The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-04-05
OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM
CONTINUED from Second Page)

| of the public In these matters.
must confess, Mr. Editor, that
you have an ingenious scheme. You
would eliminate the studies taught in
| the schools and thus eliminate the
teachers and also eliminate the max
| ing of books, and come to think of it,
this would practically eliminate the
schools. Ingenious, isn't it? These
things will come when you can cage
and confine human thought and hu-
man intelligence as you would cage
and confine monkey or a parrot.
You say, "Our theory is that in
| public schools there should be moth
| ing taught except what is of use to
every one," and this is correct, but
fear your application of the theory
would be wrong. If you mean that
only such things should be taught as
would be Immediately available for
occupational purposes, your theory or
the application of it, is entirely
wrong. Can you select out from the
mass of human knowledge just that
which should be fed to each individual
/ child? I cannot, and no one can. This
makes it necessary for the best in
| formed of our people to prepare and
constantly study and revise courses of
study which are of general applica-
| ton.
Some say they would have none but
practical education. They would feed
the common sense but allow the imag-
nation and sensibilities of the human
to wither and perish. You would thus
secure a hard-headed, hard-hearted,
hard-faced brute instead of sympa-
thetic human being. The hog is the
most practical animal that know. He
delves into his trough, fighting away
all others and devouring all he can,
without even grunt of appreciation
to the source from whence his feed
comes. He is very practical.
Now, in regard to salaries of teach
ers. They range in this county from
$40 to $225 per month and the terms
range in length from six to eight
months. To get the real salary per
month multiply the monthly salary by
the number of months taught and
divide it by twelve for the reason that
the remaining months will probably
be spent in attending school for fur
Their preparation and for advancing
the grade of her certificate. The
teacher usually spends during the
summer vacation what little may
have been saved from her salary
and this will be very little-in i'm
proving herself as a teacher in order
to hold her own in the profession and
to meet the exacting demands upon
the teacher. Considering the require
ments put upon teachers by the law
and their profession and the public
their pay is entirely out of keeping
with the work and responsibility car
ried by them. Of course / am speak
ing of the faithful, competent and
conscientious teacher. Your compare
son of wages was not with the pro-
fessions or skilled occupations but
with those requiring scarcely any
training or mental application or pc
culiar personal fitness.
You mention the salary of the prin-
cipal of the Ocala high school, the
highest by very far of any in the
county, and | venture the assertion
that, he could not have selected pro-
fession and have invested the amount
of ability, labor of preparation, pro-
fessional training, successful exper-
fence, that would not have given far
better emoluments.
1t is mistake to think that teach
ers are generally in the business of
training teachers. Their work does not
usually bend in this direction at all.
They know that their pupils will fol-
low all kinds of occupations in after
life, therefore, the training must be
general. Then if they looked upon it
from selfish standpoint, they would
not want to increase the number of
teachers to come in competition with
; them in positions.
Now, kind editor, there are many
other features that could be touched
upon. There are many books pertain
ing to teaching and many magazines
published in the interest of education
and many manuscripts and discus
sions on the subject, but we must not
, infiict them upon you now.
You have been very long-sufferinq
and indulgent with US and if this is
too much for your system at one
, time just break in into pieces anC
take it in broken doses. If taken 81
as to digest it there will be no injur.
! ious effects.
Anyway, appreciate the courtesy
of your space in which to discuss this
very important matter and | regre
5 that the tense interest of our people
, in the terrible world tragedy that i!
a being enacted at this very time vii
: probably prevent them from giving
=. the attention they otherwise would
: have given to either side of this dis
cussion
l will say that should others like t.
: join in this discussion while the dis
I cussion is good would welcome them
a but there might be a limit to you
n space if not to your kind indulgence.
: Assuring you of my hearty esteem
for your hearty patience and your in
terest in the subject, though ma.
d not be able to quite agree with all o
4 YOUR positions, | am.