The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-04-01
The Commercial, Union City, Tenn.
THE PRESSING NEEDS
OF 0BI0N COUNTY
MISS HEssIE SMITH
Prin. CLAYTON School.


Among the many, many things
that Obion County needs in an ed
vocational way, 1 have tried to select
the three most pressing at this time
The first is a general need-ont
felt not only in Obion County, but il
Gibson County, in Lake County, il
Dyer County, in the State at large
and in the nation as a whole, viz
more PROFESSIONAL teaching
force.
1t was a sad day for education
when the salary of the teacher wal
allowed to become inadequate tt
meet the living expenses of tn,
teacher; for then it was that so many
of our teachers yielded to the temp
tation to make teaching a side line
Teaching is an art. Teaching is 6
science. Deaching is a Divine call
second only to the ministry. And
until we have a body of teachers
fairly saturated with this exalted
professional 2pirit, just so long will
our taxes be wasted in the same pro-
portion that it is lacking.
Do you know, I believe the present
measure be traced to this very non
professional spirit among our teach
ers. In recent popular magazine we
found an article headed like this :
"Lo the Poor School Teacher" de-
scribing the financial condition of
the teacher at the present rate of sal
airy. 1t pictured an old broken down
school teacher (old maid by the way
looking out over life of LOST OPP
PORTUNITIES, with nothing to care
for her in her declining years. 1t
was pitiful. / felt pretty sorry for
myself before had finished the arti-
Gle. l give all due credit to the mag
azine for it was published with an
honest effort to help; but we are not
"poor school teachers" When you
last went to the moving picture the
atre did you see a regular Sunday
funny paper edition of the school
teacher? And you laughed. But be-
hind that laugh there should have
been tears close by, because, be it
said to our shame, it is often a true
type slightly exaggerated. Can you
wonder that the younger men and
women do not wish to be affiliated
with such body, but rather with
the hustling, bustling business peo-
pie, lawyers, doctors, etc., who turn
in SO to 100 per cent enrolment to
their organizations and professional
instead of 50:175. One
hundred and seventy-five white
in Obion County and fifty
to the County Teachers AS
Do you have teacher
who is sWorthy Of the name? Are
you a teacher worthy of the name?
II not, either make yourself SO or
stop allowing the county to waste
money on you.
The second great need of Obion
County is better primary teachers
zeal primary teachers-teachers OF
he first and second grade. In too
many of our schools, especially where
/ number of grades are taught, the
anger pupils get the large portion OF
,ur time; and the primary grades,
hat need so badly to be started right,
ire allowed to fall into habits that
will require life time to eradicate.
IN the grammar grades they come up
IN all kinds of stumbling blocks that
ought to have been cleared out in
he primary department. An ,ordi-
lary, or even an extraordinary, 8th
Grade student can not teach these
just because she can read
md write. They need teacher who
AN teach them how to study as we'll
IS how to read; one who so loves
hem that she will find many, many
Ievices to make their work pleasant
md all that it should be.
The third great need is a more
,erfect school system. Whether this
lew system is or is not to be the
cunty unit system can not be dis
used here. But, if this will give us
he things we desire, we'll and good;
I some other will function more per-
ectly by all means let's have that.
Let us see some of the benefits de-
lived from a well organized school
ystem.
First: 1t will develop this profess
ional spirit among the county teach
rs by a systematic graduation OF
eachers and uniformity of salaries
n the county. If you will stop to
hink, | am sure you will recall |
eachers who are quite inefficient,
rawing much larger salaries than
theirs who are quite efficient. That
waste not only of money but of
eaching energy If you have a
rorthy, capable teacher, ought she
OF be placed where she can serve
lost people? This can not be done
y three men interested in only
ne small district.
Then this graduation will prove a
reat stimulus for the younger teach
RS. In one of our upper counties
lis plan has been worked out and
on should see the teacher work and
,udy to climb out of that first
ass. By this, / do not mean there
any cut and dried harsh, 1-2-3-
ass affairs, but It can be worked
Ut under a wise and tactful school
ADMINISTRATION in collaboration with
4 efficient county superintendent.
Second 1t will promote consolida-
on. If you don't believe in con-
lidation, my brother, you Gene over
Community Pride or Underwood
Id see how they are excelling your
hool. Often times the eonsolida
ons that are now being planned are (,
1T of place because of prejudices.
OH are wasting money when it is
IT expended for the good of the
l. i