politics and the
incumbent thereof should be selected
for his fitness alone. He should receive
such a salary as will enable him to de-
vote all his time and powers to the pro-
motion of the best interests of the Edu-
System. He should be clothed
with ample power (such as a firstclass
City Superintendent possesses) so that he
shall not only suggest but can also execut
cute. He should have control over his
county that each District will feel that
it is an ESSENTIAL part of the entire system
Of the county. Then CO operating with
MS Board of Education he is in posi-
ion to place a proper teacher in the
Doper district. But some will say,
Where are we going to get these men
teachers? Some of the counties have
very few, if any, and if you give half of
he places to men great many women |
Ind girls will lose their jobs. The an
'wer is that perhaps if great many |
girls as we'll as boys should lose their
obs the children would be a great deal |
better off. But rest assured qualified |
eacher (male or female) is not going to |
ose his job. In some counties there is |
IN excess of men-teachers. So with
harmonious working system,
county Superintendent of county |
having an excess of women-teachers can
Jay to County Superintendent having
IN excess of men teachers. You give me
places for 10, 20, 30, etc, of my women
eachers and l will give you places for
IN equal number of your men-teachers.
This is simply business proposition
md by the exchange, no one is knocked
Tut of job. Besides it is better. gen.
rally, for a person to teach out of his
lone district. He will get more credit
md support for the work which he
loes. and runs less risk of failure.
Again some will say, You can't
'et the best teachers to teach in ru-
ul districts, because they don't pay Il
nough. Wait until they raise the sal
ries and then our best teachers will
lady go into these places. my friends,
We have been waiting for many, many
cry high. Why? Hear these state
nents carefully and considerably. mo
tream can rise higher than its source"
n the majority of cases the salary has
cen comm enSurate with the working II
ower of the teacher. In other words
many teachers have received all they
ave earned and in many cases they
ave been oUerpdid. This accounts in
very large measure for the low salaries
f teachers. Can we expect the State TO
AXE the Initiative and pay large sal
ries and run the risk OF getting inferior
ervice? To say the least this would be
N buSineSS-Like. Does the young
raduate of law or medicine expect TO
Jump into good paying position i'm
lediately after his graduation Nay
eriLYI He, as well as the community
j which he works, expects meritorious
ervice to preeede remunerative salary.
)oes that consecrated band of preachers
nd missionaries God bless them) con-
ider the almighty dollar as the guiding
tar TO their field of labor? Most en-
no. Would the Great Teach
r, our educational Prototype, who
Tent about doing good" discriminate
etween the children of the urban and
ural section on account of difference