The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-04-11


Children want to like their
teacher. Some one must take
mothers place during the day and
they naturally look to her.
How greedily they drink In
every word of personal kindness.
A pat on the shoulder Is remern-
bered for days--perhaps forever.
They are hungry for her approbn.
ton and praise and except In very
few cases, try to please her.
Yet taking the teaching profess
sion by and large--any cross Sec
ton will do-there are as many
different types of personalities as
there are In any other business,
trade or profession In the world
and there will be some who are
not temperamentaily fitted for
teaching, regardless OF how many
degrees they have.
Removing the Experienced
have seen teachers removed
from positions who were more
than qualified to hold them, 70
make room for younger women
with more letters behind their
names. Women who not only low
ed children, but who were born to
understand the individual char
acteristics OF each little strugglcr
under them. Perhaps they were
married and this was the reason
for removal. In some cases these
married women were supporting
jobless husbands or whole fnmi-
lies. And single girls with no par
ticular reason except that Of Gu
rcer have been put In their places.
Now 1t makes no difference to
me personally about this state OF
affairs. In many cases the teach
err removed should have been, ana
the young. energetic girl who
took her place is indeed more per-
fectly fitted for the work.
What / believe needs emphasiz-
ing, however, Is the selection Of
teachers who arc akin to child.
hood and who have an understand
ing and sympathy lin its true
scnse) for the behavior, the fail
ures and the carnestness of the
child to do the best he can.
Satisfying "a System
OF course, there Is this problem.
Behind the teacher there Is a ays-
TEN that she must satisfy. She
cannot turn maudlin and cry over
Lit Nv b1l Nohkbo
and for whose success and marks
she Is responsible. She has to an
swer to the powers that be for
failures and marks. Also she has
to do her own disciplining, which
Is unfortunate. That should be
nc parate department entirely as
the recalGitrant child and the In.
corrigible are problems, very
often, for the specialist.
But when a child goes through
elementary school, junior high
and high school, he IL almost Ger.
tain to have one or two teachers
who viii not understand him be.
cause she has not the gift of un-
dcrstanding any child.
In such Il case 1t is best, ] think,
not to make matters worse by sid
ing with the child when he calls
her "Old This or That" Your
heart may ache for him and you
feel like adding q few choice ad-
Jectiycs of your own.
Smoothing Troubled Waters
If there Is any injustice too
drastic, little quiet conversa-
ton with the teacher herself may
help. II there is no real trouble,
but just a feeling of irritation and
dislike on the child's part. 4
might be advisable TO say, II I'M
derstand, dear, and / am sorry.
But that is the way 1t is some
times. Daddy works for a man
who doesn't quite understand
how hard he works and how he
tries to please. used to be In
store Cor wherever II was) where
the head was hard to please. We
all get discouraged. Try to do
your best and be patient. Some
day II will change and you will be
in another room"
Sometimes 1t Is good for chill
drcn to have the experience of
people not understanding" or
liking them. There Is home to
balance 1t. And besides 1t Is typi-
cal OF life.
The child may be to blame. do
not Judge any teacher too harsh
~. Teaching Is hard work, very.
Don't jump to conclusions. A IT.
tic Investigating. q little Oil on
the waters will DO wonders IN