1825

ix

Itinerant teachers are not generally successful, They form
no social ties. They do not become acquainted with parents
and children at home. Their personal influence is slight,
and so their efficiency in the school room. Pleasant homes
will not only attract teachers, but will induce them to become
permanent residents. Thus, interest in the pupils will be
strengthened, opportunities of usefulness increased, and au-
thority exerted with success, increased by co-operation of pa-
rents and a knowledge of the character of the young stu-
dents. As a general rule, the teacher should be a resident
among the patrons of the school, and whenever practicable a
permanent resident.

The employment of women teachers in our primary Schools,
and even in schools of higher grade, is rapidly becoming a
necessity. The increased demand for labor in every depart-
ment of industrial occupation, and the high wages given to
skilled mechanics and competent clerks, attract young men.
They are vacating the school room. The experience is the
same in every State.

An examination of the statistics of various Normal Schools,
developes the fact that three-fourths of the students who are
qualifying themselves for the work of the Teacher, are
young women. Thus it becomes evident that in common
with the schools in other States, we must expect to employ
to a large extent, women teachers. In some sections objec-
tion is urged that they cannot govern bad boys—or to use
the popular phrase, "the big boys who go to school during
the winter." The answer to this is that boys who are too
big to behave themselves, are not fit subjects for school dis-
cipline. They ought not to be admitted even if the teacher
has muscle, enough to win in a fight. But the idea that
women teachers cannot maintain perfect discipline, is an error.
It is one of the ideas' that experience is rendering obsolete.
They govern by an influence that is more potent than muscle
or rude words, awl by systematic mildness exert a controll-
ing power over the largest as well as smallest scholars.
Women arp also more patient and persevering as teachers.
The necessity, therefore, of employing them may be regarded
as a benefit. We must make the experiment. When once
fairly tried old prejudices will pass away, and they "who are
the natural educators of the young will be esteemed for their
work's sake, be recognized as the friend of the children, and
valued for the good example which, in school and out of
school, they exhibit to the pupils committed to their care.

Giving attention to the points referred to, and striving to
elevate teachers to their appropriate position as members of
society, we will do much for them, for our children and for
ourselves. It will be a privilege, from year to year, to re-
cord progress—to see old and unworthy prejudices disappear,
and with the development of the masses of the people, mor-.
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