The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-08-02
Institute Held
At Rogersville

The teachers of Hawkins county are
one of the livest punches in the state
as evidenced in the annual teachers
Institutes. The institute for this year
is one of more than ordinary interest
because of the attendance, the inter-
est of the teachers, and the number
and excellency of the speakers.
The institute opened at Rogersville
on Monday morning, July %. During
the day addresses were delivered by
Hon. Hugh G. Kyle, Rev. ]. R. Chiles,
Dean C. Hodge Mathes, Supt. Roy
Myers, and Prof. J. B. Myers. The
opening augured good institute and
of very successful years work for
the schools of Hawkins county. The
teachers in attendance are of type
who show enthusiasm for the work,
and special training for the profess
sion.
One subject discussed by Dean
Mathes, of the East Tennessee State
Normal, was "Why Teaching is Not
Profession" DR.. Mathes who is rec
ognized as one of the leading edu-
Gators in the state, gave the follow
ing reasons:
|. Society does not demand that
the teacher be professional or teach
ing profession. There is no other
calling in which society shows so lit
tie concern for the qualification and
training of the practitioner as in the
work of teaching. In the practice of
medicine a certain course must be
completed with a large amount of &C.
tual practice under competent direc-
ton; in the practice of law no one
is admitted to the bar without hav-
ing first received liberal education
with a special course in the laws and
their administration; even in the min
istry a long period Of preparation
must precede the beginning of the
work as pastor.
2. There are too many women in
the profession. The salaries of teach
ers are terribly lowered by having a
constant flow both into and out Of
the teaching ranks of large number
of girls who have no professional
training, no intention of taking teach
ing as a life work, and no interest
in the work except as an avocation
for short time.
Dean Mathes made it clear that hi
did not depreciate the number of real
women teachers of their work, but
rather the attitude of society that will
permit the imposition of such an un.
professional element into the train
ing of the boys and girls of the state
for citizenship.
3. Entrance requirements are to-
low. 1t is too easy to get into thu
work of teaching. Teaching is to'
frequently made stepping stone t.
higher education or is used only a
means to a mercenary end. 1t i
shame that those who have onl,
completed the elementary schoo
course are permitted to teach up t.
the full limit of their educational at
tainments. 1t is extremely desirabl
that before any one is admitted to tn
teaching work at least standard hlg
school course with one year of profes
sional training should be required
a. Lack of proper code of teach
ers' ethics. Teachers are not pre-
fessional in that they are continual
undertaking and contracting withor
- a due concern for their competitor
and for the dignity of the professio
Or profession. The attitude
the boards of education that teacher
must be paid the lowest possib
wages must be changed and teacher
salaries standardized. This can
done only by organized effort on tn
part of the teachers with an ethics
code such as applies in the regul'
professions.
On Tuesday addresses were deli
cred by DR.. l. W. Mclver, Des
Mathes, Prof. Monroe Wilson,
Knoxville on Thrift" DR.. E. '
White, of Carson-Newman college, al
by supt. E. M. Crouch, of Kingspol
The day was considerably better
attendance, interest, and in the qu'
ity of the addresses delivered tn
on the day previous. The instltu
will continue for the remainder
the week with the larger part
speakers remaining and with sever
visitors from time to time.