Evening star., 1939-01-24
Professional
in
Teacher Must Not
Show Interest in
A Former Pupil
Bv ANGELO PATRI.


A teacher, especially a teacher
Of the beginners class, is likely
to become deeply interested in the
progress of the children She takes
over a personal responsibility for
the welfare Of each pupil. That
is right. of course, and quite what
1t should be. But now and then
comes a teacher who needs to be
reminded to do nothing too much"
Once a class is promoted to an
other teacher the former teacher
should cease to show any personal
interest in the pupils unless invited
to do so by the present teacher
Professional etiquette demands
this, and common sense insists
upon it. Children are troubled by
divided loyalty. They want to
like and follow their own teacher,
but II the old teacher comes into
the classroom to visit, greet each
one with a hug and a kiss, very
special smile and very warm
interest indeed. the children re-
spond to her. That leaves the new
teacher outside completely, and it
will take time and effort to over
come that handicap. 1t seems to
me that this is imposing burden
on fellow teacher without just
cause, without reason.
When the former teacher, of
whatever grade-this applies to
high schools and any other schools
continues to show feeling Of
personal interest in former class
no good comes of it. Asking former
pupils to report at intervals, in
specting their report cards and
commenting on them, is not really
professional interest. 1t is more like
egotism gone to seed. The present
teacher, who must carry full re-
sponsibility, is entitled to complete
confidence and loyalty from the
class, but this is impossible under
the influence of the interfering
former teacher.
Making such remarks as, 20, is
he giving you trouble? I got along
with him beautifully; never had
a bit of trouble the whole term;
of course he is difficult and you
must know just how to take him."
is maddening, and the speaker
knows it. Saying such things as
too bad the class is falling off in
arithmetic; when they were with
me they stood highest in the depart
ment; strange how they change,
isn't it?" is enough to cause mental
murder.
No teachers life is a bed of
roses. There is no profession more
nerve racking and soul trying.
Failure and heartache, dependency
and encouragement are common
experiences in the life of teachers.
We need each others support,
each others professional loyalty.
We can help each other by having
and practicing professional good
manners.
A good-mannered teacher will
never criticize another teacher to
her superiors. to parents or to
pupils. If criticism must be made
it should be made privately, directly
to the person concerned. No good
teacher, certainly no well-mannered
teacher, says to the supervisor,
This class doesn't know a thing
They are the most unprepared
group I have ever received" What
children know, and what they can
do, depends largely on the attitude
of the teacher closest to them. No
child can sit in a classroom, not
even that Of the weakest teacher
in the place, without learning some
thing; and the skilled teacher Is
the one who can discover what
that child learned and make use
of it for his further learning.
Maybe if we teachers just re-
membered to be kind to each other
things would be easier all around.
(copyl4sht, 1939)