The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-16
" Hat.E6|'
,EfGisncy Of Schools De-
peads Upon Training
af Their Heads.

thy j.. l.. lMcBfien, School Extension
Agent. Y. 5. Bureau OF Education,
Department 81 the SInterior}
With the eloquent and logical plea
OF J. Sterling Morton for, professionally
trained teachers still ringing in our
ears 1t IL good time to consider the
views Of a prominent man who saw
this questiota.in q very different light.
This man served his state and
country in many posts of honor. He
was ~ man of means. His character
WAS above rcproach; 1t is hard to un-
defstand how man of such ability
integrity, and experience could hold
such erroneous views as he did on tie
pfepa RI tton Of teachers for their work.
After all the positions Of honor which
lie had held. he was elected ms;n-
her III the state senate. There was hut
Cue late normal school then uso1) in
that tate. A fight was on in the leg
islaturc to establish one additional
state normal school. on which ecca-
sion, this Ncstor OF &he senate de-
.clarcd: God Almighty makes teach
cfs: you can no more make teachers
at normal school than you can make
whistles out OF pigs tails at a butcher
shop: we have too much education of
the head already: educate the heels"
This Is so utterly absurd as to merit
pity srsther than censure of him who
was. the author OF this declaration. God
Almighty no more makes teachers
~ Y Ia
Training and experience make law
yer. Training ana experience make n
!, DOCTOR, Training aud experience make
a teacher.
And SO thought the. people of .he
state in which this good. though mis-
taken, man lived. The normal school
idea has made such growth in that
great state since this good mans dec
laration against it until now there are
four great state normal schools there
viii. splendid facilities and literally
supported by the state.
cIaxte~'s Opinion.
Probably the most advanced opinion
inchce today in favor Of professionally
trained teachers and state normal
schools Is that Of United States Com
missioner Of Education. Dr. r. p.
Claxton. Briefly stated it is this:
"A six months term of school
with professionally trained
teacher at a salary of 800 per
month is a longer term and bet
tor oh <L,r
12-months term with "a teacher of
poor scholarship and no profess
sional training at a salary of $50
per month We need enough state
normal schools to provide a pro-
fessionally trained teacher for
every rural school in America The
people of the entire state are
|, taxed to support the state normal
school or schools and are, there
fore, entitled to their just share
of teachers who fit themselves for
their work in these schools. And
yet a very small number Of normal
school graduates ever teach in the
rural schools because the city and
town schools secure these profess
sionally trained teachers. The de-
mand for professionally trained
teachers in city and town schools
Is greater than the present number
of our state normal schools can
supply under their present equip
ment. We, therefore. need great
" increased number of normal
schools or else n great increase
in buildings, faculty. and funds for
our present state normal schools,
If our rural people are to receive
fair treatment for the takes they
pay FOR the support of the state
normal schools. The work of the
state normal schools and profess
sionally trained teachers Is so inn
portant, SO valuable so necessary
that we should establish a&suffi-
Gent number of state normal
schools to provide every rural
school with Il professionally
trained teacher. gwen il we have to
take the necessary money to do
this from the common school
fund. In the end this would be "A
better policy of public economy
than our present short sighted
policy which is expensive, which
sorcly neglects our rural schools
in the matter of properly trained
teachers. This is evident from the
fact that there are more than l5O.-
600 juvenile teachers teaching ins
the rural schools of our country
at this time with less than high
school education and no profess
sional training
Better Teachers, Better Schools.
The, only way to have better rura
schools is to have better rural teach
crs, for as is the teacher so is tn,
school. The only way to have better
teachers is to provide better oppor.
tunities for their preparation. to re.
quire by law all who teach to make
due preparation. and then pay the
teacher a salary commensurate will
the service rendered If we reduce tn,
wages of the school teacher we mus
raise those of the recruiting serrea Mt