Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-26

subjects Of various kinds and sec TO "
that the children grasp and ASstnhlate
thom Is no easy matter. leaCn'hE 90
far moro delicate and tar more ul'n-
cult than most people can imagine
Little wonder then that the aver
ago teacher is high-strunE ana Wl,
yous as n result Of tho contnual
mental tension. AT thc cnd OF scNhNn
aud a half hours IN school nc OIL or
is physically aud mentally cXhaus,cu,
<o saiary vouid he sufficient 10 pay
FOR Inc sacrifice the teachers lay hpot,,
tho altar of future Eenernuo,S, ,agc
they may expect at least lN"s ""1'
and that they do not get -, ,oo,
A., i,cro,so In salary will bcncht
tho teacher nrimarily. but in large !
sense tho community VIII nave ~
sreater gain. For n satisfied WHrrkci
Is far more efficient than gruho''s
one.
SPIRITUAL VS.. ECONOMIC
One principal declared that the rCa-
son teachers were quitting s'hoot .,,,,i
was not 40 much economic as spl.,.u"'' spI
we study the psychology OF ado,vs-
cence, but we pay no attehVoh "
psychology OF the teacher u u u"'
that we do not give her adequate pay
hut that Is material cons'u'' "''V
We do not give her study either w wv.
justment and adaptations are S ',',',.
here We must take some OF Wv
ous burden of oyerwork from ue,, w.,
must inspire, develop ana nuit'' ,n,,
spiritual. moral and sacr!ne op, 49,,
without which there can De NO So
teaching because there can be no i'"'
teachers This is every whit as I'M
portant as the professional aspects
Teaching should again become a nus,
sion az well as n job. II is' Win 'o'
of teachers but economic condltlo"s ~
such that their ranks are not being re-
cruited Because our department OF ou
nerintcudcucc is not really supreme pu'
ia oyerriddeu bv the business manage
meut of the school system, ana petauS'
il Is sdetracked into the routine ati'
the statistical, it cannot develop the righ
capaCitv for leadership. And we hec'
leadership yorcly: we need the inruslo'
Of enthusiasm and the display OF sym
/ pathy with teachers in their prople'lS
| think, too we need real specialists II
the primary grades. The hrst gi"u
should not be place for prentice WORN
| If the children don't get good loul4i"
| ton in the first two or three graue
! they'll Just drift through the schooi
| till the law permits them to go 10 Worh
/ Let us have more Inspiration. ou
| teachers are more earnest ana lnNeIii
| gent than ever before. ! think. desplt
| palpable handicapS. but how long VII
| they remain so under new ana con
stantly pressing conditions! Enthusiasm
| Is like loNe--easily chilled, TIL" boaf'
| should make ii possible for the depart
| ment OF superintendent To become
| stimulating center of enthusiasm aud in
! spiration. The teachers are more am
more linking learning with life the as
] nd
should more and more link inspiration
and recognition of good work with th
teaching under their supervision
PSYCHOLOGY or THE TEACHER
Don't let us forget the actual posi-
ton Of the teacher. She is really con
demned to solitary confinement. isolate
| the largest part Of every day with uu
! developed minds. They need all th
! more encouragement and inspiration o
that account; they need recognition /
promotion. scientific assignment to tn
work in which they show ability, rrope
praise and other things. as well as Tn
tangible reward Of dollars and cent
for their work"
A Philadelphia teacher writes as 70
lows;
Among my own acquaintances ir
! Philadelphia and elsewhere throughout
the United States | find the teaching
profession pronounced "unpromising'
| have learned recently that ever
women students in the high school,
are specializing for other professions
than teaching. / have first hand in,
formation about young students who
are entering other professions because
they are more remunerative thar
teaching. why. then. in the name ot
10 gl nnNs ts.Nttv