The Washington herald., 1921-11-30


There are a few conservative
souls who still believe that children
should be taught morals and man
ners at mothers knee. But with
m3@her's knee under the bridge
table. behind movie seat or in a
factory or work shop, We might as
well face the unpleasant fact that
the public school has taken over
most OF the duties OF the home. and
the conscientious public school
JePcher is doing her own work in
ADDITION to performing many of the
duties of the mother.
The teacher of today %. not only
hsndles the diversified subjects of a
nrpdern school curriculum, but she
forms habits. develops character and
trains for citizenship. She guides
tie pupils in the schoolroom and on
the playground, and her duties reach
intD the most intimate details of
home life. The children must be
TODD when to take a bath, what to
eat and drink, and how 20 brush
their teeth. The teacher must fol-
low this up with an investigation
and mark each child on a health
habit card. For the duty of the
public school teacher of today does
not stop with mental processes.
She must supervise everything from
tina. toothbrush to the castor oil
BOTTLE
l@' burdens Are Increased.
All these duties and responsible
ties apply to the teachers in any
city of the United States. But when
IT comes to the Washington teacher
the burden is increased. For here
she has the work of any modern
school system, and it must FREE
quently be done without the neccs-
safy equipment and under condi-
tons most trying and difficult. She
usually has too many pupils to
handle. and there is little supplied
for her comfort or convenience.
Then. IL conscientious. she tries
to-, make up to the child for the
things that have not been supplied
him, TO give him the attention
and study that is his right, but
which the large number OF pupils In
one room makes it difficult for her
To. give. That she does all this.
and more in the majority OF
cases, indicates that the teaching
force of the Washington schools
is Of exceptional character.
Devoted to Profession.
The Washington teacher as a
type is very different from her
New England or Middle Western
sister. Among some of the older
women there is much of the fine
tradition of the South combined
with pride and loyalty to a pro-
fession that was chosen at a time
when teaching was the only vo-
cation open to gentlewoman.
Many of these women have taught
in the same school for a quarter
Of a century or more. During
their time educational processes
have been revolutionized, new
methods have been introduced
outgrown subjects dropped, new
courses added and standards OF
discipline completely changed
Some Of these teachers have kept
progressive step. Others have en-
tered the race a bit dazed, but
have kept just to the rear OF
the band wagon, a trife breath
less. but still running IN the
right direction. In few cases
the face has been turned against
progress, and Innovations accept
ed only as a matter of compul-
sion. In such cases the pupils
are the losers, having TO be
housed in old buildings and
trained under old-fashioned edu-
cational methods.
smile DIspeIs Gloom.
Among the younger teachers there
Is doubtless the usual quota of at
tractive young girls. with no par
, ticnlar love for children or teach
mgs but who simply use the profess
sion as a waiting station for the
matrimonial bus. But undoubtedly
many Of the young teachers are
like the rosy-Cheeked, brown-eyed
girl whom we found presiding over
torty-hve children in portable
building and who said with a ra-
diant smile: Il would rather teach
school than be President of the
United States" No need to pity the
children housed in that dingy port
able 1t might seem dark and stuffy
TO a casual observer, but that kind
Of teacher could fill it with sun
shine on the darkest day
II you were to go on a round of
visits to the schools of almost any
Middle Western city. you would no
doubt find the teachers talking
about their low salaries, long hours,
pr.lthe autocratic methods of the
school officials. Though the Wash
ington teachers are poorly paid,
considering the cost of living here.
nevertheless the thing that most
Impressed the visitor was the fact
that they did not talk about their
salaries. They had no time to speak
of their own troubles, because they
were too busy talking of the lack
Of equipment that kept them from
giving the children the advantages
they should have
Some Lose Courage.
To be sure there were a few
principals and teachers who had
Juecumbed to the long strain Of
waiting. They did not believe
things would ever be any better;
they did not believe they would
ever have a decent building to teach
n. or anything to teach with. They
we're SO used to going without
.hings they could not conceive Of
aver having them. They had lost
.afth in Congress and Providence
md If they are not the right kind
II teachers to have In charge of
children, who rs too blame?
But the majority of washinston's
grade teachers and principals are
evidently ineorrigible optimists
they still keep hoping. Hepin 9 for
enough stationery some day to sup.
ply their pupils; hoping for fresh,
.lean walls; hoping for rooms with
Iecent lighting; hoping for enough
thinking fountains to water all the