The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-09-17
GiUe Us Pretty Teachers

Not-"Can she teach?" but rs
she pretty?" is the latest question
advocated in selecting school teach.
ers to expound the fundamentals OF
the three RS"
Never small another be allowed
credit for originating such a diver
sion when we'd thought OF Il and
believed in 1t for years-and only
lacked the bravery to speak out in/
meeting.
But the teachers are chosen now,
and getting down TO work so 1t Ia
too late to discuss selections ac-
cording to the retrousse nose, the
classic brow, or the ruby lips, but
certainly we can back Mrs. Ida
Kruse Macfarlane, teacher of Eng
lish at Denver university, who says
school teachers should dress more
attractively than motion picture
stars. For how can we expect
young people to love the cultured
II it is presented by folk who look
like the disinherited."
Students go to the two extremes
in regard to their teachers. They
either "despise" them, or they are
wild" about them.
There is the case OF the teacher
of uncertain age who was trying
tc pound into little Paul the names
of the kings of England:
"Why, when l wos your age" she
said disgustedly, II could recite
the names OF the kings backward
and forward"
II don't doubt that. miss. re.
turned the boy, but when you was
my age there wasn't 50 many
kings"
We remember inquiring OF
mother how her daughter was get
ting on at the University Of Mis-
souri,. and she replied: IAN right
believe. She writes like she's
about TO elope with all her pro-
fessors, she is so enthusiasts over
them--but she is making splendid
grades" -
Surely 1t is not hard to tell which
student accomplished moro at
school. The girl who in her ex-,
trayagant schoolgirl Language
talked like she was "about 70
ly worked that she might make an
equally agreeable impression on
them, and the little boy who ,
judged from her looks, manner nrl
dress, that his teacher was a thousI
and years old didn't care whether
he stood we'll in her good graces
or not.
In selecting teachers mental
equipment cannot take second
place to any other attribute, bu;
given that, the attractive appear
ance OF an applicant should come
in for due consideration.
All women, alas, are not born
pretty, but everyone can appear
pleasing by dressing stylish and in
good taste. Children look up %
and are anxious to please teach,
er whose looks they admire ana
older students. acknoWiedslhs
that the instructor "has sense re-
garding her clothes and the way
she does her hair, can but concede
she must not be entirely at sea re-
garding psychology and the SCI
ences.
Mrs. Macfarlane avows she plans
the wardrobe for her teaching ana
lectures with utmost care, confess
ing to hours devoted to their STUDY,
Educators" she says. "must dress
in keeping with the things they
represent II they hope TO compete
with other interests in life Edu,,
cation must be made so beautliu'
that II is irresistible"
Doubtless she has some very
technical sounding theories re'h"Ne
to the subject that are beyond Us
All we know Is that last summe,
when the prettiest public Sgn'W
teacher we ever saw closed ~
fourth year at one school, hv'
pupils surprised her with shoWsn
not Just fruit and flowers, but g'lS
that meant denials for them
desk set, bud vases, favorite hoohs'
and the like, and we especially re-
call now that she was the
dressed teacher In the big buHd'hs
No, they weren't after Eoyu
grades. School was out ana sne
wouldn't have the same group next
year. But incidentally, the Doy9s !,
and girls in her room did get goo"
grades They admired their teaCn'
they worked for re''P'
rocity.