The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-05-15
TELLS REQUIREMENTS
FOR PERSONS SEEKING
TO BECOME TEACHERS


Essential requirements for persons
taking up the teaching profession and
the attitude taken by many young
people toward this work as the result
of misinformation is told in the fol-
lowing article written for a bulletin
Of the National Education association,
OF Washington, d. c., by a member
Of The Palladium's reportorial staff
Inconsistencies. misconceptions, and
false illusions characterize the atti-
tude of the public and of prospective
instructors with regard to the neces-
sary qualifications for the teaching
profession and the nature of the work
as shown by evidences of misleading
information received by them.
Applicants either possess only vague
knowledge or complete ignorance of
the essential requisites in preparatory
courses, methods of child instruction,
time and sacrifice of personal inter-
ests demanded, remuneration offered,
and chief of all, the proper spirit
that should actuate and govern both
preparation and actual teaching.
Casual interrogation of the apph-
cant reveals the fallacies of this pre-
yalent attitude. He seldom has any
definite ambition in deciding to take
up the teaching profession, but thinks
he would like to teach for awhile,
since he has had one or two years in
college Inducements considered are
such as good pay for work that is not
difficult. and which demands moderate
hours five days week.
Prefers High School.
Such person does not consider a
normal school training necessary, but
thinks he can hold the attention of
and properly instruct roomful of
children. He prefers to teach in high
school since high school instructors
receive higher salaries than do grade
school instructors. He has not special
lied in his course, but has entered up
on general college course, indefinite
ly aiming at a degree. In fact, a sur
yey of his curriculum in college has
more the appearance of a box of as
sorted educational bon bons than prep
aration for a vocation of such vital
importance and needing such high
qualifications as that of educating
If these ideas are incorrect, what
may the young man or young woman
who earnestly desires to make this
his life vocation, accept as true def
nitions OF the character and qualifi-
cations for it?
Trained Persons Needed
In the first place, although two
years beyond that of high school train
ing is the usual requirement for teach
ing in the grade schools, it is not
really enough because the methods
employed in high school and college
and with which the applicant is fam
rny1rd fhnCn
eessfully used with younger children.
Teaching demands professionally
trained persons, whose higher educa-
ton has been directed toward the spe-
cific work of teaching. This means
not only a broad scholastic foundation,
scholarship in general, but profess
sional equipment for highly special
lied work. Teaching, contrary to the
common belief, cannot be undertaken
successfully by anyone, but requires
the best quality of mind and the fin
est kind of attitude toward the prob
lens involved. Teaching is not
merely imparting to the growing child
information and aiding it to learn to
read, write, spell and use numbers.
It is the much larger and vitality i'm
portant business of guiding a growing,
expanding human life. Since the in
fluence of the teacher in determining
the character of that individual is in
estimable, the work of teaching de-
mands vision. self sacrifice, and great
enthusiasm as we'll as skill in the
technicalities of school work.
Must Plan Work
Teaching is not a five day week
six hour day job Successful teach
ing requires the same spirit and the
same disregard for hours of work as
any other professionals law, medi
cine, dentistry, or engineering. A
successful teacher carefully plans the
days work for the classroom before
hand, and, showing that she has heI
heart in her work. spends additional
hours in extra curricular work. Il
may be visiting parents whose co
operation a pupil has difficulty in OBJ
tanning, in coaching backward stud
ents, in pursuing further professional
studies, in attending conference:
where there is an exchange of ideas
and discussion of common problems
it may be any or all of these things
for the true teacher will be found tt
be one of the busiest persons in ;
community, disregarding hours, sac
rificing pleasures, and keeping fit 70
the work both physically and men
tally.
Remuneration is not great. 1t il