The World's Work Volume 19

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1910 Excerpt: ... does or a play or a piece of music. I have had these periods of hating my job and of despising teachers and all that--but it was long ago, before I worked for a railroad, or a newspaper, or a book-house or a realestate firm, and before I knew by experience how much more interesting and honest and decent teaching really is. Whenever I have these relapses, now, it is only the reflection transmitted by some one who is belittling my occupation because it has not paid some sort of dividends that were never specified in the bond. Each one must tend his own fire. If the public does not furnish a good draught, that is a pity; if a superintendent feeds many clinkers in, that is a misfortune; but while there is still so much good fuel lying ready to my hand I am a simpleton to cry that I am cold. THE TEACHER IS NOT A HIRED GIRL "It is not teaching that is hateful," says your writer of that pathetic November article, "it is the conditions." "It isn't the children," writes the woman in The Atlantic, "it is the system and its heads." "In a rut," is the phrase used more frequently of a teacher than of any other person. An eminent editor, a graduate from the class-room platform, declares that to teach long in the public schools is to commit intellectual suicide. Somehow, we must get systems that will prevent waste of energy and secure concentration of effort without reducing teachers to factory machines. Somehow, we must get intellectual exercise and enjoyment to teachers themselves. The recipe for it seems to consist in greater freedom. If one desires an atmosphere like that he must depart from the filing cases in an office and discover what happiness in teaching is. I cannot keep my spirits up very well if directions ar...