Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-23
Homes For the Country Teachers.

iuc plhI ltI s'''ohse ~
little bungalows as homes for Delaware
teachers may add greatly to the salts
faction of those men and women EN-
gagged in educational work, and we can
imagine them to be anxious for the inn
mediate success of tho movement. 1t
will give them a much more harmonious
environment and an atomosphcre OF home
that is so necdful for the mental worker.
The plan may have some drawbacks, like
the cares Of the house dcvoivng upon its
occupant, but il has 80 many ymore COM
pensating benefits that every one will be
glad TO see the method fairly tried out
II is an old and trite saying that one
cannot find sufficient warmth at another
mans fire." and the maxim applies with
especial force to the educators of our
youth.
This method of housing and caring for
the teachers recalls the earlier days, when
the instructors were regarded with scant
consideration and their lot was little
short of miserable" 1t has not been so
many years ago that the country teach
ers boarded around" among the patrons
of the school, changing her place of resi-
dence whenever her hostess intimated
that she was due TO be put up by
another neighbor. In exchange for this
grudging hospitality she was obligated
to help about the homework, or, indeed,
after or before school she became maid
Of all work indoors and out. She had
scarcely time for her own little affairs,
for the boarding and housing had to be
worked out, and the hostess estimated the
value Of her hospitality at the top figure,
and the value of the compensating ser
vices at almost zero. Wages for the teach
er started at ten dollars q month and
climbed or limped up to forty, which
seemed the high-water mark, and this
scale held for years, except where the
teacher insisted on more money and the
small measure Of tho independence that
came from boarding" when probably
the compensation would be increased
ten or fifteen dollars. which sum would
meet the cost Of entertainment in the
country districts especially where
the school marin" went home
Friday nights 70 stay over Sun
day, an anticipation that made the
rest of the week bearable, and which be
came a weekly custom wherever possible.
The school teachers place asa bearder
improved her statu. in the neighbor-
hood, and added TO her dignity and i'm
portance in the estimation Of the people
Of the "dcstrect" !" She most Of the
country teachers were young unmarried
women thirty or forty years ago-was
permitted the occasional use OF the parlor
when some Of the scions Of neighboring
houses ventured 20 "come by I" or she
sat with the family the father, bootless,
stretched out on cot" before the FIRE
the mother mending brothers pants
by the fame Of none too bright oil
lamp, while the family cat contended
with the two or three drowsy dogs for
"a place in the sun"
Often the teacher did the washing Of
her own linen AZ odd times and fire.
quently turned her attention 70 aiding
the children with their lessons At night
Her social opportunities were very limited,
indeed. and her desire 70 be alone or in
the privacy OF her room at times, was
rarely gratifed, for the reason her humble
quarters would, in winter, suggest Green
lands Icy Mountains, popular hymn
Of the bygones.
Such was her drab existence; in un-
congenial surroundings, with people hav-
ing no sympathy with her endeavors, and
without sufficient tact 20 permit her to
live her own life in her own way. Then,
too, she must face the neighborhood
criticism or gossip, for naturally the
coming or going OF attractive girl in the
small community was an endless matter
Of remark, however circumspectly she
might walk
All instructors who have undergone
these experiences viii hail with Joy the
better brighter outlook that is presented
for their successors Of today, when the
teacher may have home or her own,
even though diminutive it may be, There
she viii be able TO express herself" in
the arrangement Of her lares and penates
and TO create an atmosphere, which
though it may not be exactly "homey"
il will be oongenial and wherein she may
regale her soul through her books and
become a factor Of uplft for the neigh
borhood Her status in the community
will be elevated and the school teacher
will take her rightful place while her
culture and learning viii serve as leven
TO inspire TO all the people who come
into contact with her and her splendid,
important work.