Detroit evening times., 1945-07-16
THESE
DAYS
BY George e.
SokoIsky

III n ANA(AsAB AiiN
ercises of the Samuel
Gompers Vocational High School
in New York and ! turned TO a
frien and We talked of the con-
seCrated teachers of other
years, OF men and women who
knew nn tlme-clocks, who gave
hours and even days to pulling
backward or unwilling pupil
up to the passing level. who in
spite of poor pay and hard work,
loved teaching.
We mentioned names and
made comparisons and noted
certain shifts in attitude, par
tcularly the tendency among
teachers TO organize as day Ia
borers, for pay and tenure and
even Senlorlty-as though in
tellectual and spiritual activity
could be based on that.
For instance, we agreed that
schools existed for the students,
not for the teachers.
When teachers co9cerned
themselves with their rights.
privileges, tenures, and legal
ISns TO the eeNclusion OF the
rights and necessities of the
pupils. the educational system
had ceased to function TO its
fullest.
II Is wrongly focused.
The school system cannot be-
come souless factory in which
teachers are little more than
the transmission belts Of SUCH
information as school boards re,
quire tho pupil TO have before
graduation.
Inc teacher must create an
INSPIRED atmosphere m which
scholarship and kindness lnin
10 form the mental processes
ana 10 strengthen the character
of the pupil.
The teacher needs 10 be
conSecratcd beng
~ this country. no one il
4 forced 10 adopt 4 vocation.
And # z mlStake.ls made ro
one Is frozen permanently INTO
any loh
Change IS always possible
even If one has 70 move from a
"hlte collar 10 pair Of over
alls.
But the pupil ought not 20
he made subject 10 the dlsap-
pontments Of the teacher. Who
having elected that profession.
finds rs money compensations
inadequate.
The facts Of money compen-
satlor are fully known n any
aSpIrant for such work in ad.
vance
Many carpenter and plumber
earns more than school,
teacher but the teacher knows
that long before he license 70
teach Is applied for.
Nor should the pupil he sub
jected 10 the confuSionS and in
Subordination OF teachers who
fail 10 recognize that correct
and dlgniiicd discipline OF the
TEACHER iS essential for the cre-
alton OF satisfactory atmos-
phcrc for The pupil.
Some Of our current teachers
seem 10 believe that freedom
and anarchy arc SYNONYMOUS:
that schools should be run bv
lnSuhOrdlnate teachers who orr
game 10 break down the aux
thorlty OF principals. superinN y
tendents and boards Of educa-
ton.
Some teachers subject every
instruction they receive from
their principals 10 the higher
d4fllbllNN VI AllF lFdN I1lOn
officials and seek 10 form a
political cell in the school with
the object Of empire building"
that IS making themselves 50
powerful that no authority can
touch them.
This form Of INSTRUMENTATION
is positively harmful 10 the
pupils who in their formative
years are made conscious OF
trickcry. Chlcanery, dishonesty,
falSehoodS with obvious evi-
dcnce that the greatest gains 70
not to the most accomplished
but TO the most vocal and tricky.
Parents, who al nome. devote
themselves 10 character build
ing. do not know that all their
efforts are being ncgaicd by the
teachers of their children
| know many ConSeCratcd men
and women in the schools today.
ann definitely Condemnlng q
specific type that has come IN
our schools and mas no place
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